NEW FOR 2026!
The Puma-DXL is all about accessible performance. Hang gliding is all about the freedom of flight, experiencing a dynamic flying feeling and flying fast and far is part of that. However a glider which is high performance but hard to fly limits who is able to experience to a small few. So the rationale behind the Dynamic Cross Link (DXL) concept is to open up high performance to more people. The original Puma was a high performance glider, close to a topless in performance, but also close to a topless in the demands it placed on the pilot. The DXL tames this to a produce a glider which now performs better than ever but is also more enjoyable and less demanding to fly. Note that it is still far from a beginner's glider, you should be able to fly competently on a lower performance level glider like a Rio2 before moving up, but it is a glider for everyone to enjoy.
The DXL concept is described in detail in this video:
The semi-elliptical planform, raked forward kingpost and optional winglets make it a distinctive glider that flies as well as it looks with great handling and excellent performance. The raked kingpost enables a long travel VG system without the excessively slack sidewires that characterise other high performance kingposted gliders. Build quality is second to none and the Puma is not only the lightest glider in this class, it's also lighter than some in the class below! Depending on the options specified, the Puma can weigh as little as 29kg.
The Puma is available in 13.7 square metre size with a wide range of options. To simplify this choice, we have now have two recommended options upgrade packs, Sport and Race. Although these are the combinations we like the most, all options are still available individually to allow you to customise the glider exactly how you like it, please speak to us to discuss this if this appeals to you.
The basic Puma-DXL comes with a mostly 'Dacron' type woven fabric sail, just with a laminate leading and trailing edge. It has a folding fabric fin (instead of winglets) and the rubber backed upright type control frame. It has carbon fibre outer leading edges and carbon fibre washout rods (sprogs).
The Sport options pack replaces the sail with a full laminate sail; laminate top surface and undersurface replacing Dacron, Liteskin high tenacity trailing edge replacing the standard laminate and coloured batten pockets and highlights included. It replaces the folding fabric fin with carbon fibre winglets. Naturally it also keeps the carbon fibre outer leading edges and sprogs.
The Race options pack includes all of the upgrades of the Sport pack, but also replaces the rubber backed upright, round basebar control frame with the Speed frame, featuring lower drag, 2 piece uprights, Bullet Pin fittings and a carbon fibre speedbar. It also includes a keel pocket fairing and racing wires.
The Carrier wing folding is described here:
There are plenty more photos here:
Photo album
Coloured undersurface and batten pockets can be chosen from the 10 colours (or white) here:
Note: The standard option is for a choice of two colours (front and rear panels matching) with the reininforcement patches and keel pocket also in this colour. For an extra charge, a third undersurface colour can be added and coloured batten pockets can also be added as an option which then also includes colours the reinforcement patches and keel pocket to match the batten pockets.
The original Puma was reviewed by two different pilots in the UKs Skywings Magazine, most recently in 2023 by an ex-Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilot! See links below:
