PHI SCALA light (PAST MODEL)

Technical data

Colours

Standard colours: CC01 (White-Red); CC02 Red-White

Package

• Wing
• Phi harmonica concertina bag
• Repair material.

Optional extras

• Phi ExAct backpack

SCALA light: The radical racing mashine

Over 3 years ago Phi began with the A class wing SYMPHONIA. Then they stepped up class by class and finished 68 wings until now! Now Phi are reaching the D class…Here is their first EN D wing: the SCALA light.

It is a radical 2×2 liner. Nothing else than a radical and very efficient design has always been expected of Phi. Superlight and top performing, the SCALA light has outstanding climbing abilities! The ultimate ultralight racing machine for ambitious and discerning pilots.

Pilots who've flown the SCALA light report the pilot demands are low D, with the performance of a high D!

Designer's notes

“We are step by step climbing up the glider classes. Performance is more and more the main goal. Performance was and is our main domain.
The SCALA is built to race! -and she is already winning…”

- Hannes Papesh

Features

The SCALA light was designed for the RedBull X-alps competition. An extremely long and demanding endurance race. The pilots are on their limits and need a wing, that is extremely reliable.
Because of it’s special airfoil, the SCALA light is extraordinary stable and very relaxed to fly. You can race through all turbulence without the need to control and react all the time. The wing is doing the job for you.
The SCALA light is very light, but it still has a very high form stability and rigidity. This and the radical reduced line drag are the base of it’s extraordinary performance level. As rougher it gets, as more advantage she has.

FAQ

Why "2x2 liner"?

The SCALA light "2x2liner" because it has only 4 main lines per side (2x2, 2A and 2B), where standard "2 liners" have 6 main lines per side (2x3, 3A and 3B). As per other wings, plus the stabilo and brake lines, of course.

Count the lines of the SCALA light in the photo below.

The SCALA light has only 6 lower gallery lines in total:

• 4 main lines (2x2);
• 1 stabilo line; and
• 1 brake line.

Standard "2 liners" have 8 lower gallery lines in total:

• 6 main lines (2x3); 
• 1 stabilo line; and
• 1 brake line.

Having a third fewer main lines than standard 2-liners, the SCALA light lines are thicker, to allow for the extra load, but overall there is still a significant saving in parasitic drag!

Materials

Porcher Skytex 27 double coated.

Pilot feedback

"[The] Scala has proper risers [not spaghetti] with latches and very comfortable, large B control bars. Just perfect risers for this type of wing. Similarly, [the lines are] not the lightest and thinnest, just reliable, super-easy to manage on take off, and obvious to find a stabilo or whatever you need in an emergency. Compact and easily manageable, [the canopy has] short flexible rods which make packing super-easy, and the whole glider very compact.

This thing is so easy to launch! It stays on the ground if you want it to, even in strong winds, and rises at the slightest touch when you say so. It rises like a dream, literally self centring and with very intuitive brake input timing. It's incredibly straightforward... just a super-smooth and even rise. Simply perfect for tricky take offs.

In flight, the handling is very straightforward. [The] canopy transfers air movements precisely to the brakes. When in dynamic air, it's a talkative canopy with quite a soft feeling, which I personally love. It's easy to recognize what is happening in the air and catch potential pressure loss before it becomes a problem.

It turns flat but at the same time it's very agile; it immediately reacts to weight shift and you can wingover easily on it. I've never flown a wing which would combine these two elements so nicely (how did you do it, Hannes?)

Brakes are linear and soft with a precise feel, with short brake travel typical for the class. Less physical than OXA or Zeolite, more subtle. I often compare it to talking, I like wings to whom I can whisper my commands, and don't have to yell at them. Just a personal preference, and there are pilots who prefer harder brakes.

On speed bar, ahh, this is where Scala shows what she's made of, a true X-Alps machine. Nice to finally out-glide even bigger wings. What's more, all speed range is very usable, the feeling on the bar is very clear, with precise control with Bs.

[The] obvious stalling point and relatively low minimum speed make for a wing which can be easily put anywhere. [The] flexibility of this canopy is amazing, heaps of speed but then I can flap the hell out of her and she gracefully responds and goes down vertically.

So yeah, a sweet high-end lightweight mountain all-rounder with straightforward handling and beautiful balance between performance and agility in a user-friendly package.

I absolutely love the Scala, it's without doubt the best wing I've ever flown. Of course it's just my personal opinion, but if you're thinking about a wing in this category, definitely give it a try."

- Kinga Masztalerz, Girl Gone Wild

Mike and Norbi flew the pre-series SCALA light in strong thermic conditions in the Austrian Alps... their feedback is... AWESOME!

"I finally got to fly the PHI Scala light! She's pretty much the wing of my dreams: performance really close to the Ozone Zeno, same light weight as my Advance Omega light II at 3.35kg, very short (!) nitinol rods for easy packing, awesome two-liner control over the B's and super intuitive and agile thermaling which reminded me of an Ozone Zeolite GT.

So in the words of Greg....

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEEEY!!!!!

No but seriously, the biggest downside to this wing is probably that you always get the scary feeling that half of your riser is missing because there is practically nothing there except for just FOUR lines! If you also count the dental floss-thin stabilo line and the brake it's a total of six. crazy efficient.

I think that it is now slowly time for my beloved Omega to retire..."

- Joel Ammann

Mike Kueng and Norbi flew the pre-series SCALA light in strong thermic conditions in the Austrian Alps... their feedback is: "AWESOME!"

"Massive... from Mayerhofen via Achensee to Juifen. Cold, extreme climbing... strong lift under cloud... sensational wing: SCALA light"

- Mike Kueng, PHI test pilot