NOVA - BANTAM

 

A little rebel in its own weight class. At only 1.65 kg (size 12), this little power pack can be carried in a conventional hiking backpack and it has enormous fun potential. Its excellent glide was demonstrated at the Dolomitenmann 2019, when Chrigel Maurer and his team won the overall rankings. If you like it less dynamic or have a higher take off weight, the BANTAM size 14 is the ideal partner for para-mountaineering adventures. Our 320 grams MONTIS harness (size M) is the perfect match for the BANTAM. In size 12, wing and harness have a combined weight of only 2000 grams.

 

Let your ambition fly. Climb high peaks and instead of descending on foot, why not opt for a few barrel rolls on your way to the valley. If that’s your thing and you have the BANTAM in your pack, you can experience the mountains more intensively from now on. The low aspect ratio and extremely short lines make the launch simpler and the handling more direct. Even at trim speed, the BANTAM is fast and the speed increase at full acceleration is impressive. Nevertheless, the stability in turbulent air remains remarkably high. Even if you are not a Dolomitenmann, Rise&Fall, etc. competitor, the BANTAM can help you achieve your hike & fly personal best. And the best thing… in comparison to single-surface gliders, its flare characteristics are a particular advantage of the BANTAM. This offers a safety reserve even during adverse landing conditions.

 

By professionals for professionals. The BANTAM was weight-optimised where possible without neglecting any of the technical details. It features extra short mini-ribs and an upper surface vector tape. With a line length of only four metres (size 12) - a best value in this glider class - the glider can be laid out well even on the smallest launch site. The focus in terms of brake geometry was on precise handling and optimal flare behaviour. This of course helps during landing, but also during take off, because with some brake the glider generates a lot of lift and takes off even at low speed. And once in the air, it’s full speed ahead. Speed-bar travel is very long and its top speed is correspondingly high.

Pilot target group

   

The BANTAM (EN/LTF D) is not suitable for beginners or instruction and is aimed at experienced pilots who want to be on the move with as little weight as possible during hike & fly, mountain running, vol biv or competitions. Flown with a high wing-loading, its very direct handling and dynamic flight characteristics enable manoeuvres such as barrel rolls. Also in extreme situations, the BANTAM requires precise control inputs and active intervention by the pilot. If you are unsure whether EN D paragliders are right for you, you can get advice from your flying school or your NOVA dealer.

Short and compact

   

Weight-optimised cloth. We only use the highest quality sail cloths in all our wings, and we not only test the 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. The BANTAM is made from the lightest cloth currently available on the market. It is also characterised by its small packing volume and high UV resistance.

 

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 of the BANTAM are particularly short - another measure to keep the paraglider as light as possible.

 

Upper surface vector tape. This tape reduces the crease that is created when braking. This markedly increases climb performance and handling. In the BANTAM, this vector tape runs just in front of the mini-ribs, which, for the sake of weight optimisation, are as short as possible.

 

Light risers. The Light Risers are ergonomic and like the paraglider itself, are designed to save weight on equipment. A pair of risers weighs only 160 g.

 

Holding pins. By means of small loops and wooden pins the paraglider can be easily secured for take off in very steep and slippery terrain - e.g. on snow. This prevents the glider from sliding down while being laid out. If you inflate the canopy, the pins will release automatically. Detailed instructions on how to use the holding pins can be found in the manual.

The BANTAM – tested by “Thermik“

   

“With the Nova BANTAM, the successful manufacturer has succeeded in combining two glider concepts. It is just as suitable for the podium at the Dolomitenmann as it is for the sporty hike & fly pilot who can master an ultra-light glider with dynamic flight behaviour, but still does not want to do without certification.“

Technical data

		10	12	14
Number of cells		33
Projected span	m	5,8	6,3	6,9
Projected area	m²	10,2	12	14
Projected aspect ratio		3,3
Flat span	m	7,3	7,9	8,5
Flat area	m²	12	14	16,6
Flat aspect ratio		4,4
Line diameter	mm	1 / 1,4 / 1,85
Line length	m	3,55	3,95	4,49
Total line length	m	156	173	190
Max. chord	m	2	2,2	2,34
Min. chord	m	0,9	1	1,1
Weight	kg	1,5	1,65	1,8
Recommended take off weight	kg	-	65-90	55-100
Certification (EN/LTF)		-	D	D