Ozone's new lightweight cross country paraglider, the LM4

The Makalu³ is the new basic intermediate wing from UP, a paraglider whose design focuses on ease of use over aspect ratio and which UP say will bring a smile to any pilot’s face, from talented beginners to weekend warriors. UP say they have avoided going down the lightweight road with the Makalu³, favouring longevity instead, though they say they have still managed to make it almost a kilogram lighter than the Makalu2. It has three risers and four line levels, offering “the perfect balance” between ease of use and passive safety, and comes with an “efficient and light” speed system. The Makalu³ has UP’s trademark swept-back wingtips and their light and easy-packing Airfoil Stabilizing System (ASS) instead of Mylar in the leading edge. They say their Brake Tensioning System (BTS) means crisper handling and optimum tension on the trailing edge. The Makalu³ is certified EN B in sizes XS to L, covering all-up weights from 55-130kg, and is offered in three colour choices.

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Ozone LM4: lightweight, high-performance vol-bivouac paraglider

7 February, 2012

Ozone's new lightweight vol-bivouac paraglider, the LM4. Photo: Olivier Laugero

Ozone’s LM4 is a lightweight, high-performance EN D machine for “expert pilots who are on the cutting edge of vol-bivouac flight”, as flown by Ozone’s team pilots in the Red Bull X-Alps 2011.

It is based on the Mantra M4 and uses the same lines, along with Ozone’s time-tested lightweight materials.

With R10-style leading edge reinforcement and a pitch stable profile, Ozone say the LM4 also has the M4’s performance, stability and comfort with very precise feedback and a crisp and agile feel in the air, but it is almost a kilogram less in weight than the standard M4.

But though it may feel very comfortable and docile to fly, Ozone warn that the LM4 is still a high performance paraglider and needs to be flown with the full attention such a wing requires, and with an understanding of how to recover from incidents in flight.

The LM4 comes with either standard 12mm or lightweight 7mm risers. The latter also have lighter brake handles and specially designed ‘Link Lite’ connectors to hold the riser lines, tested to over 500kg.

For highly experienced XC and competition pilots, Ozone offer race risers with trimmers which allow the wing to fly both faster and slower than with normal risers, thus aiding its climbing ability in thermals and giving a faster top speed. Race risers are sold separately to the wing.

The LM4 is certified EN D in four sizes. See the specifications table below. You can choose your own colour design with Ozone’s Custom Colour palette.