Ozone-Firefly

Ozone - Firefly

The new Firefly is a hybrid speed wing with performance that will match many “mini-wings”, but stability that resembles lower aspect ratio speed-wings. The performance of the Firefly is very impressive for its aspect ratio, with the result being glide performance and handling from the mini-wing category, but stability from the speed-flying category. The Firefly is equipped with an R10 profile which gives high pitch stability and excellent performance, and the low aspect ratio and thick chord adds protection for passive safety and stability. This wing is an excellent choice for pilots who want to experience the thrill of mini-wing piloting without the sacrifice in stability that is inherent in the 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 intermediate to experienced pilots. We have entered the mini-wing category late, and slowly, due to our desire to only release wings with what we consider to be this reasonable level of ease of use, and stability.

The Firefly offers significantly better glide performance than the XT16, with improved speed and more dynamic handling. Pilots will find the Firefly to be much easier to ridge-soar at a wider range of sites than the XT. It will also handle shallower launches and naturally has an increased “range” due to the better glide performance.

Part of the Firefly’s performance increase is the result of a more advanced, reduced-drag line-plan. This could be considered a “free” performance gain, which has come at no cost in stability. However, the Firefly also has an increased aspect ratio and more cells, which has made it a more advanced wing than the XT16. While the XT16 remains an excellent choice for speed-flying pilots who want a stable and easy to use wing, the Firefly is intended for experienced speed-flying pilots only. Pilots with less than a full season of experience flying mini-wings and speed-flying wings in varied conditions would be better suited for the XT16.

The Firefly is born from our years of speed-wing design combined with more recent technology developed in the R10 research program, and we think it represents an excellent balance between performance and stability for modern 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!

Top Surface Cloth: OzTech 30gm2
Bottom Surface Cloth: OzTech 30gm2
Rib cloth: OzTech 30D w/ webbing reinforcement
Upper lines: Cousin Water Tolerant Dyneema
Mid lines: Cousin Water Tolerant Dyneema
Lower Lines: Cousin Water Tolerant Dyneema

Manufacture: Ozone

Ozone - Firefly

Video Links

More videos:

Pilot Reviews:

TeeJay AKA Tim James (Original post - forum.speed-flying.com/topic/ozone-firefly-video#post-1771

I have been flying the Firefly a lot lately, and I find it to be quite an amazing wing. I have both an XT16 and a Firefly. Consequently I can fly them at the same site, in the same conditions. Both handle turbulence well with no signs of collapse, but the Firefly feels crisper and more responsive to toggle and weight shift input. Also, top landings are easy with all the extra performance. But the big difference is the Glide Ratio. I am 95kg (210lbs), and in 18-22kts at a small 20m cliff site, I can sustain height on the XT16, but I can't get above launch height. On the other hand, the Firefly easily goes 20m above launch, which gives me more sky to play with. And in 12-16kts I can sustain height at that same site on the Firefly, which is utterly impossible on the XT16.

I have also found that the Glide Ratio does exceed 5:1, as can be seen in the video www.vimeo.com/35131745 from a flight I did at Mystic, in Victoria, Australia. I think it is worth pointing out that the Glide Ratio of a wing will not change, regardless of the All Up Weight being flown. Changing the All Up Weight changes the speed, not the Glide Ratio. So if you have two pilots, one flying at 60kg and one at 100kg, and they are flying exactly the same trim settings, they will land at exactly the same spot in nil winds, but the heavier pilot will simply get there faster. Also, the heavier pilot will be able to soar in stronger winds, but conversely, he will not be able to sustain height in lighter winds, which will support a lighter pilot.

I'm sure Ozone could have cranked the Glide Ratio of the Firefly right up but, in my opinion, they have struck a sensible balance between glide performance and safety. The Firefly is a true hybrid wing, offering mini-wing performance, with the safety offered by speed wings like the XT16. The last thing I want while flying in turbulence is an asymmetric collapse while close to the ground. I feel just as safe when punching through turbulence on the Firefly as I do on the XT16, except now I can fly at more sites, more often. Ozone have not re-badged the XT16. They have created an advanced wing that will not put pilots at risk unnecessarily, as many other manufacturer's wings do.

I should also point out that I am not sponsored by Ozone, and I have no vested interest in promoting their wings. I wrote The Basic Speed Flying Reference Guide around the XT16 because I believe it is the best entry level wing on the market. I purchased both my XT16 and my Firefly because I feel they safely deliver the performance they offer to their relevant target market.