Advance IOTA 3 DLS

The IOTA DLS is the high performance XC specialist – through and through. With this High-B wing you can enjoy maximal flying comfort over very long distances. Now constructed with DURABLE LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURE, the IOTA DLS qualifies as a light wing. This development progress starts a new era – without compromising robustness or long life.

The profile’s excellent pitch stability retains energy, which transfers to performance, especially in turbulent air. The 4 % reduction of total line surface area further improves performance, as does extensive 3×3D shaping. This results in a perfectly smooth leading edge surface.

The IOTA DLS can weigh as little as 3.75 kg* thanks to its DURABLE LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURE technology. This wing is not just very light: it is also 100 % suitable for everyday use. Its durability and robustness are the same as semi-light products, so the IOTA DLS does not require the special care previously required for light paragliders.

Optimized lift distribution and perfectly tuned canopy tensioning mean maximum turbulence absorption. The result is a pleasantly damped canopy without losing the important feedback from the air. Thanks to its very predictable flight behaviour, the IOTA DLS delivers a relaxed flying experience.

Technology & Features

DLS combines a number of small but important innovations, which together save a lot of weight. The mix of lightweight and conventional fabrics is now better targeted and additional weight is saved through specific geometric optimisations.More about DLS

The enhancement of Double-3D-Shaping is called 3×3D-Shaping. The strongly curved and flow-sensitive area of the leading edge is smoothed even more. The result: a wrinkle-free leading edge and a smoother top wing surface for more performance.

The IOTA DLS has a modern pitch control system with C handles. C level inputs are transmitted directly from C to B level so that the wing profile shape is maintained. The glider delivers its full performance potential even when actively controlled by C handles.

The IOTA DLS is equipped throughout with colour-differentiated Pro Dry Lines from Edelrid. This latest generation of uncovered line is a further development of the highly respected 8000 Aramid line and has a 60% higher humidity exclusion factor. This line is extremely stable in length and demonstrates above-average resistance to failure after long use.

DURABLE LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURE (DLS) MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE TIMES. MANY PILOTS WANT LIGHTWEIGHT, BUT STILL ROBUST PRODUCTS. THEY DELIBERATELY DON’T WANT ULTRA-LIGHT GLIDERS BECAUSE THEY DON’T COMPLETELY FULFIL THEIR DESIRED LEVEL OF DURABILITY AND REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE IN HANDLING.

IOTA DLS sizes cover the complete glider Ideal Weight Range in 10 to 15 kg steps (small to large wings). Any flying weight occurs within only one glider size, because this range extends progressively through the glider sizes, with no overlaps. These IOTA DLS ideal takeoff weight areas provide the optimal relationship between gliding speed and climb performance for each size in all normal flying conditions, and also take into account the different paraglider size characteristics.

“I’d recommend the DLS to any aspiring XC pilot already flying a low-B confidently. A pilot dropping down from the C category will not be disappointed and may even see his or her XC kms go up.”

“The Iota DLS adds many small features to the first two generations that make it even more user-friendly, more powerful, more usable also at the limits of flying. And in my opinion, more accessible. It’s a success!”

„It’s light but durable, user-friendly with its lines, thermals beautifully, handles very nicely and has full usable speedbar” and further “In short, in both looks and design this is a very smart glider. Plus, it has that magic ingredient: it’s loads of fun to fly.”

“…I liked that version very much. It kept me in control when I needed to be, and well pressurized…It is a well-sorted machine with top-end, B performance and efficiency in real air, that matches the top-end ones in that category to date!”

“ADVANCE had already improved the IOTA in a few areas and the new IOTA DLS has once again brought a very sophisticated wing to the market. It leaves hardly any wish unfulfilled. A clever concept for which one can only congratulate them”

The basic flying concept for the new IOTA DLS comes from the extremely successful and high performing SIGMA 11. The profile characteristics of this big brother have been adopted, adjusted to meet the requirements of the high B class. A marked IOTA DLS performance step up is the result. The effective Pitch-Control-System gives a flying feel similar to a two-liner. An element of C level control inputs to the B level, thus maintaining profile shape when C-controlling while accelerated.

The extreme flight behaviour and passive safety of the new IOTA DLS have been greatly improved compared to its predecessor.Ideal tuning of lift distribution with fabric tension much improves turbulence absorption, without losing important pilot feedback from air mass effects. An agreeable sense of comfort in flight enables you to enjoy relaxed and fatigue-free flying over long distances.

Quality technical design does away with IOTA DLS upper C-wires, making the IOTA DLS even easier and more compact to pack – after flight.

Although pilots and dealers like products to be as light as possible, their feedback tells us that they are becoming increasingly reluctant to accept the degree of compromise in robustness and glider life that can go with light gliders. This demand has taken its time to become evident because pilots only become aware of the weaknesses of ultra-light products after using them for a while. Unless given special care, ultra-light gliders can suffer subtle but permanent airfoil deformation which may have a lasting effect on flight behaviour and performance. Porosity of lightweight fabrics might also become an issue associated with intensive use.

So we decided to confront this problem with our DLS concept, and develop a product that meets this wide spectrum of demands. Our many years experience of developing X-Alps equipment has helped us with this set of subjects. Computer-aided analysis enabled us to focus, in great detail, on those areas of a paraglider which are exposed to high stress, and therefore deserve specific attention. This allows us to selectively decide on the mix of lightweight and conventional materials to use, but, above all, design the best geometric shapes of individual components such as diagonals, tension bands or rib crossports in an economic way that also eliminates weaknesses in durability and robustness.

No: the 27gm fabric for the wing undersurface only saves around 150 gms, depending on glider size. Total weight saving subtracts more than four times this figure. Because the IOTA DLS is up to 700 g lighter than its predecessor when using the optional light-risers.

The sum of many small but important details means that the new IOTA DLS is a lightweight glider. Nevertheless, components that are important for durability, such as the ribs, are made of particularly low-stretch materials. The DLS difference comes from an intelligent material mix, fabric weight saving at less stressed areas, a re-analysis of sliced diagonal shapes, and geometrically optimized tension straps.

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