An Unexpected Partnership: The Story Behind the XC Tracer Maxx III

Two years ago, we at XC Tracer began developing the successor to our proven Maxx II vario. The Maxx II had already established itself with legendary lag-free accuracy, exceptional battery life, and rock-solid reliability. With the Maxx III, we now introduce a game-changing feature: high-resolution topography display.

Particularly during cross-country flights in unfamiliar terrain or challenging alpine conditions, the visual representation of topography becomes a critical safety and navigation tool:

• Reading terrain features for accurate thermal prediction

• Early identification of convergence lines and valley wind systems

• Quick location of suitable landing options in unfamiliar terrain

• Enhanced assessment of valley wind and ridge lift systems

• Reliable identification of dangerous lee areas behind mountain ranges

• Early recognition of potentially dangerous rotor zones

• Real-time display of ADS-L / FANET buddy positions

The Vision

To realize this vision, we needed a display that would significantly improve upon the already excellent readability of the Maxx II while maintaining minimal power consumption. The new display needed to provide high-resolution topography representation with a fast refresh rate. Our goal was to offer pilots comprehensive information on a perfectly readable screen without creating distractions during flight.

The Crucial Partnership

After extensive searches, we initially found no suitable display technology on the market. We contacted various manufacturers, including Kyocera—a Japanese company with over 50 years of experience in developing flat-panel technologies. Since the early 1970s, Kyocera has consistently driven innovation and is considered a pioneer in durable, reliable displays under extreme conditions.

We expected a polite rejection, as specialized requests from tiny companies rarely capture the attention of global corporations. We were pleasantly surprised by the initial conversation with Kyocera Display's sales office in Germany: "Your idea sounds exciting. Let's discuss it."

Within days, we were deep in technical discussions about requirements and potential solutions.

From Concept to Reality

An intensive collaboration followed. We passionately shared our ideas and requirements, continuously providing fresh input to challenge Kyocera engineers. Kyocera brought their expertise in display manufacturing and specialized knowledge in Memory-In-Pixel (MIP) technology, which they have continuously developed since the early 2000s.

To optimize communication and deepen understanding of our technical requirements, the XC Tracer team traveled to Japan to collaborate on-site with Kyocera engineers. These face-to-face discussions proved crucial for communicating the specific demands of paragliding applications and finding technical compromises without losing sight of our ultimate goals. While we had to adapt some original concepts to technical realities, the Kyocera engineers understood our requirements excellently and developed practical solutions.

For XC Tracer, the decision to invest significantly in development costs as a small company wasn't taken lightly. Our belief in the importance of this technological advancement for pilot safety and flight experience gave us the courage to undertake the financial risk. This investment reflects our commitment to developing the industry's finest flight instruments without compromising quality.

The Result: A New Standard in Vario Technology

The result is remarkable: a custom MIP display for the XC Tracer Maxx III that sets new standards in the paragliding industry. In recognition of our investment and commitment, Kyocera granted XC Tracer exclusive rights to use this particular MIP display technology for flight instruments—a decisive competitive advantage that underscores the uniqueness of the Maxx III.

This display technology offers four key advantages:

• Perfect readability: Crystal-clear visibility even in direct sunlight and from various viewing angles

• High resolution: Detailed topography representation at 250 DPI on an 800×660 pixel MIP display for the first time in paragliding

• High refresh rate: Content updates up to 15 times per second for smooth, real-time information

• Ultra-low power consumption: Despite a significantly higher pixel count, power consumption remains minimal

Innovation Through Collaboration

We're proud to be the company in the paragliding industry to offer a vario equipped with this groundbreaking display technology. This collaboration vividly demonstrates how technological advancements emerge from combining deep market understanding with technical expertise. Kyocera successfully transferred their extensive knowledge of display technology to a new application, expanding their technological boundaries. Simultaneously, we at XC Tracer significantly expanded our expertise in developing precision flight instruments.

The result is a product that offers much more than the sum of its parts: a vario that, thanks to its specially developed display, creates genuine added value for pilots. Building on our pioneering lag-free vario technology—the gold standard in zero-lag accuracy—the Maxx III continues our tradition of reliable performance while opening new possibilities for terrain awareness and flight planning.

XC Tracer Maxx III is designed and manufactured in Switzerland, reflecting the meticulous quality and reliability synonymous with Swiss engineering that pilots have come to expect from XC Tracer.