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By Neil Cruickshank

From this.... to this!

When Sup'Air announced their new range this year, we were excited to hear about their AltiRando reversible harness so it was with eager anticipation that we unpacked the first shipment to inspect the goods. We weren't dissapointed!

This superb new concept of the harness being reversible to turn into the glider sack is an excellent idea, but the way that Sup'Air have executed it is the best bit. The rucksack carries incredibly well and is large enough for a well packed standard weight glider, front mount reserve and open-face lid. Turned into a harness and you have a fully adjustable, cygnus protected harness with auto buckles, carbon seat, speed-bar routing and all the usual stuff one expects! All this for a measly 2300g!!

I flew with it on a couple of occasions, but generally stuck with my Sup'Air AltiX for the majority of the season - another superb harness. So, 2 weeks in the Alps with an Easyjet flight at each end was an ideal opportunity to live with the harness and see how it performs.

I arrived at the airport to meet Kev and Steve, both with the normal enormous packs. Immediately they were charged an extra £30 each for their wings. Mine slid down the conveyor without a second glance , heh heh.

First opportunity to fly the harness turned out to be the longest flight of the trip. Taking off the Forclaz launch at Annecy, saw the start of a nearly 3 hour flight, with awkward thermals, some close in tree soaring, a long glide over the lake, more soaring up the Roc de Boeuf, a glide to the Doussard landing field and a few wing-overs followed by a seat-straining spiral to finish off. The rest of the trip included many more big flights including a bumpy thermal flight at Verbier.

So what did I think? Firstly, the front mount reserve is not a problem for me (my main worry). with the Sup'Air Front reserve with Cockpit making a nice nest for my Flytec 5020. Excellent back adjustment allows a nicely reclined position with adequate support. The cross bracing is easily adjustable allowing good weight-shift and I found the medium size just right for me at 5' 8". The only fault I can find is that for me the seat plate is a bit too angled up, I prefer a flatter flying postion - but a stirrup would solve that.

All-in-all I love it. I never felt disadvantaged from a comfort or handling point-of-view and the double airbag cygnus protection is as good as it gets. For the travelling pilot this has got to be a must-have. The pack is so small that hitching is easier, carrying all your gear is easier and of course aircraft travel is both easier and cheaper. As more airlines start charging for gliders, the £360 price tag can be clawed back in avoiding excess baggage charges.

I have now decided that I will use it as my everyday harness, the only problem is that I need a smaller glider due to the weight Ive saved!!

As more and more pilots now fly with a cockpit, having your reserve on the front is less of a problem, and it has to be the best spot to get to it from.

So a big thanks to Pierre Bouilloux for yet again taking harness design into a different dimension, watch out for the copies coming soon!

The AltiRando Airbag is in stock now and can be ordered online .