Swing presented the Sonic RS on August 20, a parakite designed not to be boxed into a single flying style: it works for coastal soaring in strong wind as well as for proximity flying, touch-and-gos or dynamic turns. The wing is already available in three sizes (15, 18 and 21 m²), with a fourth 24 m² size still in development.
According to the spec sheet published by the German brand, the Sonic RS starts from the reflex profile of the Scorpio RS, their high-performance paramotor wing, adapted and refined specifically for parakiting by Swing’s Italian R&D team, led by designer Alessio Casolla. The development was fine-tuned over long sessions on the South African coast, in the widest possible range of conditions.
The wing combines the reflex profile with RAST technology (which compartmentalises the internal pressure on the bottom surface to give stability and structure to the profile) and a shark nose reinforced with Nitinol to keep the leading edge sharp and precise. According to Swing, this combination keeps the wing compact and pressurised even at low angles of attack and on bar, reducing the tendency to collapse at the front. The risers are hybrids of Dyneema lines and robust fabric: the A riser is made of 12 mm webbing, while the Mixer — the Ronstan pulley system built into the risers that combines pitch and yaw control in a single point — is built in Dyneema. According to Swing, this combination gives more direct control on launch. All sizes also include tip-steering, which can be combined with the main brakes for more agile and precise turns, as the brand describes.
Swing team pilot Martin Perdacher, quoted on the official website, described his experience with the wing on a trip to Madeira: “the Sonic was simply the perfect partner for our trip to Madeira. Whatever the conditions, it convinced us in every way and made this trip unforgettable”.
| Sonic RS | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified take-off weight (kg) | 50-119 | 55-119 | 60-119 | 70-119 |
| Cells | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| Flat area (m²) | 15.0 | 18.0 | 21.0 | 24.0 |
| Span (m) | 9.1 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Aspect ratio | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.75 | 5.85 |
| Glider weight (kg) | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
EN 926-1 certification is in progress for all four sizes; speed values, sink rate and the certification number will be published once the testing process is complete, according to Swing.
+Info: swing.de/produkte/sonic-rs
