Drift Merlin (EN C Light 2-Liner)
Two-liner | Cells: 67 | Aspect Ratio: 6.3 | Weight: 4.53 kg - size S | EN C
Top Gun For All
Drift Merlin is a great entry-level two-liner paraglider for the ambitious xc pilot or upcoming competition pilot moves from EN B class.
DRIFT Merlin offers an unprecedented ratio of Performance and Passive Safety
Drift Merlin 20 km/h over trim top speed.
The recent certification rule change now allows the use of folding lines in the EN C class. This change has allowed us to develop the ultimate cross-country wing. With our Merlin project, we aimed for a moderate aspect ratio glider with minimal aerodynamic drag. The two-liner design embodies the ideal active piloting experience, enabling the pilot to enjoy outstanding glide performance while using the rear risers, manoeuvring through the active air allowing for greater stability and control of the canopy.
Who is this glider for
Merlin is the ultimate choice for pilots that prefer to focus on flight tactics over concerns about flying a demanding glider. With its exceptional resistance and stability in turbulent air, combined with high passive safety and intuitive handling, Merlin offers an unmatched flying experience. This glider is tailored for advanced pilots who log over 50 hours of flight time each year and for those who crave direct handling and high passive safety in EN C class to enjoy their safe flying adventure. The two-liner constructions have consistently demonstrated excellent performance over the last decade and many pilots who have tried this concept are reluctant to come back to conventional 3 liner designs. Beware: once you try Merlin, you may become one of them!
Before flying the DRIFT Merlin for the first time, please read the user manual. Here are a few quick tips before the first flight.
- The big ears are done using the B3 stall. The B3 line has 60 cm of line sheet covering it to mark this line for easy identification. Additionally, you can add about a third of the speed bar before or after pulling it in the B3 stall. To perform the B3 stall swiftly pull both sides as high as possible and hold them in. Once you break the wing tip the pressure will be reduced and it will be easy to main the B3 stall for an extended period of time. To release the B3 stall let the lines go, the big ear will pressurise and progressively reopen.
- Drift Merlin is using a new type of thin brake line. These lines are more sensitive to abrasive material like velcro. Look after them.
- On take-off, especially in nill wind conditions, spread the glider into a horseshoe. When launching the glider in nill or light wind pull the centre of the glider firmly during the launch phase, hold your hands together and let the glider inflate evenly across the glider span. Ideally, do a few launch practice runs before your first flight to master the take-off.
Feedback
I had a good go at using B3 big ears over Manilla. It was a little more pressure than usual big ears, but when pulling from up nice and high, it wasn't much. Certainly pops back out with authority. Also had a great decent rate, 5m/s down. Conditions were a little rough with decent thermals and strong wind, was still pretty comfortable, certainly had good pitch stability and doesn't bounce around too much as the EN C two-liner I tested earlier. The risers are light and don't require much effort to steer and control pitch on them but have enough pressure it's not strange or drastically different to what I'm used to. Gosh, it has some speed on the bar, can definitely feel the difference between it and the other low C glider. Harry Davies
VIDEO
TECHNOLOGIES
AFI Anti-Flutter Intake
Fluttering of the leading edges at the air intake vents might be particularly noticeable during the accelerated flight on older designs of paragliders. This can distort the overall impression of a glider. When flying at lower angles of attack, the tension around the inlet openings, and the leading edge in general, changes. This is caused by the different acceleration of the individual segments and also because there is simply a greater influx of air at higher speeds. To mitigate this and to further reinforce this section of the gldier we have added additional reinforcement in this area.
MAD Minimization of Aerodynamic Drag
The paraglider is based on a two-liner system concept, which is characterized by a considerably decreased total line length. Drift added special mini-line attachment points to the canopy as well as thin risers. The design features resulted in minimal aerodynamic drag that contributes to the low weight, reduced drag and increased performance of this glider.
ESS Extra Smooth Surface
The extreme smoothness of the glider's surface was achieved by spatial seams at critical points. Drift’s development team spent a great amount of time on 3D shaping to create a clean, rounded leading edge without wrinkles. This significantly improves the glide, airflow over the canopy and overall performance.
FTE Flat Trailing Edge
The trailing edge is an essential part of a glider. The Drift team invests a lot of effort into perfecting this section of the glider. Our main goal is to eliminate unwanted billowing. This is achieved by using mini-ribs at the back of the trailing edge. The clean and streamlined trailing edge allows the airflow to peal off the trailing edge more cleanly further reducing the parasitic drag comfort and stability of the glider.
Technical Data
Materials
- Upper sail: Skytex 32 Everlast / Skytex 27 Double Coated
- Lower sail: Skytex 27 Double Coated
- Ribs: Skytex 27 / 40 Hard Finish
- Reinforcement: Skytex-patch, Skyforce 160, Nylon rods,
- Lines: Liros (Sheathed Dyneema) PPSL 120, 160 / TSL 220, Edelrid (Unsheathed Aramid+Technora) 8000/8001-U (50-90-190-230-280-340)
Scope of Delivery
- Concertina Bag
- Repair Kit
- T-shirt
DOWNLOADS
Manual
Line plan
Certification protocols
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