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.
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.
If there is too much plastic tension the effects on a glider’s characteristics are:
If rods are too short, the effects are as follows:
To ensure optimal setup:
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:
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: