Swing Astral

The Astral is a German single-place paraglider that was designed and produced by Swing Flugsportgeräte of Landsberied. It is now out of production.[1]

Astral
Role Paraglider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Swing Flugsportgeräte
Status Production completed
Produced 1990s - mid 2000s

Design and development

The Astral was designed as an intermediate glider. A two-seat tandem version was also developed for flight training, the Astral Twin.[1]

The design has progressed through seven generations of models, each improving on the last. The models are each named for their approximate projected wing area in square metres.[1]

Operational history

Reviewer Noel Bertrand described the Astral in a 2003 review as "a very good DHV 2 [glider]".[1]

Variants

Astral 2
Astral 2 24
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.8 m (38.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26.3 m2 (283 sq ft), 58 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lb). The glider model is Deutscher Hängegleiterverband e.V. (DHV) 2 GH certified.[2]
Astral 2 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.3 m (40.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.7 m2 (309 sq ft), 58 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 105 kg (176 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 GH certified.[1]
Astral 2 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.1 m (43.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 31.1 m2 (335 sq ft), 58 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 GH certified.[1]

Astral 3
Astral 3 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.6 m (38.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft), 66 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb). The glider model is DHV 2-3 certified.[1]
Astral 3 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.0 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 66 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot weight range is 65 to 90 kg (143 to 198 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified.[1]
Astral 3 26
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.5 m (41.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 66 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot weight range is 85 to 105 kg (187 to 231 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified.[1]
Astral 3 28
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.2 m (43.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 30.5 m2 (328 sq ft), 66 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.5:1. The pilot weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is DHV 2 certified.[1]

Astral 4
Astral 4 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.55:1. The take-off weight range is 55 to 80 kg (121 to 176 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[3]
Astral 4 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.5 m (41.0 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.55:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[3]
Astral 4 26
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.55 m (41.2 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.4 m2 (306 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.55:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[3]
Astral 4 28
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.85 m (42.2 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.8 m2 (321 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.55:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[3]

Astral 5
Astral 5 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12.1 m (39.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 26 m2 (280 sq ft), 53 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.7:1. The take-off weight range is 55 to 80 kg (121 to 176 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[4]
Astral 5 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.4 m (40.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 53 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.7:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[4]
Astral 5 26
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.7 m (41.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 53 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.7:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[4]
Astral 5 28
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13 m (42.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 30 m2 (320 sq ft), 53 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.7:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 certified.[4]

Astral 6
Astral 6 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12.39 m (40.6 ft) span wing has a wing area of 24 m2 (260 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 and CEN C certified.[5]
Astral 6 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.77 m (41.9 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.5 m2 (274 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 and CEN C certified.[5]
Astral 6 26
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.15 m (43.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 and CEN C certified.[5]
Astral 6 28
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.5 m (44.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF 2 and CEN C certified.[5]

Astral 7
Astral 7 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 12.39 m (40.6 ft) span wing has a wing area of 24 m2 (260 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 87 kg (154 to 192 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF C and CEN C certified.[6]
Astral 7 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12.77 m (41.9 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.5 m2 (274 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 80 to 102 kg (176 to 225 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF C and CEN C certified.[6]
Astral 7 26
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.14 m (43.1 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27 m2 (290 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 90 to 110 kg (198 to 243 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF C and CEN C certified.[6]
Astral 7 28
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 13.5 m (44.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 57 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.4:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 125 kg (220 to 276 lb). The glider model is DHV LTF C and CEN C certified.[6]

Specifications (Astral 3 24)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 27.0 m2 (291 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.5:1

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 1.05 m/s (207 ft/min)

References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 32. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Swing Flugsportgeräte. "Astral 2". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. Swing Flugsportgeräte. "Astral 4". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. Swing Flugsportgeräte. "Astral 5". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. Swing Flugsportgeräte. "Astral 6". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  6. Swing Flugsportgeräte. "Astral 7". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
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