Service information and answers to some frequently asked questions about Nova Performance Paragliders.
Nova Service Info
Every NOVA paraglider comes with a big package of extra services and guarantees. When you buy the wing you get more than just the product1.
Optimise your wing. During the initial flights the lines are subjected to real loads for the first time. This leads to stretching and shrinking - regardless of which line material is used. During NOVA Trim Tuning (more details below) our software analyses how out of trim the glider has become and then calculates the required correction values. Trim Tuning aids safety and increases your flying fun.
Fully comprehensive insurance. After purchasing the wing and successfully registering it at myNOVA, you are provided with one year fully comprehensive insurance (60 euro excess3). You do the damage, we carry the cost. NOVA Protect means that you can concentrate on the important thing: the flying! If you break it, we fix it!
More than a check. The NOVA Full Service is more than just a check. Just like the Trim Tuning, we analyse the line lengths and ensure that the wing is restored to the optimal profile alignment across the whole of the span. Additionally we give the wing a full health check. Our NOVA Full Service gives you confidence in your wing.
Three years without worry. If your wing has undergone NOVA Trim Tuning, the date to the next check is extended from two years to three years. The two-year check becomes a three-year check. This allows you to have an extra year of carefree flying. Please note the maximum permitted flying hours in the manual.
Full four year warranty. As standard, NOVA provides a three year, rather than a two year, guarantee on its paragliders. If your wing has undergone NOVA Trim Tuning and a NOVA Full Service, then we will extend the guarantee for a further year to four years. You get a good feeling flying a NOVA wing.
Everything available, anytime. If you register your wing at myNOVA, it is added to our Quality Assurance Database. In the database - accessed through myNOVA - you can download all the key data about your wing. The database will also assist the person servicing your glider by getting information about your glider at the click of a button. Your glider will be more comprehensively checked.
1 The guarantee and service provision is limited, subject to conditions and not offered to the same extent in all countries. Detailed information is available in Nova's guarantee conditions.
2 This service is included in the purchase price in selected countries. Please contact Flybubble for more information.
3Â This service covers damage incurred because of an accident while flying. Damage in other circumstances, personal injury, theft or other loss are excluded from this policy.
Nova Trim Tuning – the better line service
Trim Tuning is unique service for NOVA pilots. The system not only checks the individual line lengths - it also checks for any deviation in line length in comparison to each other, i. e. the difference in line length from A to B, from B to C as well as A to C. The result of NOVA Trim Tuning is perfect trim, perfectly balancing the angle of attack and the relative length variations of the A, B and C lines.
By comparison, during a conventional service, only the individual line lengths are considered - not the overall configuration and the relationship of one line to another. The consequence is that the performance, handling and flying characteristics are not identical to a new, correctly tuned paraglider.
Would you like to know more?
- Mix and match the perfect line setÂ
- All info on the NOVA Trim TuningÂ
- Would you like to book your glider in for a Trim Tuning? (please select a NOVA Partner who is listed with the Label "Service")
Nova general FAQ
What is the correct wing loading for NOVA gliders?
Where the glider is flown in the weight-range is first and foremost a question of personal preference: anyone seeking a high degree of agility and dynamic flying should fly our wings at the higher end of the weight-range. Pilots who are happier with gentle flights with a high degree of damping will be happier in the middle of the weight-range. Of course, the flying conditions have a big influence - in turbulent, windy conditions greater wing loading will bring greater stability; whereas flying the glider at the lower end of the weight-range makes it unbeatable in weak thermals. Correct wing loading is mainly a question of personal preference and the conditions in which you mainly fly. Your Nova dealer will be happy to advise you!
What is the performance of my NOVA wing? How fast will it fly?
Performance data depends heavily on the drag created by the pilot and this is linked to their seating position and harness type. An aerodynamic harness or seating position can make the difference of one glide ratio point. We at NOVA never determine absolute performance data, instead we make comparisons with reference gliders. For this reason we do not publish performance data.
How do I hold the brake line correctly?
How a pilot holds the brakes is a matter of personal preference - but it does have a marked influence on the handling and flying characteristics of the wing. We recommend a half-wrap. You hold the brake handle in your palm and twist it half way around your hand so that the brake line lies between your thumb and forefinger. This shortens the brake travel by approximately 20 centimetres and this has a positive effect on feedback - firstly you directly feel the travel of the brake line and secondly, with the arms positioned higher, it is easier to feel the wing. Due to poor ergonomics, we recommend against not taking this wrap. The exception is of course when gliding or during other phases of the flight when steering with the brake is not necessary. Please note: when changing from not having a wrap to taking the wrap, the shortened brake travel must be taken into consideration.
Can I shorten the brake lines on a NOVA wing?
The brakes are components relevant to certification - modification can affect the flying characteristics and extreme flight behaviour. Because of this, we strongly advise against any modification of the brake system. It is important that the brake has sufficient travel before it engages. This is also important so that the wing does not brake automatically when the speed bar is used. Furthermore a brake that engages too early affects performance and influences the recovery during incidents, for example during a collapse or when the canopy goes parachutal.
Are there any considerations when using the Brake Travel Indicator (BTI)?
The colour markings make it easier to dose the brake travel and reduce the risk of an unintentional stall. Please note: pitching (caused by brake inputs or turbulence) can significantly reduce the brake travel to the stall point. Appropriate assessment by the pilot is essential for the safe control of a paraglider. The advantages of the Brake Travel Indicator: the BTI can be a visual aid for the pilot to avoid an accidental stall during their first flights in training. Instructor inputs may be significantly more precise and thus aid safety in training. The BTI was developed in cooperation with the DHV (German Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association).
How do I correctly set the Adjustable Handles?
You can find exact instructions in the PRION 5 manual. If you don’t have your copy to hand, you can look it up online. As a general rule, the brake handle should fit tightly (with a glove), but you should also be able to release it with ease if necessary.
How should NOVA wings be packed?
Simplicity is our motto. Our wings can be packed using a concertina bag, but it is not essential. In principle, all our wings can just be stuffed in a packsack. When the wing is folded it is recommended not to bend the rods unnecessarily. This is particularly true if the wing is to be stored for longer periods. Furthermore, we recommend careful handling of your wing.
What should I do or avoid doing in order to maximise the durability of my wing?
- Avoid UV rays: minimise its exposure to the sun!
- Store the wing loosely folded, in a dry, dark place.
- Never store a damp wing.
- Don't drag the wing across the ground (especially the leading edge and rods).
- Avoid sand and dust.
- Never clean it with a hard brush or detergents.
- If it is dirty, use a soft sponge and lots of water.
How should NOVA wings be stored?
Dry, not packed too tightly and if possible in a space without wide temperature variations - these are the conditions that make our paragliders feel well. You should never store a wing when it is moist. You should also avoid excessive heat, like you would have, for example, in the car. Never remove dirt using chemical detergents and/or brushes.
Does Nova test the materials used?
Sail cloth, lines and all other components are subjected to rigorous testing before they are used in serial production. We not only test the sail cloth for durability (high porosity or reduced tear resistance through UV damage or wear) but also for mechanical robustness, for example stretching. For quality control purposes we regularly take samples during serial production.
When should I send my wing for its first NOVA Trim Tuning (NTT)?
During the initial flights the lines are first subjected to load. This load induces a small degree of stretching and shrinking. These are not associated with the line manufacturers or the quality of workmanship - in the factory all NOVA paragliders are trimmed and pre-stretched to within a very low tolerance. To adjust this stretching or shrinking, we recommend that the wing is taken for NTT (Nova Trim Tuning) after ten to twenty flights - after one year at the very latest. Generally, the line lengths remain constant after the first ten to twenty hours. To use make full use of the NTT, Nova encourages all pilots to have their wing checked after ten to twenty flying hours.
What happens if I choose not to send my wing for a NOVA Trim Tuning?
The NOVA Trim Tuning is optional. We would strongly recommend it, but there is no obligation to have the NTT. You can skip the tuning and have your wing fully inspected during the NOVA Full Service.
I would like to buy or try a NOVA paraglider. Who should I contact?
The best people to contact are your authorised NOVA dealer e.g. Flybubble.
Nova wing model comparisons
Differences between PRION and AONIC?
Both are certified as EN/LTF A and can be used in instruction. In a direct comparison, the PRION is less dynamic and therefore easier to fly than the high-end EN A AONIC. With the PRION the focus is on instruction, with the AONIC it is on thermal and cross-country flying. We recommend the PRION to anyone who wants completely relaxed flying.
Differences between PRION and IBEX?
Both are certified as EN/LTF A and can be used in instruction. The differences are in weight and packing volume. The PRION 5, for example, is made from robust materials and weighs 4.7 kg (size S). In comparison, the versatile (e.g. for hike & fly and travelling) IBEX 4, for example, is markedly lighter at 3.5 kg (size S) and can be packed much smaller. For the take off weight, the IBEX has a classification from "relaxed" to "standard" to "dynamic" and thus covers a particularly large weight range per model.
Differences between PRION and DOUBLESKIN?
Both are certified as EN/LTF A. We recommend the PRION 5 for instruction, but not the DOUBLESKIN. The reason for this is the thinner fabric and ultra-light risers of the hike & fly optimised lightweight wing and its extended weight range with EN/LTF B certification. Good to know: NOVA provides the same guarantees regardless whether the wing is made from light or standard cloth.
Differences between ION and AONIC?
The ION (EN/LTF B) and the AONIC (EN/LTF A) are different, for example in their certification. In some countries EN B gliders are not approved for instruction - but EN A gliders are suitable for training. When comparing the two models, the demands on the pilot are slightly higher for the ION. The ION is also superior to the "high-end EN A" AONIC in terms of performance - which is due to its technically sophisticated design, which is optimised for performance. However, both gliders are ideally suited for pilots who want to develop their skills in (cross-country) flying. Ultimately it is your personal preference that decides whether you prefer to fly an EN/LTF A or B paraglider.
Differences between ION and MENTOR?
The ION is less dynamic than the MENTOR. The ION is suitable for pilots desiring more comfort and a more relaxed feel while in the air. In comparison, the MENTOR is sportier.