Uncomplicated Pleasure
NOVA introduces the ION, the successor to the popular and highly successful ROOKIE. With this new wing, the Austrian manufacturer fills the important class of the low-level EN B / LTF 1–2 paragliders. The ION inherits the Rookie's essential qualities: suitability for instruction, few and easily sorted lines, uncomplicated launch, high damping on all axes (which matters a lot for relaxed flying), excellent low speed behavior, and extremely high safety. The ION also delivers various improvements: handling (it is more agile now), thermalling properties (the ION has less levering and turns more precisely) and max speed. Of course, NOVA has also improved the glide ratio. In summary, this means that the NOVA ION is the ideal paraglider for recreational pilots and first XC flights.
The footsteps ROOKIE was leaving behind were big. NOVA sold about 2500 units of the popular wing during the last four years. For many pilots, the ROOKIE was their own first paraglider after gaining their license: Uncomplicated and safe, it was not too sensitive about mistakes and yet provided excellent performance in thermals and the chance to do first XC flights. The magazine “Gleitschirm” measured an L/D of 1:8,4 and pilots such as Michael Sprinzl and Lothar George display the possibilities of a low-level intermediate until today.
Hannes Papesh and the NOVA design team were well aware of the ION's requirements: To keep the Rookie!s character and improve the ION in detail. Which is easier said than done. Hannes Papesh: “We had already developed the concept of the Rookie pretty far. So we needed to invest a lot time in improving and testing the ION. We went through a lot of prototypes with different profiles, shapes, and line set-ups to find the ideal balance of safety, handling, and performance we wanted. Now, we are happy and confident that the ION will be just as popular and successful as its predecessor.“
HANDLING
All who might expect the typical “boring beginner!s wing handling” will be surprised. Despite the big available brake travel, the ION can be piloted very precisely and sensitively in thermals. It is comfortably damped on all axes and the brake travel is very long until reaching the stall-point. Thus, it enables beginners and pilots with little experience to fly safely and relaxed. As a result of its precise handling, an experienced pilot won!t be bored with the ION either.
Thanks to the new line geometry in the central part of the wing – there is only one centre cell – one will notice immediately that the ION penetrates very smoothly and stable through turbulent air. When centering thermals, one can hardly sense any levering, not even in strong thermals. In connection with the direct response to brake inputs, one will find it rather easy to locate the centre of a thermal and stay there. The ION climbs superbly!
SAFETY
The ION is well within the EN B / LTF 1–2 class, so maintaining this category has never been a concern during development. NOVA was aiming to reach the safety level of the ROOKIE, or even improve upon it. The ION performed well in tests and certification, as the collapse behaviour is very forgiving. The wing doesn't tend to collapse over a large area. It reopens quickly and without impulsiveness. This soft collapse behaviour is beneficial as hard collapses and "explosive" re-opening frightens many pilots and leads to instability.
To reach and test this soft collapse behaviour, NOVA forced many collapses and, more importantly, undertook numerous flights in very turbulent conditions to check the results in more realistic scenarios. The Austrians emphasize that it!s how the glider behaves in real life situations rather than test conditions that matters to the pilot.
The ION inherited the safety of a long brake travel before stall from the ROOKIE, but the ION!s considerably improved handling characteristics make it even more unlikely for a pilot to brake too much and accidentally induce a stall.
PERFORMANCE
The greatest strength of the ION is its impressive climbing performance. The wing can be turned very slowly and tight. This allows the pilot to use even the smallest thermals very efficiently. Thanks to the precise handling characteristics, it is easy to increase or decrease the bank. The combination of efficient and relaxed thermalling is without equal.
In terms of glide ratio, the ROOKIE already set the benchmark for “Low Level 1–2” gliders. Due to the increased dimensional stability of the canopy the ION has even improved on this, especially in turbulent air.
The ION is faster at maximum speed than its predecessor, and with greater stability as the wing deforms very little in bumpy air. The glide ratio is quite appealing if you use about half the travel of the speed bar. This makes the ION quite suitable for XC flights, which cannot usually be taken for granted on a “Low Level 1-2” glider.
DETAILS
Separate D-lines allows better control during ground handling or strong wind launch.
Split A-risers with magnet fixation for better simplicity at take-off.
New brake pulleys with a higher mounting on a short band for better ergonomics.
Dirt holes on the stabilos for removing dirt easily.
Labelled risers for B-Stall and Big Ears to avoid dangerous mistakes in stressful moments.
The visible difference is the adoption of the new NOVA design with symmetrical spikes.
In total the NOVA ION is a Low-level 1-2 paraglider, which is suitable for beginners as well as experienced pilots in search of maximum safety and minimum stress. It stands out due to its agile handling, superb thermalling as well as benign collapse and recovery characteristics. From size 21 to 27, it has already passed the EN-B / LTF 1–2 certificate and is available for test flights. Size 19 will follow soon.
Flight weight
Ion 19 60 to 80 kg
Ion 21 70 to 90 kg
Ion 23 75 to 100 kg
Ion 25 90 to 110 kg
Ion 27 100 to 130 kg