Refined in the Crucible of Competition

The Laminar is Icaro2000's flagship glider. It possesses all of the refinements that one would expect of an Italian designed and made product. It takes seeing one to fully understand the workmanship and attention to detail that Icaro2000 puts into all of their hang gliders. Refined through the crucible of competition, the Laminar is the glider of choice for some of the world's top racing pilots, who have a consistent presence on the podium at competitions worldwide. Icaro2000's recent innovations focus on making the Laminar's performance more accessible to the recreational pilot.

Sail

Refinements to the sail include a new design for the wingtip area, with shorter tip wands and larger wingtips. The wingspan and aspect ratio remained the same, but the wingtip modifications have changed the sail tension in the entire wingtip area; thus, improving handling, with easier turn initiation, and a reduction in the high-siding required in thermals, facilitating flying and making the pilot experience even more pleasurable. The design of the leading edge and the front part of the double surface has also been modified to optimize profile shape and tension distribution. Likewise, the design ofthe inner leading-edge canvas has also been modified, again to improve sail tension in the forward part of the wing.

Maintaining its racing credentials, the Laminar sail has 6 removable mini-battens on the trailing edge, with a total weight of less than 15 grams, which have eliminated the vibration that sometimes occurs at speeds exceeding 100 km/h. Additionally, the leading edge is not interrupted at the nose by the presence of pockets for the Mylar stiffeners which aids in optimum, uniform leading-edge tension distribution.

The batten pockets on the under-surface are designed to prevent the battens from sliding out when the hang glider is exposed to a strong tail wind while waiting at the launch site. The keel pocket has a cover that hides the VG pulleys. This cover improves the appearance of the rear part of the wing over the keel and reduces parasitic drag. It also provides protection when the hang glider has been disassembled and closed.

The standard sail comprises a PX10 leading edge and RSQ Polykote mainsail. RSQ Polykote was developed for maritime (sailboat) racing. The fabric is comprised of a coated rectangular box double- ripstop pattern. A technora sail is available as an option. The technora option provides a weight savings and has higher elongation characteristics.

Ergal Frame

Icaro2000 is the only hang glider manufacturer in the world to manufacture, the central crossbar junction block in Ergal 7075, by machining a solid block, for all its topless models. This process yields a strong, light component, in which stress is uniformly distributed throughout the structure of the unit. The cost of this technological process, when compared to the customary system used by our competitors (two aluminum plates screwed to the central slider) is much more expensive. However, it ensures a higher degree of strength and reliability.

In 2017, Icaro2000 introduced a new crossbar design that has an increased diameter and circular section with improved lamination of the carbon fiber used in this component. The result is considerable weight reduction and a stronger component increasing the maximum take-off load. The new more robust central H-block, new joints between crossbar, and wing spar has also contributed to weight reduction. These enhancements also improve transferring the load to the crossbar and providing increasing torsional rigidity. These innovations provide a weight reduction of 700 grams in the 14.1 size and 1,200 grams for the 12.6 size when compared to the previous light version of the cross-bar. At the same time, the maximum permitted take-off weight has increased by 10 kg in the larger size of the hang glider.

Compensated Twist Tips

To assist with handling at higher VG settings, Icaro 2000 designed and implemented a compensated “Twist Tips” system linked to the Variable Geometry (VG) system, which ensures that the outer tips (which provide support for the two outermost battens) can move in mutually opposite directions, even when the sail is in direct contact with them. This generally occurs in VG settings from one half to full.

Optional Features

Optional features include technora sail, carbon fiber leading edge (aft and forward), carbon fiber downtubes, carbon fiber basetube, carbon fiber battens, carbon fiber stiffeners, leading edge profiler, and extended wingtips.