They did it! Niviuk pilots Liv Sansoz, Zeb Roche and Jean-Yves Fredriksen, better known as Blutch, have for the first time in history descended K2 (8,611 m) by paraglider, after climbing the eight-thousander without oxygen.
The challenge for the Niviuk R&D team
The task was enormous and we could not fail. We had to design extremely light wings, which would provide maximum safety for our pilots, who were subjected to exceptional conditions.
Our entire R&D team, together with our test pilots, set to work to find the best solution to accomplish the feat.
What wings did we design for their adventure?
We needed a glider for Blutch&39;s descent, which would be the same wing Liv and Zeb would use for their altitude acclimatisation, and a tandem glider for Liv and Zeb&39;s descent from the summit.
Our well-known Bi Skin model was the basis for the design of the paraglider - an even lighter 2.43 kg single-surface dual wing (including the spreader bars).
To achieve the weight reduction, our designers used Dokdo 10 to replace the D32 used in the Bi Skin. The ribs are also made entirely of a lighter material, Skytex 27.
All internal reinforcements and attachment points were also reduced as much as possible.
To ensure that safety was not compromised by these changes to the attachment points, flight and safety tests were carried out at our factory. We could not afford any mistakes.
A new connection system made it possible to remove the IKS and carabiners from the glider to the tandem spreaders. The lines were connected to the risers with a lark&39;s foot/clove hitch and the spreader bars were integrated into the same system.
In order to eliminate all buckles, it was decided to put the wing in a constant medium trimmer position. This meant that the glider was a little accelerated, but it was checked beforehand that this did not affect the launch and landing characteristics.
For these, a completely new glider was designed. It is the same one used by our factory pilot Tanguy Renaud-Goud to set the world record for the cumulative ascent in 24 hours of hike & fly.
The result? A prototype single-surface wing which weighs less than 1.1 kg.
As for the tandem wing, very light materials, such as Dokdo 10, were used. Weight was also reduced at the attachment points and the IKS connections were eliminated.
During the tests, our pilots confirmed the good flight and landing behaviour of this prototype.
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