Advance ALPHA 7

Technical data

¹ RTW: Recommended takeoff weight, in kilograms.
² ITW: Increased takeoff weight, in kilograms.

Freeflight weight ranges

The ALPHA 7 is available in five sizes 22, 24, 26, 28 and 31 and, like its predecessor, each size of the ALPHA 7 has an extended weight range of 15 kg. This increases the range of use in schools. The glider can also be flown in a dynamic range within the LTF/EN A classification, e.g. for acro beginners who want to get an early start on basic manoeuvres.

Colours

Standard colours: Royal, Spectra, Fire, Grey, Sangria.

Custom colours: Choose your colours and email us the custom colour reference with your order.

Package

• COMFORTPACK 3
• COMPRESSBAG
• Repair Kit
• Mini Windsock

Optional extras

• Concertina packing bag
• Paramotor risers with trimmers

ALPHA 7 – come fly with me

ALPHA 7, the entry level paraglider, refined to perfection.

The new ALPHA 7 is ready. Its predecessor has been one of the most successful beginner paragliders of all time. As a result, many of pilots and flying instructors hoped for as few alterations as possible; others suggested definite ideas for improvements—all in all a demanding starting position for our development team. For this reason the ALPHA 6 consistently remained the benchmark during the exhaustive development process.

We set the bar high, and required that the ALPHA 7 show improvement in several areas and should guarantee to score better or at least as well as the ALPHA 6 in all evaluation criteria. It should represent an even better, rounded package, so that the flying instructor spends a stress-free day at the training field, and his/her students have even more fun in the air.

Many of the improvements are not evident at a first look. Optically the ALPHA 7 is very similar to its forerunner, so we've put together the novelties for you in our ALPHA 7 product presentation (pdf), explained in detail.

Easy: Lift off with ease

The ALPHA 7 benefits from a simple lining design, with few support points and lines. This simple array is easy to see and quick to sort. The ALPHA 7 is straightforward to takeoff and fly. Weight is minimal, achieved by a sophisticated internal structure and state-of-the-art construction materials.

Safe: Flying safely

Innovative design technology gives the ALPHA 7 plenty of safety reserves. High internal wing pressure is maintained by the combination of an “Air Scoop” leading edge and the traditional ADVANCE semi-circular air intakes. This feature ­gives the ALPHA 7 a very low stall point and unmistakably clear and progressive brake loading. The pilot gains a significant safety plus from these handling advances.

Sustainable: Having fun

The ALPHA 7 was not just designed for learning; it is especially suitable for what comes after. It’s intended for pilots who appreciate a lot of safety when combined with notable performance. Through its modern design technology – including “3D-Shaping” at the leading edge and an intricate diagonal rib concept - it demonstrates a very respectable performance level among A-Class wings.

Advance Paragliders

Pioneering spirit and Swiss precision. Our story.

Enable our ideas to fly, that’s what we do. Since our beginnings over 30 years ago, ADVANCE have kept the needs, wishes and experiences of our pilots at the forefront. With Swiss precision we refine model after model. The highest quality and absolute reliability are part of the experience, in the air an in our customer service. So from pioneers we have become perfectionists, and a leading worldwide comprehensive service provider.

Technology & features

Safer with a deeper airflow breakaway point

Modern "Air Scoop Technology" at the leading edge applies to the ALPHA 7. Combined with the typical ADVANCE semi-circular intakes this feature results in a significantly lower separation point with clearly progressive brake loading.

Advance quality lightbuild

The low weight of the ALPHA 7 is primarily achieved by its sophisticated and carefully designed internal structure. Because the outer surfaces are still made of robust 40/38 gm cloth the light weight has no effect on the glider's long life expectancy. The fabric used for the the ALPHA 7 is exclusively high quality cloth from Porcher Sports, the well-know European manufacturer.

Big Ear system with "Quick Snap"

Big ears made easy. The ALPHA 7 outer A-line has its own easily reachable riser, making it easy to pull effective big ears. Taking off with both A-risers in hand is also simplified by the "Quick-Snap" magnet system which holds them together on the ground. Line sorting remains child's play. After pull up the risers separate and take up their flying position.

"Easy Connect System" for safer hook in

The ALPHA 7 risers have a "Easy Connect System", which helps the pilot hook in correctly by using a coloured marking system. This reduces the probability of the beginner connecting a twisted riser, or attaching the risers to the wrong carabiners. For maximum compatibility among ADVANCE products the same coloured markings are applied to all ADVANCE harness suspension points.

Materials

FAQ

Why is the ALPHA 7 an especially good beginner wing?

The ALPHA 7 demonstrates a high safety margin and very easy handling. This becomes evident even before takeoff. The new “Easy Connect System” helps the pilot clip into the risers safely and conveniently.

In flight the ALPHA 7 has a marked desire to return to steady flight. This means that a novice pilot’s incorrect or overenthusiastic control demands only create modest energy changes, and the wing quickly returns to its original flying condition.

The ALPHA 7 is considerably lighter than the previous Alpha. In addition, stall characteristics have been further improved. The stall point is much lower, and can only be reached though markedly raised brake line loading.

What makes the ALPHA 7 so easy to take off?

The ALPHA 7 starts particularly easily because it is very light: thanks to the innovative line concept and intricate diagonal rib construction the wing save many metres of line, and both these features reduce ALPHA 7 weight. Takeoff preparation and the takeoff itself both become simpler. The lines are quickly sorted, and the lighter canopy easily rises and remains above the pilot, without overshooting.

How is the ALPHA 7 different from a basic beginner wing?

The inside of the ALPHA 7 wing partly consists of “Sliced Diagonals”. This elaborate technology, usually found in high classification paragliders, saves a lot of line by a more efficient sharing of canopy loads. Once again this contributes to noticeable A class performance improvement. In addition, the ALPHA 7 benefits from “3D-Shaping”. This achieves a very smooth profile surface in the critical nose area, improving airflow and performance. These qualities, plus an expanded weight range, clearly set the ALPHA 7 apart from a typical beginner glider.

Can I continue to fly my ALPHA 7 after my basic training?

Definitely: it was designed with this specifically in mind. The ALPHA 7 has high passive safety. This means that it looks after itself and quickly returns to normal flight if the canopy is disturbed. Even in thermals the wing flies in a very stable manner, and transmits a sense of calm and reassurance to its pilot.

In addition to this the ALPHA 7 is easy to fly, and provides a real step up in glide performance as a result of its new line concept, and other refinements (see previous questions). The ALPHA 7 is one of the fastest A class paragliders and is still a lot of fun long after the school is over.

How can the ALPHA 7 be so robust despite its lighter weight?

New analysis technology enables the stresses in the structure to be accurately simulated, therefore the ideal construction material can be specifically chosen for each part. The ALPHA 7 inner life could therefore be made very light but also strong. The “Smart Sail System” at the leading edge also contributes to strength and long life. Here the Ripstop fabric is exactly aligned with local tension to prevent fabric distortion.

How could I use the extended weight range?

When developing the ALPHA 7 we kept the new generation of budding acro pilots in mind: so the extended upper weight limit of the EN/LTF-A classification for 22, 24, 26, 28 and 31 sizes lies around 15 kg above the recommended weight ranges. ALPHA 7 pilots can choose whether they prefer a glider with the best climbing performance of the normal weight range, or the handling of a higher wing loading. In an extended weight range the ALPHA 7 has a higher trim speed, and a more dynamic and agile flying characteristic. The ALPHA 7 keeps its EN/LTF-A certification in the extended weight range – testament to its innate passive safety.

Does the ALPHA 7 have paramotor certification?

The ALPHA 7 has in all sizes a DGAC paramotor certification. Technical data and information about use, flight behaviour and approvals can be found in the supplement to the ALPHA 7 manual. There are special Hybrid Risers for paramotoring.

What makes Advance products special among other paragliders?

From ALPHA to OMEGA a basic principle applies to all ADVANCE paragliders: when developing new products we always incorporate tried and trusted details acquired over our 30 year experience, along with the useful innovations. Our trademark winglets, for example. Even on the ALPHA 7 these are still reducing induced drag (vortex-effect) and improving directional stability. Or there’s the “Ring-Raff-System”: when turning is called for the ALPHA 7 wingtip is braked first, where the most effective yawing moment takes effect. This makes steering harmonised and precise, and handling more direct.

Together with our high demands on quality and passion for detail this principle creates fully-finished state-of-the-art products.

Paramotor risers

Its exceptional take off character and pronounced damping in all axes make the ALPHA 7 ideally suited to paramotor flying. All sizes have DGAC paramotor certification. Paramotor risers with trimmers are available as an option, and the trimmers can be stowed away in the main carabiners for free flight.

Paramotor weight ranges

Paramotor risers features

Trimmers in use

The hybrid risers are equipped with trimmers. This allows the torque of the engine to be balanced and the cruising speed to be adjusted in flight.

Trimmers stowed

For flying without a motor, the trimmers must be hooked into the carabiner and fixed to maintain mountain flight certification. The hybrid risers also have a foot accelerator, which is used when flying without a motor.

Paramotor risers details

• Provided that it is equipped with the Hybrid-Risers appropriate to the ALPHA 7 has EN / LTF certification as a paraglider.
• Sizes 22, 24, 26, 28 and 31 have DGAC certification for motor flying.
• Relevant certified weight ranges are 50-120 kg (size 22), 60-135 kg (size 24), 70-155 kg (size 26), 85-180 kg (size 28) and 100-210 kg (size 31).
• More information and technical data you can find in the manual (see downloads).

Paramotor risers Artikle numbers

• 11216 22/24
• 11217 26
• 11218 28
• 11219 31

Reviews

"Having tested every size of Advance ALPHA 7, from the 22 (RTW¹ 50-70 kg, ITW² 70-85 kg) to the 31 (RTW¹ 100-130 kg, ITW² 130-145 kg), at various points in their weight ranges, and with a variety of harnesses, from ultralight mountain to competition pod, I can confirm that we are 100% happy to very highly recommend the ALPHA 7 as a first wing (and more) for safety-conscious pilots looking for a glider that's fun to fly with excellent performance in the A class.

In terms of the performance, it's hard to tell the difference between the ALPHA 7 and most modern 'low B' wings (and, from our tests, it may be even better than some). Only the very best modern low Bs really show a noticeable performance advantage to the ALPHA 7. Many paraglider pilots will in reality never really need more than the ALPHA 7 to enjoy their flying most.

Congratulations to the Advance R&D team on a superb job with the ALPHA 7, which we feel is significantly better in pretty much every respect than it's already great predecessor!"

- Carlo Borsattino, Flybubble

Downloads

• ALPHA 7 product presentation (pdf)
• ALPHA 7 getting started (pdf)
• ALPHA 7 user manual (pdf)
• ALPHA 7 line plan (pdf)

Paramotor (with paramotor risers):

• ALPHA 7 paramotor manual (pdf)
• ALPHA 7 paramotor risers - compatible wings (pdf)

Homologation: