Hero XPed – No limits to exploration
Somewhere in the Alps. The best hike-and-fly athletes are lined up on the starting line. The speaker’s comments echo in their ears. What are they thinking?
The last few months have gone by so quickly! The selection, the team formation, the search for sponsors, the training, … Their heart rate is accelerating.
The glider? The AirDesign athletes calmly take a deep breath: nothing to worry about.
Hero XPed #yourbestmate
Designed to participate in “the world’s toughest adventure race”, the Hero XPed is the 2nd product from the Expedition series (XPed) to be introduced.
A light EN-D glider with a distinct DNA, offering great balance and enjoyment with homogenous tension across the span, yet still providing some degrees of freedom that assert its character and allow it to inform you about what is happening in the invisible world.
The Hero XPed will become your best mate.
- Beginner 0%
- Intermediate 0%
- Advanced 60%
- Expert 100%
- Cross Country 100%
- Hike & Fly 100%
- Expedition 100%
- Cross Country Competition 100%
- Hike & Fly Competition 100%
Designer’s words…
We are profoundly happy to introduce the Hero XPed, a light EN-D glider that will accompany some athletes during the X-Alps. And we cannot wait to see which adventures you will embark on it! Usable performance, a unique turn, so precise, a glide that brings a smile, and a durable construction that will take you far, always with the same pleasure, even through a hard life… Here, in a few words, is what Hero XPed is.
Stephan Stiegler
Designer
Did you know?
The Hero 2 marked the return of AirDesign to the segment of EN-D gliders developed for hike-and-fly. But, now we’re talking about the X-Alps! For a race of this magnitude, a new glider was needed. With the Hero XPed, we take that one step further. It’s the lightest Hero ever created, yet still dependable in any situation. The tension in the wing span has been improved to make it even more all-terrain in tough conditions while maintaining the right flexibility at the wingtips to preserve excellent floatation qualities when conditions weaken. The turning behavior has also evolved significantly to facilitate thermalling using the whole range of brakes while offering greater soaring abilities.
Construction & Features
Delivered with 12mm Aramid risers as standard. Heavier than Dyneema but in windy and/or tricky takeoff conditions, much easier to handle with no tendency to twist.
Double-coated Dominico DOKDO-10DSF for top and bottom surfaces. A choice that has proven itself in our Superlight gliders range.
Optimized nitinol rods: improve stability at the trailing edge, launching characteristics and also act as a safety feature. Not to mention the weight reduction and the compact folding!
Clever main ribs support design to ensure longevity of performance. Our gliders are built to last, performance included.
XPed what? A durable light construction that can handle dynamic maneuvers and random packing: it’s made for real-world flying, not just for ultralight optimization.
Did you know?
We are always striving for the best balance between lightness and solidity. That’s why the Hero XPed features a new style of internal wire routing and an innovative inner construction. We made choices to enhance the durability and strength of the Hero XPed’s construction, ensuring better load distribution and increased longevity. We want pilots to feel confident in our products by knowing they have built-in safety margins. Yes, that’s what the Expedition series is all about!
Technical Specifications
The Hero XPed is a serious contender for hike-and-fly competitions. Its passive safety, delightful turn and global performance make it also a perfect companion for vol-biv adventures. The Hero XPed is flown optimal around 5kg below the max weight loading, allowing you to carry more gear if needed, without exceeding the upper certified range, like in bivy for example. Hell yes, you have found #yourbestmate!
| Size | XXS | XS | S | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Flat (m²) | 18,98 | 20,30 | 21,86 | 23,32 |
| Area | Projected (m²) | 16,25 | 17,38 | 18,72 | 19,96 |
| Span | Flat (m) | 11,37 | 11,76 | 12,20 | 12,60 |
| Span | Projected (m) | 9,23 | 9,55 | 9,91 | 10,24 |
| Aspect ratio | Flat | 6,81 | 6,81 | 6,81 | 6,81 |
| Aspect ratio | Projected | 5,25 | 5,25 | 5,25 | 5,25 |
| Cells | 57 | 57 | 57 | 57 |
| Chord-length (m) | 2,11 | 2,18 | 2,26 | 2,34 |
| Weight (kg) | 2,81 | 2,95 | 3,15 | 3,28 |
| Take-off weight (kg) | 64-80 | 74-88 | 84-98 | 94-108 |
| Optimal weight range (kg) | 69-77 | 78-85 | 86-95 | 96-104 |
| EN category | D | D | D | D |
Take-Off Weight is considered as the flight-mass (including Pilot, Glider, Harness, Reserve, Gear…)
Sail
• Top Sail: Dominico 10 DSF
• Bottom Sail: Dominico 10 DSF
• Ribs: Porcher Skytex 27 hard
• Straps: Dominico DOKDO-204432FM / Porcher Skytex 27 hard
Lines
• Top lines: Edelrid 8001/U-070, 090, 9200-035
• Middle lines: Edelrid 8001/U-130, 190
• Main lines: Edelrid 8001/U-190, 230, 280, 360
Riser
• Standard Riser: COUSIN – 12mm Aramid
Maillons
• 4,3mm JOO-TECH/Korea or AirDesign Softlinks
XPED
VORTEX HOLES
CROSS SHARK-NOSE
NITINOL RODS
3D-CUT
MINI RIBS
RAZOR EDGE
UNSHEATHED & COLORED LINES
BS PULLEY CONNECTOR
| Points of comparison | Hero 2 | Hero XPed |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Superlight (SL) | Expedition (XPed) |
| Sizes | XXS, XS, S, M, ML, L Range from 50 to 128 kg | XXS, XS, S, M Range from 50 to 108 kg |
| Optimal weight range (kg) | Optimum load from mid to upper load range | Optimum load at around 5 kg below the max load |
| Aspect ratio | 6.95 | 6.81 |
| Weight | XS: 3.35 kg | XS: 2.95 kg, reduced by around 0.4 kg |
| Risers | 12mm aramid risers as standard. SL Dyneema risers as an option | 12mm aramid risers as standard |
| Nose guard patches | Yes | No |
| Fabric | Dominico D10 | Dominico D10 |
| Mini-ribs | Yes (internal seams) | Yes (external seams) |
| Internal structure | Durable | Optimized |
| B-steering | Handle | Handles |
| Wires | Full-chord nitinol rods | Optimised nitinol rods |
| Packing volume | Very small | Reduced |
- Glider
- AirPack 50/50
- Goodies
- Repair Materials and AirDesign Stickers
Please contact your dealer if you wish to have your glider delivered with a suitable Rucksack for your equipment. Rucksack is not included in your pack.
AirDesign has a small one
We work hard on every model to be able to maintain the behavior of the glider in terms of flying, and also outside the flight envelope, for all the certified weights, starting by the smallest ones. The certification of most of our wings starts at 50 kg because we chose to announce only what we have actually tested. And above all, because we make sure that the glider is efficient, secure and fun at this load and this is as important as the certification itself! Our aim is to have light pilots find the same pleasure to fly as heavier ones. More info
Colors
Special Colours desired?
Of Course, you can also customize this glider with the help of our configurator and order it in special colors!
The color combinations made on this simulator do not take into account the effects of transparency.
They are only indicative and allow you to give the information of choice of color to your dealer.
To better visualize the effects of transparency, do not hesitate to visit the various product pages of the site.
Brochure – Certification – Lineplan
Manual – Testreport FTR
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