PHI SYMPHONIA (PAST MODEL)

Technical data

Weight ranges

Serial Colours (standard)

Standard 'serial' colours: CC2 Red-Petrol; CC4 Bordeaux-White; CC9 Orange-Petrol; CC13 Blue-Sun.

Custom colours (extra cost, longer delivery)

This wing can be ordered in custom colours. There is an extra cost and longer delivery time for this; see product options. Full payment is required in advance for all custom colour orders, and once placed these orders cannot be cancelled for any reason. Quoted delivery times are estimates, and may take longer. Email us your desired custom colours with your order, ideally with both text and a screenshot.

Package

Wing, concertina bag, repair material.

PHI SYMPHONIA: there's no stopping revolution

The SYMPHONIA is a super-high A wing which benefits from highly advanced technologies: 50 cells, internally sewn mini-ribs, double 3D shaping, brake reef system across the wingspan, 32g high quality Porcher cloth, diagonal finger straps, highly reduced rigging, unsheathed lines, and wrinkle-reducing reinforcements.

These complex techniques in combination with a very clean surface finish widen the performance frame in the A class by a significant margin.

Never before has this kind of performance and speed been combined with such a high level of safety and comfort.

Never before has this kind of performance been safely flyable for so many pilots.

Designer's note

Our PHI SYMPHONIA is opening the door to a new era: high-performance wings have reached A class safety. A pilot can develop himself and choose to fly a simple training hill wing, a classical beginner wing or finally a high-performance wing without taking more risks by leaving the A class.

The idea to expand the usual one-dimensional relation between gliders classification and complexity, however, is not new. Traditionally, A wings are technically very simple, as D wings are very complex. Building technically complex wings in the A class is extruding the scale to a two-dimensional field: the relationship between classification and complexity is not linear any more.

Some years ago, I was able to push the limits by a revolution in the B class with the Mentor 2 and 3. These low aspect ratio wings were found on the top of the XC rankings and impressed many high-performance pilots who normally flew more demanding wings.

Through progress in technology and knowledge it is now possible to repeat the same in the A class. The SYMPHONIA is resuming the revolution of safe, low aspect ratio wings!

As the B class got wider and wider in recent years, the next logical step was to raise a new standard by presenting a high-performance wing in the A class. Enjoy!

- Hannes Papesh

Secrets

After the first comparison flights, pilots usually ask about the secrets of the SYMPHONIA. Since it has the technical complexity of a modern high-level B-wing, the performance is surprisingly high. Especially against the wind, the SYMPHONIA shows its performance potential impressively by pulling forward, when it picks up the energy of a gust, instead of banking up and getting slower.

The airfoil shows a very high level of stability and form stiffness, but collapses softly and reacts harmlessly in case of deflation. PHI also love the clean surface finish. The outstanding technical skills and craftsmanship of the PHI factory (Aerodynamics in Sri Lanka) have made it possible to make the 3D shaping canopy seams and colour design cleaner than ever before. In combination with a new, optimized 3D shaping concept, the airfoil smoothness has reached a new level.

Some secrets PHI will keep to themselves, but an important factor for this success is time: the time that the development team took to improve the prototypes and to reach the target of A rating safety without restraining performance and speed.

Materials

Porcher 32, Porcher 32, Porcher 38

Risers

Comfort R01

Flybubble Phi SYMPHONIA reviews

The SYMPHONIA is designed as a ‘high-performance wing in the A class’ which makes it a bit of a genre-buster. It’s not a school training wing (although I’d be happy to let a friend play on a sand dune with it), it’s not necessarily a First wing either (although talented beginners in mild climates could handle it) where it is similar to the Advance Alpha 6 in its ability to provide both safe handling and excess performance. Such a wing would normally fit into our Progression Class (mid EN B) along with Nova Ions and Skywalk Tequilas. However, the speed, responsive handling and promised performance could make it achieve similarly to the XC class, which has many wings of a high EN B certification (by ‘high’ we mean ‘only just in the class’ – any hotter and they’d be EN C). The SYMPHONIA straddles all three groups while delivering EN A safety levels. As Hannes Papesh promises, “Expanding the horizons for safety-conscious pilots.”

- Greg Hamerton, Flybubble (first impressions)

Greg's first impressions video review of the Phi SYMPHONIA...

"The Symphonia offers the performance, more responsive handling and good feeling of a mid B wing with true EN A safety. A real game-changer in the EN A category. Hats off to Hannes!"

- Carlo Borsattino, Flybubble (full review)

"A pilot flying a more dynamic hot B or C rated wing is going to notice a difference in the way it handles and gives feedback, but if you’re looking for high safety and reassurance while keeping close to ‘high B’ performance, you’ll be happy with the Phi Symphonia."

- Nancy Elliott, Flybubble (full review)

Carlo and Nancy's full video review of the Phi SYMPHONIA...

Other Phi SYMPHONIA reviews

"Hannes set about creating a wing that has good performance and feeling with EN-A safety. The Symphonia certainly delivers on this.

When I reviewed the Mentor 2 there was much talk of its performance but in my view the handling was just as special. With the Symphonia Hannes has repeated the same trick, providing great performance but also refined and agile handling for the class.

But who is the wing for? On the one hand it feels very easy to fly and some may think as it is an EN-A it is a first wing. I’m not sure. Of course a talented beginner could fly it quite happily, but personally I think it fits more into second wing cross-country beginner territory. It has all the flyability of the best Mid-B wings and the performance to match with added passive safety.

I think this is a wing for cross-country flying and extending your skill set; it will reward your flying. It’s a wing that goes beyond the simple single letter of its certification, a wing that fits what the designer set out to create.

In fact it’s a wing that has made me really think about what I actually need to enjoy my flying. Unless I am flying comps do I really need anything more?"

- Marcus King, XC mag (full review)

SYMPHONIA pilot feedback

"Every now and then a new wing comes along that is so unique and extraordinary that it totally blows away its class, setting a new, much higher standard. In my opinion, the PHI Symphonia is that wing, and it has shattered what we think of as the EN A class."

PHI Symphonia: in a nutshell: "I am extremely, extremely impressed. It launches very easily in light winds and can be controlled well with A’s and C’s in strong winds. But its strong point is the handling which is absolutely SUPERB. It just is a delight in the air. The wing is responsive and the brakes are light and linear. You can turn it easily either flat or banked up. I haven’t liked a wing this much in a long, long time. I immediately felt at home on it – I absolutely LOVE this glider."

- Susan Kent, USA (full feedback at the bottom of our review)

"It's not often I'm driven to write a review of anything but I absolutely love this wing! I also can't fault the Flybubble service - they've always been generous with part exchanging old gear, and giving their time. I don't buy anything from anyone else now."

- Mungo Morris, Flybubble customer

"The Symphonia is an awesome wing. It glides amazingly well. It climbs effortlessly. What is most amazing is the way it stays over your head, effortless pitch control. I'm really enjoying flying XC with it."

- Rolf Schatzmann

"I fly the SYMPHONIA almost every flyable day and am thoroughly impressed.

Always in the last many years when I test fly a new model A its been the same experience: I fly it one day, get impressions of its very average and to me quite boring qualities, and put it aside to sell to pilots needing that class of safety, and would not feel any desire to fly it again.

The SYMPHONIA is very different: I have been surprised and delighted with its balanced, lovely light agile feel & handling, and a fun factor way above its safety class! I look forward to flying it each day and in different conditions.

So the SYMPHONIA is very different to other A wings, and I congratulate Hannes and his team for bringing top levels of fun and a new and nice performance to this class!"

- Alan & Belinda, New Zealand

"Safe. Fun. Performance. What more could a person ask for?"

- Rob Chisholm, Freeflight Paragliding, UK

Phi Promise Guarantee

All PHI wings are covered by the Phi Promise Guarantee. All damages repaired in the first year of use.

Product registration

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Downloads

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