🪂 Advance IOTA 3 DLS vs Competitors: High-B Paraglider Showdown

At a Glance: Performance Comparison Table

---

✈️ Head-to-Head Insights

✅ Advance IOTA 3 DLS

• Highlights:

  • DLS technology delivers the best of both worlds: durability and lightness

  • Precise brake travel with excellent glide efficiency

  • Accelerated flight remains stable across long transitions

• Ideal for: Pilots ready to push longer XC flights without stepping into C-class territory

---

✅ Ozone Rush 6

• Highlights:

  • Sporty handling and tight turning radius

  • High glide for a traditional EN-B wing

  • Dynamic feedback ideal for skilled intermediates

• Drawback: Slightly heavier and more active in rough air

• Ideal for: Pilots seeking a C-like experience within EN-B certification

---

✅ Nova Mentor 7

• Highlights:

  • Focus on pitch stability and efficient thermalling

  • Soft brake pressure appeals to fatigue-sensitive pilots

  • ZigZag 3D shaping improves airflow and reduces drag

• Drawback: Slightly slower reactions during quick inputs

• Ideal for: Safety-prioritizing pilots stepping up from low-B wings

---

✅ BGD Base 2

• Highlights:

  • Playful handling with vibrant visual design

  • Cord Cut Billow design keeps the canopy inflated evenly

  • Friendly and forgiving behavior

• Drawback: Marginally lower top speed and glide ratio

• Ideal for: Pilots who value fun, ease, and style over competitive performance

---

🧠 Which Wing Is Right for You?

---

Advance IOTA 3 DLS Use Guide – Master Every Flight Phase

✈️ Overview

The Advance IOTA 3 DLS is engineered for serious XC flights and performance progression while maintaining EN-B passive safety. This guide walks you through every phase of flight—from setup to landing—with practical insights, handling tips, and best practices so you can unlock the wing’s full potential confidently and safely.Advance IOTA 3 DLS

---

🧳 1. Pre-Flight Preparation

🔧 Equipment Setup

Before heading to launch, ensure that:

• ✅ The risers are untwisted, speed system lines run freely, and brakes are not wrapped

• ✅ The harness is adjusted for an upright yet aerodynamic position, enabling speed-bar reach

• ✅ The reserve handle is visible, accessible, and securely fastened

• ✅ The wing, lines, and rods (Nitinol) are clean and undamaged

Pro Tip: Use a riser chart to double-check color-coded lines and identify wear early.

---

🌤️ Weather & Site Evaluation

Key factors for optimal IOTA 3 DLS use:

• ✅ Wind between 5–20 km/h, laminar or slightly thermic

• ✅ Moderate thermals up to 3.5 m/s

• ✅ No strong rotor, shear layer, or lee-side turbulence

• ✅ Launch sites with a clean slope and sufficient runout

Checklist:

• ⬜ Conditions observed for at least 20 minutes

• ⬜ Wind checked at launch, mid-layer, and landing

• ⬜ Alternate LZ visually confirmed

---

🪂 2. Launching with Confidence

🔼 Forward Launch (Light Wind)

The IOTA 3 DLS excels in light conditions due to its DLS structure:

• Lay the wing in a crescent shape with trailing edge slightly curved

• Center A-risers in each hand, brakes in correct grip

• Step forward with speed and lean—don’t pull the risers forcefully

• The wing will rise symmetrically and pause overhead

Tip: Allow the wing to stabilize before taking off. Let it fly naturally—don’t over-brake.

---

🌬️ Reverse Launch (Strong Wind)

When wind exceeds 15 km/h:

• Turn to face the wing with A-risers crossed

• Gently bring the wing overhead, applying slight brakes for control

• Use ground handling techniques to re-center and turn confidently before takeoff

---

🛫 3. Climbing and Thermalling

🌀 Core with Precision

Thermalling with the IOTA 3 DLS is intuitive and rewarding:

• Use minimal inside brake—its long brake range allows micro-adjustments

• Add weight shift to tighten turns

• Stay light on the brakes to avoid losing speed or risking stall

Note: Brake pressure increases progressively, offering clear feedback when approaching stall limits.

---

🚫 Avoid Over-Braking

• In strong thermals, the wing may surge slightly—resist over-controlling

• Let the DLS profile bite into the lift zone naturally

---

💨 4. Transitions and Speed-Bar Usage

⚙️ Using the Speed System

The Advance Speed Control System provides efficient, controlled glide under acceleration:

• Apply bar gradually—half bar is usually enough for transitions

• The wing remains stable at bar; however, apply active flying in rough air

• Combine speed bar with Big Ears for descent in stable air

Warning: Do not use full bar near terrain or when near stall speed on final glide.

---

📈 Best Glide Tips

• Fly slightly accelerated in stable air to optimize the polar curve

• Adjust trim and harness angle for drag reduction

• Use a GPS variometer to monitor sink rate and climb rate patterns

---

📉 5. Descent Techniques

⛅ Big Ears (Split A Risers)

• Pull outer A-risers evenly and symmetrically

• Wing remains stable and loses altitude rapidly

• Pump brakes or release A-lines gently to reopen

---

🔄 Spiral Dive

• Initiate progressively with inside brake and weight shift

• Watch for G-force buildup—limit duration

• Exit by easing off inside brake and shifting weight to center

---

⚠️ B-Stall (Not Recommended)

While possible, Advance discourages routine B-stalls in modern wings like the IOTA 3 DLS due to potential wear and better descent alternatives.

---

🛬 6. Landing Techniques

🎯 Planning Approach

• Set up downwind, base, and final approach clearly

• Avoid obstacles, turbulence zones, and confined landings

• Watch ground speed and adjust flare timing accordingly

---

🛑 Flare Timing

• Begin flare at hip height with a progressive, even brake pull

• The IOTA 3 DLS has excellent flare authority—use it fully but avoid braking too early

• Practice with small gradients and minimal wind to dial in timing

---

🧠 7. Progression Tips

🧗 Advancing Your Skills with IOTA 3 DLS

To unlock the wing’s full potential:

• ✅ Enroll in an SIV course (spiral exits, collapse recovery, stalls)

• ✅ Fly XC routes with experienced pilots

• ✅ Use flight apps to analyze glide ratios, thermalling patterns, and decision timing

• ✅ Join local pilot groups or clubs for site knowledge and safety briefings

---

📎 Maintenance Guidelines

🧼 Post-Flight Care

• Lay the wing flat or folded—not stuffed while wet

• Keep it out of direct sunlight during ground time

• Store it in a dry, cool place (ideally under 25°C)

📆 Inspection Intervals

---

✅ Quick Use Checklist

---

🧩 Conclusion: Master Every Flight Phase with Confidence

The Advance IOTA 3 DLS is more than a high-B wing—it’s a precision XC tool designed for mastery, not mystery. Whether you’re climbing thermals, pushing transitions, or executing pinpoint landings, this use guide will help you elevate your flying discipline, confidence, and enjoyment.fly harness

Safety Guide: Flying the Advance IOTA 3 DLS with Confidence

Understanding the Wing’s Safety Profile

The Advance IOTA 3 DLS is classified EN-B, meaning it is designed to offer high performance while maintaining a forgiving nature under normal flying conditions. While its advanced features suit ambitious pilots, safety begins with understanding its handling characteristics and respecting your limits.fly harness

---

🧠 Before You Launch: Pre-Flight Essentials

1. Wing and Gear Inspection

Every flight should begin with a thorough gear check:

• ✅ Lines: Check for knots, tangles, and wear

• ✅ Risers: Inspect stitching, maillons, and speed system pulleys

• ✅ Leading Edge Rods (Nitinol): Ensure no deformation

• ✅ Fabric (Skytex): Look for holes, tears, or UV damage

• ✅ Harness Setup: Confirm correct hang point alignment and reserve container accessibility

• ✅ Speed System: Confirm smooth travel and connection integrity

---

2. Weather Awareness

Understanding the conditions you’ll fly in is the cornerstone of safe paragliding:

• ✅ Avoid flying in wind exceeding 25 km/h unless you’re highly experienced

• ✅ Thermals stronger than 4 m/s may increase workload and require fast decision-making

• ✅ Be cautious in lee-side conditions, rotor zones, or near storm development

• ✅ Know your local micro-meteorology, especially in mountainous XC areas

---

3. Site-Specific Considerations

Each launch site presents unique challenges. Ask yourself:

• Are there obstacles (trees, buildings, cliffs)?

• Is the launch gradient appropriate for a smooth inflation?

• Are landing options visible and accessible if the wind shifts mid-flight?

• Have I checked local airspace regulations or NOTAMs?

---

✈️ In the Air: Mid-Flight Safety Practices

1. Active Flying Skills

While the IOTA 3 DLS is stable and forgiving, turbulence can still create challenges. Apply:

• ✅ Pressure control: Maintain subtle brake pressure to keep the wing loaded

• ✅ Weight shifting: Use your body more than the brakes for minor corrections

• ✅ Eyes on the wing: If you feel tension drop, anticipate a collapse and react proactively

• ✅ Use your speed bar cautiously: Only apply bar when air is stable or in transitions

---

2. Asymmetric and Symmetric Collapses

Though rare in B-certified wings, you should be trained to handle collapses:

• Asymmetric Collapse:

  • Weight shift to the flying side

  • Maintain heading with brake input

  • Avoid deep brake on the collapsed side—allow re-inflation

• Symmetric Collapse:

  • Keep hands up and allow the wing to recover

  • Apply moderate brake only if necessary to dampen surge

  • Avoid over-reacting, which could deepen the collapse or stall the wing

---

3. Spirals, Big Ears, and Wingovers

Advanced maneuvers should be performed only after proper training, ideally in an SIV course:

• Big Ears (Split A Risers):

  • Easy to initiate and stable

  • Great for descent; combine with speed bar if desired

  • Pull evenly and symmetrically, then pump brakes to reinflate

• Spiral Dive:

  • Use progressively and exit gently

  • Watch for G-force effects; avoid prolonged spirals

• Wingovers:

  • Build energy slowly

  • Be cautious of energy buildup and asymmetric loading

---

🪂 Landing with Control and Safety

1. Choose the Right Landing Spot

• ✅ Avoid slopes greater than 10° unless practiced in slope landings

• ✅ Look for wide, obstacle-free zones with wind indicators (like flags, grass)

• ✅ Avoid landing near power lines, fences, or water

2. Approach Strategy

• Use figure-eight or S-pattern approaches for controlled descent

• Maintain altitude awareness—set up high enough for corrections

• Avoid downwind landings unless no other option exists

3. Flare Timing

• Begin flare at hip height with smooth downward pressure

• Time is crucial—too early results in a stall; too late results in a hard landing

• Practice on calm days for consistency

---

🆘 Emergency Procedures

1. Reserve Deployment

Know the steps, and practice them on the ground:

• Look, grab, pull, throw (in a wide arc away from the wing)

• Immediately pull in main glider lines to avoid entanglement

• Prepare for a PLF (Parachute Landing Fall) to protect ankles and spine

2. Radio Communication

• Always fly with a functioning radio

• Know emergency frequencies in your region

• Check your vario and GPS battery before flight

---

👨‍🏫 Skill Building and Progressive Learning

Recommended Training Progression

• ✅ Take an SIV course once you’re confident in thermals

• ✅ Learn advanced weather reading (sky signs, lapse rates, wind gradients)

• ✅ Fly regularly with experienced pilots or instructors

• ✅ Join a paragliding club for mentorship, safety briefings, and fly-ins

---

🧩 IOTA 3 DLS-Specific Safety Benefits

• Long Brake Travel: Reduces accidental stall risk

• Stable Accelerated Flight: Confidence in transitions even with bar on

• Durable Lightweight Materials: Withstands more inflation/deflation cycles without damage

• Tested Individual Flight Quality: Every wing is flight-tested in Switzerland before sale

• Intuitive Handling: Predictable reactions enhance pilot control in turbulence

---

✅ Quick Safety Checklist

---

📘 Conclusion: Prioritize Safety. Maximize Joy.

The Advance IOTA 3 DLS provides you with elite cross-country performance without sacrificing the safety margins that intermediate and experienced pilots depend on. However, its real safety comes not only from its construction but from your habits, awareness, and preparation.paraglider and harness

By staying disciplined in your pre-flight checks, growing your skills progressively, and flying within your personal weather limits, you ensure that every flight is not only enjoyable—but safe.fly harness

🏁 Final Verdict: Why Choose the Advance IOTA 3 DLS?

If your priority is reaching new distances with as little effort as possible—without compromising on safety—then the Advance IOTA 3 DLS outperforms in nearly every category:

• It glides farther, launches easier, and offers premium materials.

• Its combination of passive safety and precision handling provides a confidence-inspiring ride across vast terrain.

• Thanks to Advance’s Swiss-engineered DLS technology, the IOTA 3 DLS has set a new benchmark in the high-B category.fly harness