The new Firefly 2 is a direct evolution of its predecessor. Our mission with the FF2 was to improve several key characteristics while still retaining the excellent stability and user-friendliness of the original. The first and most noticeable improvement is to the launch; the Firefly 2 comes up at a smoother and more progressive rate, making no-wind launches far easier. In high winds, the wing still has no tendency to overshoot, and is very easy to control and ground-handle.

The core philosophy of the Firefly 2 remains the same: performance that will match many “mini-wings”, but stability that resembles lower aspect ratio speed-wings. The performance of the Firefly 2 is slightly improved over the original, with no sacrifice in stability or ease of use. A lighter and more efficient leading edge helps the wing’s behavior in all areas of flight, and fine-tuned tab positioning has resulted in better behavior at higher angles of attack and a more progressive inflation.

We have also improved the riser system by going to a narrower (lighter, easier to handle, more aerodynamic) webbing, and increasing the A/B split for better ground-handling control and authority.

The Firefly 2’s profile is still inspired by the OZONE Performance project, but we have made it slightly thicker than the original Firefly, for even better chord-wise stability and comfort across a wider speed range. This advanced profile has proven to be ideal for high pitch stability and excellent performance, and the low aspect ratio and thick chord adds protection for passive safety and stability. The Firefly 2 remains an excellent choice for pilots who want to experience the thrill of mini-wing piloting without the sacrifice in stability that is inherent in higher aspect ratio designs which are common in the mini-wing category.

At OZONE, our main priority for mini-wings and speed-wings is safety. Higher wingloading does not automatically means higher stability, and we have taken great care to produce a smaller wing that, while fun to fly, still retains a level of passive safety that is suitable for paraglider pilots with beginner-intermediate skill levels, and higher . We have taken our time to enter the mini-wing category, due to our desire to only release wings with what we consider to be this reasonable level of ease of use, and stability.

Part of the Firefly 2’s performance is thanks to an advanced, reduced-drag line-plan. This could be considered a “free” performance gain, which has come at no cost in stability. The Firefly 2 has also benefitted from an optimization of materials, with nylon reinforcement at the leading edge (instead of mylar), better cross-ports in the ribs, and a more efficient rib material.

The Firefly 2 incorporates all of what we have learned from our years of speed-wing design, combined with more recent technology developed in the OZONE Performance Research program, and we think it represents an excellent balance between performance and stability for modern foot-launched speed-flyers. We’re happy with the result, and look forward to hearing what you think of it. Get a demo from your local OZONE Dealer and tell us what you think. Cheers from all the Team!