Enzo 3 Plastics

Overview

Paragliding fabrics, typically made from nylon 6.6, naturally shrink over the lifespan of a wing and the rate of shrinkage depends on variable factors such as temperature and humidity cycles. Ozone gliders are produced with internal structural components including plastic rods inserted into fabric sleeves, the rods are cut to precise lengths during manufacturing and take into account the shrinkage of the fabric. However this shrinkage is by nature somewhat unpredictable and the rods themselves - whether plastic or nitinol - do not shrink at the same rate as the fabric itself. In rare cases the rods can become too tight within their socks creating excessive plastic tension.

ENZO 3

The ENZO 3 is unique among Ozone gliders. Unlike the Zeno, Zeolite, or others, the ENZO 3’s B-lines are not under tension at trim or accelerated speeds. Its profile is maintained entirely by the plastic rods, making their correct length critical. Every detail matters to get the best out of this high-performance wing and plastic tension directly influences feel and performance.

Impact of Rod Length Changes

If there is too much plastic tension the effects on a glider’s characteristics are:

• Increased camber
• Higher top speed, reduced stability
• Fewer visible wrinkles
• Maximum performance, but at the cost of stability

If rods are too short, the effects are as follows:

• Reduced camber (de-cambered profile)
• Lower speed, improved stability
• More visible wrinkles
• Loss of performance

To ensure optimal setup:

• Ozone wings are manufactured to stringent specifications, however due to the unpredictable nature of cloth shrinkage the rods on the ENZO 3 can become too tight.
• If any of the effects mentioned above are observed, the rods may need to be shortened, adjustments should be made progressively, only a few millimetres at a time (3-4mm maximum).
• The Ozone Racing Team is actively supporting ENZO 3 pilots with trimming guidance and checking their rod length.
• If an Enzo pilot has not yet received this guidance, please direct them to [email protected]

Other Ozone Gliders

For all other models in the Ozone range, design tolerances are much broader. Plastic rods work in conjunction with rear lines to maintain the profile shape, so slight discrepancies in plastic tension has a negligible effect. Therefore:

• Rod length adjustment is not recommended on these gliders.
• No general service bulletin or adjustment procedure will be issued.

Exceptions

In rare cases - such as when a glider has been wet and/or experiences unusual fabric shrinkage - if a pilot reports bulging plastics, or dimples in the top surface and any altered flight behaviour, the following steps should be taken:

• Have the glider inspected by the a competent check centre and/or the Ozone dealer.
• If necessary, the dealer would report the issue to Ozone in order to establish the best solution.