UP Summit

Last updated
Summit
Role Paraglider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer UP Europe
Introduction 2001
Status In production (Summit XC4, 2016)
Produced 2001-present
Unit cost
£1,868 (Summit M, 2004)

The UP Summit is a German single-place paraglider, designed and produced by UP Europe of Kochel am See, now UP International of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Introduced in 2001, production continued through 2016 with the Summit XC4 model. [1]

Germany Federal parliamentary republic in central-western Europe

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe, lying between the Baltic and North Seas to the north, and the Alps to the south. It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.

UP International GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company started business as a hang glider manufacturer based in the United States.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen Place in Bavaria, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, which borders Austria. Nearby is Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, at 2,962 m (9,718 ft.).

Contents

Design and development

The Summit was designed as a performance intermediate cross country glider. [1] [2]

The design has progressed through several generations of models, the Summit, Summit 2, Summit 3, Summit XC, Summit XC2 and Summit XC4. The models are each named for their relative size. [1] [3] [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

The Summit 3 was a whole new design, based upon the UP Trango 2 and Targa 2 wing designs. [5]

The UP Trango is a German single-place paraglider, designed and produced by UP Europe of Kochel am See, now UP International of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Introduced in 2002, production continued through 2016 with the Trango XC3 model.

The UP Targa is a German single-place paraglider that was designed and produced by UP Europe of Kochel am See. Introduced in 2002, production of the final version, the Targa 3, ended in 2007.

The original model Summit's sail was made from Porsher Marine New Skytex and its lines were fabricated from Cousin Trestec Super Aramid. [2]

Aramid Heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber; asbestos substitute

Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic-rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, marine cordage, marine hull reinforcement, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide". The chain molecules in the fibers are highly oriented along the fiber axis. As a result, a higher proportion of the chemical bond contributes more to fiber strength than in many other synthetic fibers. Aramides have a very high melting point

The Summit XC4's sail top surface is made from Porcher Skytex 38 Universal, while the bottom surface is Domenica 30DMF. The wing's cell walls are Porcher Skytex 40 Hard. The gallery lines are made from Edelrid 8000U-130/090/070/050 (Aramid unsheathed), the middle lines are made from Edelrid 8000U-200/130/090 (Aramid unsheathed)/Liros DC200 (Dyneema unsheathed), the main lines are Liros DC300/DC200 (Dyneema unsheathed), Edelrid 8000U-230 (Aramid unsheathed), while the brake lines are Cousin 989-1,5 (Dyneema unsheathed)/ Edelrid 8000U-090/050 (Aramid unsheathed). [8]

Variants

Summit

Produced from 2001-2002. [3]

Summit S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.4 m (37.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 24.5 m2 (264 sq ft), 63 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is Deutscher Hängegleiterverband e.V. (DHV) 2 certified. [1] [2]
Summit M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.0 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27.0 m2 (291 sq ft), 63 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is 85 to 105 kg (187 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [1] [2]
Summit L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.5 m (41.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.5 m2 (318 sq ft), 63 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is 95 to 120 kg (209 to 265 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [1] [2]

Summit 2

Produced from 2003-2005. [3]

Summit 2 XS
Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.0 m (36.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 22.6 m2 (243 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.4:1. The take-off weight range is 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [4]
Summit 2 S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.5 m (37.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 24.6 m2 (265 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.4:1. The take-off weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [4]
Summit 2 M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.0 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27.0 m2 (291 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.4:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [4]
Summit 2 L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.6 m (41.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.5 m2 (318 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.4:1. The take-off weight range is 95 to 120 kg (209 to 265 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [4]

Summit 3

Produced from 2006-2007. [3]

Summit 3 XS
Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.33 m (37.2 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23.34 m2 (251.2 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 75 kg (132 to 165 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [5]
Summit 3 S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.75 m (38.5 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.09 m2 (270.1 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 85 kg (154 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [5]
Summit 3 SM
Small medium-sized model for mid-weight pilots. Its 12.11 m (39.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.68 m2 (287.2 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 95 kg (176 to 209 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [5]
Summit 3 M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.44 m (40.8 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.15 m2 (303.0 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The take-off weight range is 90 to 107 kg (198 to 236 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [5]
Summit 3 L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.98 m (42.6 ft) span wing has a wing area of 30.62 m2 (329.6 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The take-off weight range is 105 to 125 kg (231 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified. [5]

Summit XC

Produced from 2008-2010. [3]

Summit XC S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12.4 m (40.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.0 m2 (280 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The take-off weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified. [6]
Summit XC SM
Small medium-sized model for mid-weight pilots. Its 12.8 m (42.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27.7 m2 (298 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The take-off weight range is 75 to 95 kg (165 to 209 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified. [6]
Summit XC M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 13.1 m (43.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.0 m2 (312 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 105 kg (187 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified. [6]
Summit XC L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.7 m (44.9 ft) span wing has a wing area of 31.8 m2 (342 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified. [6]

Summit XC2

Produced from 2011-2014. [3]

Summit XC2 S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.6 m (38.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 22.5 m2 (242 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN C certified. [7]
Summit XC2 SM
Small medium-sized model for mid-weight pilots. Its 12.0 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 24.3 m2 (262 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The take-off weight range is 72 to 94 kg (159 to 207 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN C certified. [7]
Summit XC2 M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.5 m (41.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.4 m2 (284 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN C certified. [7]
Summit XC2 L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.2 m (43.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.1 m2 (313 sq ft), 61 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF/EN C certified. [7]

Summit XC4

Produced from 2015–present. [3]

Summit XC4 S
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.5 m (37.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 21.1 m2 (227 sq ft), 56 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.3:1. The take-off weight range is 65 to 85 kg (143 to 187 lb). The glider model is undergoing DHV EN B certification. [8]
Summit XC4 S/M
Small medium-sized model for mid-weight pilots. Its 12.2 m (40.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23.5 m2 (253 sq ft), 56 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.3:1. The take-off weight range is 75 to 100 kg (165 to 220 lb). The glider model is undergoing DHV EN B certification. [8]
Summit XC4 M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.7 m (41.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.5 m2 (274 sq ft), 56 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.3:1. The take-off weight range is 90 to 115 kg (198 to 254 lb). The glider model is undergoing DHV EN B certification. [8]
Summit XC4 L
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.1 m (43.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27.0 m2 (291 sq ft), 56 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.3:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is undergoing DHV EN B certification. [8]

Specifications (Summit M)

Data from Bertrand [1]

General characteristics

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 34. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 UP International. "Summit" (PDF). Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UP International (2013). "Discontinued Models" . Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 UP International. "Summit 2 Operating Instructions" (PDF). Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UP International. "Summit 3" (PDF). Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 UP International. "Summit XC" (PDF). Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 UP International (2013). "Summit XC2" . Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 UP International (2013). "Summit XC4" . Retrieved 22 November 2016.