I was able to fly the new Advance harness for a week during our thermal camp in Piedmont. Both on quiet evening flights and playfully when wingovering in front of the launch site or in strong thermal air.
The Lightness 4 is an all-round harness from Advance in Thun. Size M weighs just 3.47 kilos. The construction is based on the hammock principle and therefore has no seat board. A new "3D body fitting" is designed to guarantee maximum comfort. The rear spoiler ensures a sleek look and a stable flight. The harness is available in glacier blue. The harness is supplied with a front screen and a very comfortable backpack in sizes 81 and 91 liters that matches the harness.
UTo make this test report understandable, first an explanation of what I am looking for in a harness. The most important thing for me is back support. I am tall, get back pain quickly and want to have good support across my entire back, especially when accelerating. The harness should also provide enough cushioning to enable long flights, but also give feedback from the glider and clearly pass on my weight inputs to the glider. And finally, the cockpit is important to me; it should carry my instruments and provide storage space for food, battery pack, gloves, etc. Quality workmanship and visual appeal are also a prerequisite!
When unpacking the harness, it is immediately clear that the latter point is absolutely met. The perfect workmanship, as usual with products from Advance, and a light and sleek color combination are a joy to use.
The first test sit in the trailer at Advance in Thun shows the improvements compared to the previous model. The back is much better supported and thanks to the 3D construction it feels more like a sports bucket seat. Adjusting the Lightness 4 is simple, intuitive and quick. I like the solution for opening the cockpit compartments. There is certainly enough space for a wide variety of items in the harness's four storage compartments. And finally, the foot plate has also been improved; small stones and dirt will no longer find their way to the easily replaceable carbon plate.
Also very important is the emergency parachute handle and the associated compartment: a simple construction that holds the emergency parachute in the compartment and makes deployment easy and effortless.
During the first testing, in discussions with the developers, questions arise which are briefly summarized here.
Ueli: Why does the Lightness 4 have a hammock construction?
Advance: We have found over many years that the "hammock" is generally more comfortable. There are no transitions, no pressure points and the harness is more compact and lighter. This is almost part of the LIGHTNESS DNA, as the first LIGHTNESS was also the first seat-board-less harness on the market.
Ueli: How did you make the back area so much more comfortable compared to the previous model?
Advance: Several factors contribute to this. On the one hand, the back foam is now on the outside, which creates a cushion effect. Another important point is the new harness geometry for better support of the upper body. In addition, the harness shell has been completely redesigned based on 3D body scans, making it even more ergonomic.
Ueli: why does the new Lightness get the tail fin after all?
Advance: Of course, aerodynamic optimization plays a role and longitudinal stability is also noticeably improved. However, it was important to us to design the rear spoiler in such a way that it plays to its advantages without being a nuisance to pilots either on the ground or in the air.
The harness is easy to handle at the launch site. Anyone familiar with the previous model will immediately feel at home. Even someone without experience with harnesses will intuitively be able to use the simple fasteners correctly. Launching is also easy; once in the air, you can get into the pod straight away and sit comfortably. If getting into pod is a problem, you can attach an elastic loop to your shoe.
The harness is intuitive from the start and very nice to fly! It gives enough feedback and makes long flights possible without getting tired. All important compartments and most adjustment options are accessible during flight. The cockpit is just far enough away from the body to be able to see and operate the instruments at a good angle. There is also space for a large camera in front of the chest strap. Openings for charging cables, drinking and urine tubes are of course available.
* The pictures shown here are from a first series Lightness. In the currently available version there is a small change to the speed bag closure and the cockpit adjustment.
A very visually appealing harness and of the highest quality. Light but still robustly built. The Lightness 4 is comfortable and has very good back support, even in accelerated flight. It offers the easiest handling at the start and is therefore also well suited for beginners. The decision for or against a seat board is a fundamental one; I like this type of construction. I warmly recommend the harness to all pilots who are looking for a robust but still lightweight all-round harness for longer thermals and cross-country flights. It is the perfect introduction to the world of harnesses.
The harness can be tested in our shop and also reserved for a test flight:
Happy landings, Ueli
