Nova BION User Manual
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MANUAL
Version 1.0 / 01.02.2011
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NOVA ....................................................................................... 6
The BION ................................................................................ 7
Short technical description ......................................................... 7
Safety ............................................................................................ 7
Handling Characteristics ............................................................ 7
Performance ................................................................................. 7
New Features: .............................................................................. 8
Target Group ............................................................................... 8
General information bevor implementing ................................. 9
First flight .................................................................................. 9
Registration ................................................................................ 9
Scope of delivery .......................................................................... 9
Modifications on the glider ......................................................... 9
Adjusting the length of the main brake line .............................. 9
Suited harnesses ......................................................................... 10
Weight range .............................................................................. 10
Flying the BION .................................................................... 11
Launch ........................................................................................ 11
Normal flight .............................................................................. 12
Turning ....................................................................................... 13
Landing ....................................................................................... 13
Manoeuvres for fast decent ....................................................... 14
Big ears .................................................................................... 14
B-Stall ...................................................................................... 14
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Deep spiral ............................................................................... 14
C-Stall ...................................................................................... 16
Collapses ..................................................................................... 16
Asymmetric collapse ............................................................... 16
Front tuck ................................................................................. 16
Stall manoeuvres ........................................................................ 17
Spin .......................................................................................... 17
Fullstall .................................................................................... 17
Deep/Parachutal stall ............................................................... 17
Cravates ...................................................................................... 18
Winch launch ............................................................................. 19
Speed system .............................................................................. 19
Using the accelerator in flight ................................................. 19
Service and maintenance ...................................................... 20
General advice ........................................................................... 20
Cleaning ...................................................................................... 21
Repair ......................................................................................... 21
Check .......................................................................................... 21
Environment friendly behaviour: ........................................ 22
Disposal: ................................................................................. 22
Technical data ....................................................................... 23
Übersicht Schirm................................................................... 25
Line plans ............................................................................... 26
Over all line lengths: ............................................................. 31
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Manual Tandembar: ............................................................ 31
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Congratulations, for choosing to fly a NOVA BION. You have got a glider, to
experience exiting and safe flights for many years.
This manual contains important information and instructions to use your glider.
Please read the following pages carefully before your first flight. For questions
and suggestions please contact us: info@nova-wings.com.
To find further information about this or other products please visit our
website: www.nova-wings.com
To fully use all our maintainance and guarantee services you have to register
your glider on our website. (click LOGIN & REGISTRATION)
For more information on our guarantee services have a look here:
http://www.nova-wings.com/english/nova/guarantee.html
Now we wish you many nice ours in the air and a safe landing at the end of
every flight.
NOVA Team
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NOVA
Since the company was founded in 1989, NOVA has become one of the
world’s leading paraglider manufacturers with their head office in
Terfens/Austria.
NOVA consists of a highly qualified team and most of the team members share
the passion of flying with those pilots, who decided to fly a NOVA glider.
This passion and our Know-How are the fundamental parts of our work. By
now, the passion and the Know-How are continuously growing. This is why we
are for example pioneers in the area of air flow simulations, which allows us to
predict certain properties of a new wing quite accurately on the computer.
Last but not least we have outstanding test pilots who provide a substantial
contribution to make every new wing an unmistakable NOVA glider, which
impresses in every aspect.
But NOVA doesn’t only just stand for the development and the design of
paragliders. We also want to take the responsibility for the manufacture of our
gliders. That’s why the production of NOVA-gliders takes place in our factory
in the Hungarian town of Pecs. This allows us to influence important factors,
for example quality assurance during the whole production process.
Furthermore we can guarantee fair working conditions for about 100 NOVAemployees in Hungary.
We are convinced that the customer benefits from better employee working
conditions, in terms of high-quality products.
What we want to achieve are happy and enthusiastic pilots, because the future
of our sport depends on the enthusiasm of the people who are part of this
wonderful sport.
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The BION
The BION is a complete new development and is suitable for professional
tandem pilots as well as recreational pilots in search of maximum safety, high
performance and minimum stress.
Short technical description
The BION has 43 cells. Four of those cells are closed stabilo cells on each side.
There are four layers of lines. The first layer, the A-lines are red. B, C and D
lines are yellow. The brake layer, which is not one of the four line layers, is
orange. (The stabilo lines are orange as well.)
The risers consist of 5 belts. On the first two belts (red) both A stem lines are
attached. On the next three belts the B, C, and D stem lines are attached.
Further more the trim system and a “Big Ears” fixation is mounted on the Dbelt.
Safety
The BION stands out for its easy launch behaviour, its high stability and the
very smooth handling characteristics. This leads to a very high safety level in
any situation. The EN / LTF test protocols show the very big safety margins of
the glider. The BION is definitely not at the limit of its certification class. (EN
B)
Handling Characteristics
We are especially proud of the balanced handling characteristics. The BION
stands out for its smooth and agile handling characteristics. Even with a low
wing loading, the glider will precisely follow the pilots steering inputs.
The combination of well balanced handling behavior and high stability allows
enjoying long thermal flights without tiring the pilot.
Performance
In best tradition of Nova, the BION offers a very good glide ratio. Due to the
high stability the glide performance can be comfortably used also in rough
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conditions. When thermalling, the smooth handling makes it easy to climb
efficiently. Even with a high wing loading, the BION doesn’t tend to „dive“ in
sharp turns.
New Features:
Split A-risers with magnet fixation.
Dirt holes on the stabile.
New position and fixation of the brake pulleys for better ergonomics
A vector band behind the cell openings maintains a very good shape of
this important part of the wing.
New developed carbon spreader bar.
Target Group
The BION aims to appeal to a wide range of pilots. On one side there are
professional tandem pilots who want an easy launch behaviour and maximum
longevity. On the other hand there are recreational pilots who are looking for a
glider to enjoy nice and long thermal flights. These pilots will like the BION
for its smooth handling, its speed and its glider performance.
The high safety level is important for both groups of pilots.
Pilots requirements:
The BION is very easy to fly. Due to the high responsibility of every tandem
pilot we think that a superior flying technique and a solid level of experience
are essential. Further more it is important question before each take off, if it is
safe to fly in the given conditions.
This means, that the pilots have to be able to decide if their skills and
equipment is adequate for the respective conditions. The BION offers superior
safety but even on such a glider with maximum passive safety, misjudgements
may have serious consequences.
The best way to avoid misjudgements is a defensive approach to the sport.
Some times it makes sense to pass on a flight, instead of getting yourself into
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conditions you cannot handle. Regular training improves your skills and
enables you to enjoy your flights, even in more difficult conditions.
Please consider these thoughts!
General information bevor implementing
First flight
Every NOVA glider has to be flown and checked through a NOVA dealer. This
flight (date and pilot) has to be entered on the stabilo of the wing.
Registration
To get all warranty and service features, you have to register your glider on our
Homepage. Please choose “LOGIN” and follow the advice for registration
Scope of delivery
The BION is shipped with a rucksack, an inner pack sack, a riserbag, a tandem
spreader bar, a windsock, the manual and a patch.
Modifications on the glider
Any modification (e.g. change of line lengths, changes on the speed system)
causes a loss of certification. We recommend that you contact NOVA before
performing any kind of change.
Adjusting the length of the main brake line
Especially if you use your glider with a motor it might be necessary to lengthen
your main brake line. You have to make sure, that the length of both brakes is
always the same. Further more you have to use a palstek to mount the brake
handle to the brake line. (see picture below)
If you adjust the brake lengths for motor use, do not forget to shorten it again
before flying the wing without a motor. Otherwise you might experience
serious problems at take off.
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The brake line must not be shorter than the original length. The black mark has
to be always visible like shown in the picture below.
If the brake line is shorter, this might affect the safety of your glider.
Palstek:
Suited harnesses
The BION is approved for any harness of the class “GH” (without diagonal
bracing). This means almost every harness which is currently available.
The choice of the harness has a big influence on the flight characteristics of the
BION. There are harnesses which allow very effective weight shifting on the
one hand, but which tip to the side in turbulences quite undamped on the other
hand.
Other harnesses don’t allow extreme weight shifting, but they will give the pilot
a calmer feel in turbulent conditions.
A good flying school can help on this topic with individual advice.
Weight range
Each size of the BION is certified for a certain weight range. The weight refers
to the “overall take off weight”. This means the weight of the pilot, the
passenger, the glider, the harnesses and all other equipment.
If you fly the BION on the lower half of the weight range, the agility decreases
and the glider will be more damped. In strong turbulences the wing tends to
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