Nova PRION 5 (PAST MODEL)

Technical data

Colours

Standard colours: Blue, Lime, Orange, Sangria.

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

Package

• NOVA Riser Bag. This convenient little bag will protect your risers while transporting or storing your wing.
• NOVA Stuff Sack. Elegant, technically thought out inner bag. Thanks to its square shape, your folded wing can be easily stored in the bag. Openings in the bottom of the bag allow good ventilation.
• NOVA windsock. So you know where the wind is coming from, we have added a NOVA windsock. With a length of approximately 80cm it is large enough for a take-off site.
• Repair kit. Everyone hopes it will never happen: a hole or tear in the paraglider. We have included a minor damage repair kit in the right colour for such an eventuality.
• Manual. We have enclosed a very detailed manual which contains everything you need to know about your flying equipment. Please study it before flying your gear for the first time.

Related products (optional extras)

• Speed system. Your paraglider is fitted with a high quality speed system. Thanks to three holes in the cord attachment point, it will flexibly and simply adapt to your harness and leg length.

Nova PRION 5: fly safely

The PRION 5 combines the globally tried and tested strengths of its predecessors - simple launch characteristics and good-natured handling - with improved roll damping and a new design. It can also boast of two innovations: the redesigned, even more comfortable NOVA Adjustable Handles and a colour gradient on the brake line that helps to correctly dose the brake travel.

• Three-liner
• 33 cells
• 4.42 flar aspect ratio
• Weight 4.70 kg (size S)
• EN/LTF A

A feeling like no other. Who doesn’t like to remember their first flight? For this, the PRION 5 is the ideal paraglider and often accompanies pilots a long way after training. A nice example of what is possible with an EN A wing is the 200 km FAI triangle of Robert Schaller with his PRION 3 in 2015. The PRION 5 has even more potential. It is just such fun to fly and it makes commencing the “paragliding journey” simple.

Optimised for instruction. The design of the PRION 5 was carried out in consultation with students and paragliding instructors and resulted in further improved roll damping. Technically, it also differs from its predecessor model in that it has a slightly lower aspect ratio and a more complex interior. The mini-ribs increase performance and decrease brake pressure, the nylon reinforcements in the middle of each cell make for even better launch characteristics. Additionally, several vector tapes increase the structural stability.

Everything under control. With the PRION 5's redesigned Adjustable Handles, it is possible to individually adjust the width of the brake handles. This can be done effortlessly via Velcro and facilitates correct gripping and direct brake input. The ball of the hand and the brake line should form a line, because this makes launching easier, is more comfortable in the long run, improves the feeling for the glider and thus increases flight safety. Alternatively, the Adjustable Handles can be used exactly in the same way as our standard brake handles. The standard riser, our tried and tested Student Riser, also has helpful markings - for example for manoeuvres such as big ears.

Innovation included. Brake lines with a colour gradient (from green to yellow to red) enable the pilot of the PRION 5 for the first time to correctly dose the brake travel by means of visual control. The idea for this innovation was developed in cooperation with the DHV and can help to prevent excessive braking or accidental stalling. The green and yellow area are used for steering, the red area is for the flare when landing.

Pilot target group

The PRION 5 (EN/LTF A - suitable for instruction) is a very good-natured paraglider with easy launch and landing characteristics, which provides pleasure in flying both in school and beyond. It combines the highest possible passive safety with intuitive handling and, thanks to its modern design, is suitable for relaxed soaring as well as for first cross-country flights. The balanced mix of stability and agility that has characterised the PRION series since 2010 has proven ideal for beginners.

Features

Simple launch characteristics. The wing inflates easily and climbs straight above the pilot without a tendency to overshoot which makes learning to launch (forward or reverse) particularly simple and safe.

Roll damping. Roll basically means "rocking to the left and right" under the wing. This maneuver is practised during paragliding instruction. However, accidental roll should be avoided. The roll damping keeps the glider on track in straight flight - this is especially important for beginner gliders, because it allows the pilot to concentrate on controlling the wing. For example, this also makes the landing approach easier.

Student riser. These risers offer the following useful colour-coding: green and red markings which are also found on the attachment points of our harnesses help to prevent clipping-in incorrectly. The correct lines to pull for big ears and a B-line stall are indicated on the maillon. The colours of the line areas (A, B and C) are continued on the riser.

Adjustable handles. Individually adjustable brake handles facilitate correct gripping and direct brake input. The ball of the hand and the brake line should form a line. This makes launching easier, improves the "feeling" for the wing and as a result, increases flight safety. Alternatively, the Adjustable Handles can be used exactly in the same way as our standard brake handles.

Brake Travel Indicator (BTI). The colour gradient (from green to yellow to red) enables the pilot for the first time to correctly dose the brake travel by means of visual control. This can help to prevent accidental stalling. The green and yellow area are used for steering, the red area is for the flare when landing.

Mini-ribs. Mini-ribs increase the number of cells in the rear wing area and thus provide an aerodynamically optimised trailing edge. The mini-ribs also help to keep the brake pressure moderate.

Mid Cell Rods. The clever placement of nylon reinforcements in the middle of each cell make for even better launch characteristics. This is the first time in the PRION series they have been used.

Technology

Comfort on the ground. All NOVA paragliders are made to be easy to use. For packing you can use a concertina bag, but it is not essential. Our extensive experience with rods has taught us that the packing method has little influence on the durability of the wing. Bent rods quickly spring back into their original shape.

Less is more. Our idea of a three-liner with a reduced amount of line length allows us to construct wings with very good performance and a high degree of passive safety. The way we have conceptualised the lines has made it possible to manufacture wings which are collapse resistant; but when they do collapse, the collapsed area is generally less extensive. This significantly improves the wing's extreme flight behaviour.

More compact. The aspect ratio of a glider is not the only factor in passive safety, but still a very important one. A high aspect ratio favours cravats after asymmetric collapses, generally shortens brake travel and normally makes wings more difficult to fly. Nova's analytical tools permit us to build performance wings even with a low or moderate aspect ratio.

Light as a feather and robust. Very light but still durable: Light weight NOVA wings weigh little but are still robust enough to withstand the hard conditions of the mountains. The profiles are made out of durable cloth, so that this highly-stressed component does not deform - like it can with ultra-light material. This means we are able to guarantee consistent flying characteristics.

Visual double-check. Brake lines with a colour gradient (from green to yellow to red) enable the pilot to correctly dose the brake travel by means of visual control. This can help to prevent excessive braking or accidental stalling. The green and yellow area are used for steering, the red area is for the flare when landing.

Easy launching. The clever placement of nylon reinforcements in the middle of each cell make for even better launch characteristics.

Instructor feedback

“The PRION series from NOVA has made a significant contribution to stress-free training for us as a flying school and for me as an instructor. With hundreds of taster course and initial training flights, but also with high flights, we sometimes see clear differences. For us, the most important thing is that a beginner's glider lines are easy to handle, it is easy to take off even in difficult wind conditions and can easily cope with any overreactions on the part of the pilot. And thanks to good workmanship and smart choice of materials, they still look good even after the toughest training sessions. I think the PRION 5 is the logical next-step of the successful models from previous years, but with a little more performance and better handling. This allows us to get people in the air safely even on shallow training slopes. Our beginners now reach the required safety altitude more quickly on the gentle hills of the Swabian Alps.”

- Dr. Klaus Irschik, paragliding school proprietor

Pilot feedback

“The aim was to create a stable glider with a high degree of roll damping, which would make flying even safer and the critical phases of launch and landing easier for everyone. In combination with its direct handling, the PRION 5 has become one of the safest and simplest wings.”

- Ferdinand Vogel, NOVA test pilot

Materials

FAQ

What is the difference between the PRION 5 the PRION 4?
The PRION 5 represents a further advance in development by once again improving the proven strengths of all previous models - easy launch, good-natured handling and stable flight. It is also the first PRION with the new look and it can boast of two innovations: the new, even more comfortable NOVA Adjustable Handles and a colour gradient on the brake line that helps to correctly dose the brake travel.

What is the difference between the PRION 5 and the AONIC?
Both are certified as EN/LTF A and can be used in instruction. In a direct comparison, the PRION 5 is less dynamic and therefore easier to fly than the high-end EN A AONIC. With the PRION 5 the focus is on instruction, with the AONIC it is on thermal and cross-country flying. We recommend the PRION 5 to anyone who wants completely relaxed flying.

What is the difference between the PRION 5 and the IBEX 4?
Both are certified as EN/LTF A and can be used in instruction. The differences are in weight and packing volume. The PRION 5 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 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.

What is the difference between the PRION 5 and the 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.

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.

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).

Videos

Nova PRION 5 test by Theo de Blic

How safe is the PRION 5?

Nova service info & FAQ

Read Nova service info and answers to FAQ.

Downloads

• Presentation
• Manual
• Lineplan