Design Insights: Born Light, Ultra-X, Aluula and More

DEVELOPMENT AIMS

Please find some information below about our design aims and objectives, especially focusing on why and in what combination we choose to use different materials.

When setting out a design brief for a product it is always based around meeting the needs of the real end user in the best way possible. Guaranteeing good aerodynamics with strength in a light weight design always lies at the heart of all the products we release, for whichever level of rider we are designing for. In Ozone products, you can always expect everything you need for performance, and nothing you don’t.

BORN LIGHT, GENETICALLY STRONG

Naturally, the lighter the wing or kite is, the better it will fly. The stronger it is, the longer its performance will last.

We have always avoided adding surplus features or unnecessary cosmetic items to our designs and use top of the line materials put through a rigorous testing programme.

If you compare the weights of any Ozone kite or wing against the most dedicated light weight specific products produced by our competitors, you’ll see that all our products are just born light. Even on our entry level designs we don’t compromise the handling benefits that airborne products undoubtedly have through being lighter.

Combined with cutting edge manufacturing and highly skilled craftspeople our designs are Born Light & Genetically Strong.

Technical, performant, durable and efficient – the lightness and strength is built in.

USING A VERSION STRATEGY AND OPERATING OUR OWN FACTORY ALLOWS OUR DESIGNERS THE FREEDOM TO FIND THE PERFECT BLEND OF MATERIALS

Development and access to lighter, stiffer and more responsive materials has accelerated in recent years, but sound product design isn’t just about selecting the latest, shiny looking offerings.

Achieving a lighter overall product weight is one thing, but how materials can be shaped and integrated with each other is a vital aspect in delivering a high performing end product that will also last and stand the test of time at the right cost for the consumer.

Owning our own factory means we are not tied to annual product release targets and our version strategy means we only release products when true performance upgrades have been achieved.

When working with new materials our designers have unrestricted access to the factory and work closely with the technicians in the prototyping department to ensure that every Ozone product continues to meet our extremely high standards of reliability, as well as meeting the desired high performance weight savings or increased air frame stiffness targets that we set.

ULTRA-X:
ULTRA STIFF, ULTRA RESPONSIVE, ULTRA RELIABLE, ULTRA WOW

In 2023 we released the first in our Ultra-X line of products because we wanted the space to offer an even higher performance option and this has driven development in all areas.
Ultra-X materials are a culmination of all that we’ve learnt through more than two decades of running our own factory that builds paragliders, wingsuits, kites, wings and accessories.

Ultra-X is our umbrella term / category for any product that is made using specialist materials that are designed to perform above and beyond the ‘industry standard’.

Ultra with the X factor: performance enhancements from being ultra light, ultra responsive, ultra stiff, ultra strong… ultra anything we discover delivers the highest performance.
Our current Ultra-X product range of kites includes, the Vortex Ultra-X, Reo V7 Ultra-X, Zephyr V8 Ultra-X and the Alpha Ultra-X which is coming soon.

ALUULA INTEGRATION

We have been working with and testing Aluula on different kite and wing prototypes since 2020. Bringing materials together to deliver combined performance and reliable strength without compromising any aspect of build quality is always of utmost priority, and a reason that our returning customers place their trust in our products.

Aluula’s incredible strength, stiffness and light weight qualities were the primary appeals and the first production model Aluula is used on is the Vortex kite. Although being particularly light wasn’t an initial objective for the Vortex, the fact that it is lightweight has brought positive handling gains, notably in low end performance, when its manoeuvrability for power and lift is key.

The added stiffness of Aluula materials helps to maintain the Vortex’s designed shape under heavy loads in extreme conditions for optimum handling and long lasting performance; the latter of which is always a crucial part of a design brief for any of our products.

ALUULA SNAPSHOT

Aluula can provide a tensile strength increase of as much as 38% compared to standard material construction, while tear strength is up to seven times greater.

When you combine those advantages with the fact that careful integration of Aluula can also deliver up to a 30% weight saving, it’s the right air frame material to help achieve the Vortex’s performance parameters.

Careful implementation of Aluula, also means that the material’s natural stiffness provides the high performance rigidity without needing to be inflated up to crazy high PSI pressures; so you can save your energies for the water.

PERFORMANCE DACRON

The Ultra-X journey hasn’t always led us to the need for Aluula integration. We analyse the needs of our customers that each product is being designed for, and ensure those needs will be met and exceeded. The integration of each material is assessed, not only in its own performance, but also how it works with other materials, including the impact it has on the end price.

Good examples are our Reo V7 Ultra-X, Zephyr Ultra-X and upcoming Alpha Ultra-X models that use a performance 125g dacron on the leading edge in combination with a lighter weight canopy material. This particular combination delivers excellent handling performance and range for the very specific conditions and disciplines they are designed for.

ULTIMATELY…

We simply use the best materials for each specific design requirement and rigorously check every single square inch of imported material that comes into the factory before production.

We have an entire factory department dedicated to this quality control inspection process, returning any imperfect sections that are supplied, which is another reason why the finish on our final products borders on perfect.