Dustoftheuniverse

PHi Maestro 3 size 21 and Maestro 3 LIGHT size 19.

I received two gliders from PHI: the Maestro 3 21 and the Maestro 3 light 19. Those gliders are aimed at intermediate pilots for the high B category.

Let's begin with the Maestro 3 21.

After a few flights, I realized that it's better to fly the glider a bit loaded, more than the Maestro 2, which could be flown in overall conditions at 70 % of the normal weight range. Maestro 2 size 21 75-95/ extended to 100, could be flown at 93.

But on the Maestro 3 size 21, I felt that this size is better flown at 97…98. As well as the Maestro 3 light size 19, which goes from 70-85 / extended to 90. I also felt that at 86..87 could be a good choice in overall conditions.

Why?

My personal feeling is that when hitting turbulent, strong thermals, the Maestro 3, with its perfect homogeneity, also has good energy, giving you the feel that you need to load it to keep it—overhead swifter.

Climb:

Loading the M3-21 at 98 gives a more connected feel and still allows a queen in climb. That glider will surely get you on top of any gaggle. But to climb, you first need to enter the rising airmass… Therefore, loading the glider is a better way to get quickly into the thermal, knowing that the load won’t affect the climb at all.

So, in climb mode, whether thermals are weak or strong, the Maestro 3 climbs flawlessly and really efficiently. Again, when I flew the M3-21 at 90 all up, I couldn’t be efficient on some challenging climbs because it was slow to enter that airmass, when other well-loaded reference gliders are higher. Saying that, loading it at 98, I felt I had the edge over many high B's.

Handling:

At 98 all up, on the Maestro 3 21, the brake pressure is on the moderate side, and the authority on the brakes is very present, giving the pilot high pleasure when turning it into cores. I enjoyed coring the tiniest of thermals in very narrow cores.

Gliding:

As always, some glides were made in headwind, difficult air, moving air, etc. Afterward, we all concluded that the Maestro 3 has what it takes to be near the best ones in that category.

Ears are efficient. They do not open on their own and require pilot intervention.

Overall, easier to fly than Maestro 2, nice handling, excellent climb, and glide. It must be loaded to give you the results you expect.

Maestro 3 Light size 19.

The Light version of the Maestro 3 has impeccable launching characteristics. Super easy, smooth, very fast to take off.

The Maestro 3 light size 19 is more alive than the Maestro 3 normal 21. But both are easier to fly than the earlier Maestro 2 regular and light versions.

The Light version, being also a size smaller, felt more alive than the standard version. Even the handling and turning abilities were ‘amazing’! If you only turn your eyes, the M3 Light would turn! What a pleasure to fly high, B!

Again, when I loaded it up to 86-87, everything was more perfect. Even the climb! This small glider has the edge in climb over some good C class 2 liners! We were all amazed by that climb. Weak, strong…turbulent, the M3 light will get you to the top of the gaggle flawlessly.

Gliding with a Delta 5 showed us that the glide is very close, to say the least. The D5, being a 2 liner, is trimmed a bit faster, and could be more efficient in XC, but the M3 light is super close. I am not comparing it to a C class 2 line concept, but it's just an idea to tell you that the overall performance is close enough, with an edge for the 2 liner, of course.

Conclusion M3/ M3 light:

I personally enjoyed both Maestro 3s, with a preference for the Light version, as it is more alive and even more pleasurable to fly. Usually, the smaller versions feel like sparrows compared to the larger sizes. The overall performance of both gliders is perfect in climb and glide, and for the high category, it's more than enough. To extract those performances, try loading the gliders to the max in order to get the edge in cutting through the airmass and climbing away.

Skywalk Poison 4 (My personal avatar)

The Poison 4 is SKYWALK's new two liner EN-D glider for 2026 and beyond. It has a 6.9 aspect ratio, and it is created as their ultimate weapon for cross-country.
https://skywalk.info/project/poison4/

The glider has, in my view, impeccable construction features! It is built with Skytex Porcher 27 and 40 hrs. Well-placed rods in the structure don’t feel their weight or shape on the ground. Some gliders look so stiff that you ask yourself how to pack them…The Poison 4 appears easier and lighter in that regard, weighing around 5.6 kg!

Launching the Poison 4 as a regular XC glider in nil wind requires a steady pull to fill those tiny openings, but it still inflates slowly and evenly. In 10 km/h wind, it is very easy to launch with a solid, undefformed structure that already tells you “cool down, mate, I’m here for you!
It resembles the Zeno 2 launch, but with a slightly better rising time.

I flew the Poison 4 with two harnesses. The Flow VisstaXC and the Arrow. Both harnesses deliver practically the same feedback… I flew that glider during some intense and turbulent days in our Cedars range, as well as on some cool days later. I have been flying it for over +20 hours now, and I can easily describe its behavior.
At 94 all up, and on my first turn, I was already smiling! The Poison 4 features short, responsive, and direct brake control, offering precise and intuitive control. For the D class category, and with a seven aspect ratio glider, the Poison has the best handling I have experienced in that D class. It's between a Zeolite 2 GT and a Klimber 3P in terms of brake authority.

The overall movements inside a thermal resemble vaguely the Zeno 2. Still, I could sense a slight more homogeneity in turns, probably because I had a higher authority on the brakes, with also a more coherent structure.
The Roll is delivered less than the Zeno 2, and the pitch is neutral. In a more turbulent and strong air, there’s a logical workout intended for D-level pilots, which is rational for that category. However, the brake authority still gives the pilot confidence in control. It moves in a whole structure and in a heavy air mass; it surges forward, but again, the brake authority for a seven aspect ratio glider is flawless.

Gliding through a difficult air mass is the Poison 4 playground. It has a fast trim speed and enters the airmass efficiently (dolphin style), moves forward, and searches for better thermals! Like flying a Zeno 2, Peak 6, the Poison 4 has the edge over the Zeolite 2 GT, XAlps 6, and other light high aspect ratio gliders. It is from the higher category and resembles the Zeno 2 in that matter.
I did some glides alongside a brand new Peak 6, same size, and I think both are very close in glide.

Climb rate in weak lift is efficient, as I could get the most out of the weak day. As efficient as the Peak 6, also in that matter, if both are loaded at the top. Again, regardless of the thermal shape, I could easily re-adjust the glider turn with the brakes precisely inside the lift. In stronger air, it moves upward like the top EN-Ds out there. In good thermals, there’s always that pull through the turns, as if the Poison 4 wants to find the best core. It also feels that when I ease up a bit on the brakes, the Poison 4 leading edge stays pitch neutral with that very nice pull through the air. ( Like that famous stepping up a ladder) feel.

I personally liked the behaviour of that glider in thermals, turbulence, glides, but mainly, turns.
Applying the Speed system in a moving headwind air mass gives much efficiency over the top Cs. The pressure on the feet is moderate, allowing me to easily maintain 90% of the travel with good stability on both the Arrow and the Viista XC. I also think it goes well with Forza 2.
B steering, while on a half bar, has moderate pressure and can control most movements efficiently. Flying the D-class Poison 4 at half bar is quite rewarding in XC in terms of glide efficiency.

Ears can be made with outer B’s. They are stable, efficient with the speed bar, of course, and they reopen quickly.

Conclusion: The Poison 4 has enough gliding performance to stay along with the Peak 6, and other top D's of the moment. The climb is also similar and very good. The handling and brake authority are superb. The overall homogeneity, compactness, and the feel you get under it are the highest successes that Skywalk has achieved for the Pioson 4. Easier and more compact to fly than the Zeno 2, similar to the Peak 6 in flying demands without the pitch back upon thermal entry.. It remains a D-class glider to respect, but also to cherish for its complete package.
Every person has their personal preferences when it comes to activities like flying gliders, driving cars, etc. In my personal opinion, Skywalk has released my preferred EN-D glider to date.
'Coup de coeur’ like the French say ;-)