Milestones

• 2020
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  The Covid pandemic is causing, shall we say, disruption not only in the world, but also in cross-country flying. Anyone who isn't in Brazil or Kenya in the southern hemisphere winter to collect kilometres will have a hard time getting to the top of the world with six good flights.

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  Lukasz Sieminski after landing in the Rift Valley.

  

  Kenyan school kids are excited about paragliding.

  

  Hands off above the bumpy air above the Rift Valley: better only a wing with high passive safety: MENTOR 5.

  

  Urs Haari mile munching above the 4000 meter peaks in the Valais (Switzerland).

  2020

  The Covid pandemic is causing, shall we say, disruption not only in the world, but also in cross-country flying. Anyone who isn't in Brazil or Kenya in the southern hemisphere winter to collect kilometres will have a hard time getting to the top of the world with six good flights.
  
  Polish pilot Lukasz Sieminski has been successfully munching XC-miles for several years. This season he finished 3rd in the standard class of the worldwide XContest with his MENTOR 5. His versatility as a paraglider pilot is outstanding: whether in turbulent thermals in the Rift Valley in Kenya, classic high alpine cross-country flying from the famous Grente (Italy), flatland flying in Poland or the flat triangle from Sorica (Slovenia) – Lukasz masters all disciplines.
  
  In Switzerland, Urs Haari again proves he is in a class of his own: with three flights with the MENTOR 6 and one with the EN A AONIC he decisively wins the fun & safety class, but also the sport class. His 825 total points are enough to rank him fourth in the PG open rankings. Respect!

• 2019
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  Tandem world record

  

  At the beginning of June 2019, pilot Stefan Lauth (GER) and his wife Uli as co-pilot and navigator (not the passenger, Stefan emphasises this again and again!) fly an FAI triangle of 232.7 km on their BION 2 from the Grente - the new tandem world record!

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  Ulli Lauth is not just a passenger, she is the navigator for Stefan.

  

  Yes, it is a tandem paraglider: the two fly with a self-sewn, aerodynamic cocoon.

  

  Uli and Stefan Lauth with their world record tandem wing BION 2.

  2019 – Tandem world record

  At the beginning of June 2019, pilot Stefan Lauth (GER) and his wife Uli as co-pilot and navigator (not the passenger, Stefan emphasises this again and again!) fly an FAI triangle of 232.7 km on their BION 2 from the Grente - the new tandem world record!
  
  The NOVA Pilots Team has had a long succession of outstanding athletes from Styria, Austria: Berni Pessl, Hans Tockner, Tomy Hofbauer, Michael Pohl, Joe Edlinger and earlier Paul Guschlbauer and Simon Oberrauner. And now there is another excellent newcomer - Chris Feichtl. Despite only flying for three years, he has already become established as a world class cross-country pilot. Flying his MENTOR 6, knifesmith Chris takes 3rd place in the worldwide standard class ranking. He also regularly produces excellent photos of his adventures.
  
  Johannes Jakobi (GER) achieves success in flatland flying. With his MENTORS 5 and 6, the Swabian occupies 6th place in the German Cup as well as in the flatland classification of the DHV-XC league - alongside EN C, EN D and CCC gliders.
  
  In South America, where going cross-country on an EN B wing is not yet as popular as it is in Europe, Victor “Pope” Salinas is the overall winer of the Chilean XC league – mainly contested by pilots on high performance wings – and he achieves the greatest number of points of all North, Central and South American standard class pilots.

• 2018
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  SECTOR – it came, saw and conquered

  

  After a relatively long pause, NOVA releases a new EN C wing, the SECTOR. This glider design also follows our philosophy of “high performance WITHOUT high aspect ratio”.

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  The classic NOVA design concept also for the SECTOR: low aspect ratio - high achievable performance.

  

  SECTOR cruising above the Vinschgau (Italy) with a view of Ortles.

  

  Autumn in the Dolomites.

  

   

  2018 – SECTOR – it came, saw and conquered

  After a relatively long pause, NOVA releases a new EN C wing, the SECTOR. This glider design also follows our philosophy of “high performance WITHOUT high aspect ratio”. Three national championship titles in a highly competitive cross-country leagues prove that the concept works: old hand Urs Haari is crowned Swiss champion, Armin Leitner wins in Austria and in Germany Werner Schütz triumphs. A great success for the SECTOR!
  
  In the standard class Swiss pilot Toni Brügger again shows the performance potential of the PHANTOM and becomes Swiss champion in the fun & safety class (up to EN B). He is ranked third in the worldwide standard class of the XContest.org. Toni always impresses with the incredible effectiveness of his flying style and the resulting high average speeds he achieves.
  
  Austrian pilot Hans Tockner  from Styria celebrates a comeback. For years he is top of the “Mentor class” and wins the worldwide standard class in 2012 and 2013. After taking it easy recently, he and his fellow club members of the Transalpin-Express set themselves the goal of winning the Austrian national team championship in 2018. They achieve more than this… With his MENTOR 5, Hans yet again becomes the Austrian champion in the fun & safety class. Worldwide, he is ranked fourth.

• 2017
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  Another Phant(om)astic year/Pessl does it a fourth time

  

  The incredible Berni Pessl (AUT) wins the worldwide standard class of the XContest.org for the fourth time in a row (!!!!)  – this time with the MENTOR 5 and 1821 points. Joe Edlinger (AUT) and Rinaldo Vuerich (ITA) are ranked second and third.

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  Berni Pessl - the XC-pilot par excellence! The Styrian could win the worldwide standard class ranking in XContest four times in a row.

  

  Joe Edlinger does not yet know what his future nickname will be in the NOVA Pilots Team: "400-Joe".

  

  The 99-cell PHANTOM combines performance, safety, handling, and comfort in a unique way.

  2017 – Another Phant(om)astic year/Pessl does it a fourth time

  The incredible Berni Pessl (AUT) wins the worldwide standard class of the XContest.org for the fourth time in a row (!!!!)  – this time with the MENTOR 5 and 1821 points.  Joe Edlinger (AUT) and Rinaldo Vuerich (ITA) are ranked second and third.
  
  Joe completes the longest flight with a NOVA glider so far (as of 2020) - 435 km with the new PHANTOM in Brazil. Alongside Swiss pilot Toni Brügger, “400 km Joe” proves the incredible performance potential of the 99 cell PHANTOM. Without the mind-boggling flying by Berni Pessl, Joe would have won the standard class worldwide. Toni submits only five flights in the XContest, but with 1434 points he still comes tenth worldwide. If he had submitted another 200 km FAI triangle, he would have been third…
  
  Markus Anders (GER), becomes another rising star in hike & fly competitions and cross-country flying. Amazingly, he has only been flying for two years. With his TRITON 2 light he is the overall winner of the  Bordairrace 2017. And as a cross-country pilot he leaves many behind and is ranked fourth in the sports class of the DHV-XC league.
  
  We also decide to promote paragliding in the flatlands and establish the German flatland team, led by Thoralf Hase as captain. You can find more info on this topic at the NOVA Pilots Team Blog.

• 2016
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  A year of joy and sorrow

  

  The annual team meeting is extremely emotional. In theory, the team’s tenth anniversary party should be epic. But the event is overshadowed but the death of Steve Nash.

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  Steve Nash, the “British Gentleman”, will never be forgotten as our friend.

  

  Berni Pessl passed the 300 km mark in Brazil several times.

  

  Even with a Low B glider a good pilot can fly very far: Berni Peßl managed 347 km with the ION 4.

  2016 – A year of joy and sorrow

  The annual team meeting is extremely emotional. In theory, the team’s tenth anniversary party should be epic. But the event is overshadowed but the death of Steve Nash. Steve was killed during a vol-biv trip in Mongolia. The English pilot had been a member of the NPT since day one. With him we lost one of our best. The multiple X-Alps participant was not only a fantastic pilot and outstanding athlete, he was the archetypal "British gentleman": polite, modest, helpful, open-minded, friendly, positive. What a tragic loss! The NOVA team is in mourning.
  
  But the year also has positive memories. With 2059 points, Berni Pessl from Austria wins the worldwide standard class ranking of the XContest for the third time in a row and with about 400 points ahead of the rest. This also secures victory in the sports and serial class. In the PG open class Berni is third - like a VW Golf surrounded by Formula 1 racing cars. Berni mainly flies a MENTOR 4. But he also succeeds in flying over 347 km with the new ION 4 in Brazil!
  
  After being awarded "NOVA Newcomer of the Year" in 2015, no one is really surprised by the success of Simon Oberrauner and his TRITON 2 light. But the way the 25 year-old dominates the Bordairrace competition series is very impressive! Simon takes part in four of the five rounds, win two and is ranked second in the other two. In cross-country flying he is ranked fifth in the global sports class.
  It is clear… a star is rising in the paragliding scene!
  
  Amongst all this euphoria, the first 400+ km flight on a NOVA glider is nearly overlooked. On the 14th December 2015, Swiss pilot Roland Zgraggen who lives in Brazil, exploits his home advantage and flies 404.4 km from Quixadá on an TRITON 2.

• 2015
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  The MENTOR 4 rocks

  

  The MENTOR 4 (and its predecessors) dominate the standard class in the XContest: 36 of the top 50 pilots fly NOVA and the legendary Berni Pessl scores a total of 2139 points!

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  With the MENTOR 4 we also introduced the new minimalist design - completely without decorative seams.

  

  

  36 pilots among the top 50 in the standard class of the XContest fly a NOVA wing.

  2015– The MENTOR 4 rocks

  The MENTOR 4 (and its predecessors) dominate the standard class in the XContest: 36 of the top 50 pilots fly NOVA and the legendary Berni Pessl scores a total of 2139 points! Therefore Berni not only wins the sports class, but nearly also takes first place in the serial and open class! He is ranked second and scores 98% of the points of the overall winner Lex Robé. As of 2020, no other standard class winner has ever come so close to the overall winner.
  
  Alongside Berni Pessl, Steve Nash (UK), Theo Warden (UK) and Simon Oberrauner (AUT) are named NOVA Pilots of the Year. Steve performed well in the Red Bull X-Alps and his commitment is equally impressive. Fairness, commitment, sporting spirit - a true English gentleman!
  
  16 year-old Theo Warden does an XC flight over 200 km - which in England is a truly outstanding achievement. The MENTOR 4 pilot shows his amazing talent throughout the season. He is ranked 17th in the highly competitive British cross-country league – beating many pilots flying performance wings. He is also the highest placed EN B pilot. (BTW, in 2018 Theo is crowned European Champion on a CCC wing.)
  
  Another shooting star is Simon Oberrauner. The 24-year-old has only been flying for three years and with his MENTOR 4 is displaying great skill both as a cross-country pilot and as a hike & fly athlete. He wins two rounds and the overall Bordairrace series.
  
  In the DHV-XC league, 21 of the top 31 placed pilots are flying NOVA wings, including the top two ranks – Chris Bessei and Stefan Lauth, both flying a MENTOR 4. Chris joins the NOVA Pilots Team as a 16 year-old and flies sensationally the whole season: three FAI triangles of 250, 228 and 218 km.

• 2014
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  The record year

  

  Shortly after joining the NOVA Pilots Team, the young Austrian Bernie Peßl completes a number of unusual flights, including the first FAI triangle over 300 km on a MENTOR 3.

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  Record breaker Bernhard Peßl.

  2014 – The record year

  Shortly after joining the NOVA Pilots Team, the young Austrian Bernie Peßl completes a number of unusual flights, including the first FAI triangle over 300 km on a MENTOR 3.

  Team meeting takes place in Lermoos, organised by Alex Rauter.

• 2013
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  Target: FAI triangles

  

  Hans Tockner and his MENTOR 3 improve the record for the longest FAI triangle on an EN B wing twice, first to 259 km and then to 262 km.

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  2013 – Target: FAI triangles

  Hans Tockner and his MENTOR 3 improve the record for the longest FAI triangle on an EN B wing twice, first to 259 km and then to 262 km.
  
  Hans Tockner, Rinaldo Vuerich and Christoph Bessei are awarded "Pilot of the Year" for their flying achievements. For her dedication to the Pilots Team, Brigita Plemenitas is awarded the "Team Spirit Award" and Robert Schaller is the "Newcomer of the Year".

  Team meeting takes place in the Grödnertal, organised by Heidi Insam.

• 2012
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  The year of the ION 2

  

  This year the XContest is completely dominated by the MENTOR 2 and our team pilots: in the standard class MENTOR pilots occupy all the top 10 places - and eight of them are Team Pilots. The amazing Hans Tockner even won the Austrian XC league outright on a MENTOR 2 - and beat all the higher rated wings! Kari Roberson, Sebastian Benz, Idris Birch, Hans ter Maat and Chavert ter Maat were "Pilots of the Year".

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  Werner Luidolt on his ION 2.

  2012 – The year of the ION 2

  This year the XContest is completely dominated by the MENTOR 2 and our team pilots: in the standard class MENTOR pilots occupy all the top 10 places - and eight of them are Team Pilots. The amazing Hans Tockner even won the Austrian XC league outright on a MENTOR 2 - and beat all the higher rated wings! Kari Roberson, Sebastian Benz, Idris Birch, Hans ter Maat and Chavert ter Maat were "Pilots of the Year".

  In this season, Sebi Benz flew over 8000 km with his Triton and a Factor 2. As early as January, he flew an incredible 360 km straight-line distance in Australia and set a new national record. In the worldwide XContest.org "Seb" was ranked 6th in open class - but flying serial class wings.

  Werner Luidolt, a former sailplane pilot, achieved a flight of nearly 224 km from the Grente on the 10th of May. This makes it the longest triangle on a school wing to date. Werner also wins the ION-2-Hundred-Challenge.

  Team meeting takes place in Revine Lago, organised by Raul Moras.

• 2011
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  The year of the juniors

  

  The concept of the Juniors Team really takes off. In the following years numerous (former) NOVA Juniors develop into top pilots and make headlines: Chris Bessei, Aaron Durogati, Peter Gebhardt, Franz Altmann, Paul Guschlbauer, Mitja Jančič, Idris Birch, Ferdinand Vogel. What makes us happy: even the Juniors who fly as test or competition pilots for other brands remain our friends.

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  2011 – The year of the juniors

  The concept of the Juniors Team really takes off. In the following years numerous (former) NOVA Juniors develop into top pilots and make headlines: Chris Bessei, Aaron Durogati, Peter Gebhardt, Franz Altmann, Paul Guschlbauer, Mitja Jančič, Idris Birch, Ferdinand Vogel. What makes us happy: even the Juniors who fly as test or competition pilots for other brands remain our friends.

  Dominic Schärtl and Mitja Jančič (Juniors) as well as Hans Tockner and Michael Müller become "Pilots of the Year". Michi Müller (Switzerland; 1710.7 points) and Hans Tockner (Austria; 1696.7 points) decisively win the standard class of the worldwide XContest. Their achievement is even more noteworthy as their results meant they were placed at ranks two and three in the sports class.

  Team meeting takes place in Fiss-Ladis, organised by Roli Patsch.

• 2010
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  The team gains momentum

  

  The Pilots Team becomes more famous and we get applications from all over the world. Over 50 pilots are now members of the NPT.

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  Pilot of the year 2010: Michael Pohl.

  2010 – The team gains momentum

  The Pilots Team becomes more famous and we get applications from all over the world. Over 50 pilots are now members of the NPT.

  Alongside Michael Pohl, we also awarded the "Pilot of the Year" trophy to a NOVA Juniors Team pilot, Christoph Bessei.

  Team meeting takes place at the Penken in the Zillertal.

• 2009
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  The year of the MENTOR

  

  The first three years of the NOVA Pilots Team are very successful and we decide to launch the Juniors Team. Six young men and women join us as new talent.

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  The MENTOR (I), our success wing of the season.

  2009 – Das Jahr des MENTOR

  The first three years of the NOVA Pilots Team are very successful and we decide to launch the Juniors Team. Six young men and women join us as new talent.

  Urs Haari and Michael Müller were "Pilots of the Year". Flying a MENTOR (LTF 1-2 / EN B), Urs Haari won the sports and standard class of the worldwide XContest.org. This means in the most meaningful worldwide online cross-country competition, Urs flew a lower classed wing so well that he beat every one of his competitors who were ranked in a higher category!

• 2008
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  Five pilots in the top 10

  

  Flying in the Team makes the pilots stronger: five out of the Top 10 of the overall worldwide  XContest.org are NOVA Team pilots.

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  Pilot of the Year 2008: Wolfgang Bernhard.

  2008 – Five pilots in the top 10

  Flying in the Team makes the pilots stronger: five out of the Top 10 of the overall worldwide  XContest.org are NOVA Team pilots.
  
  The Team meeting takes place at Lijak (Slowenia), organised by Dusan Durkovic and Brigita Plemenitaš. "Pilots of the Year" were Wolfgang Bernhard, Mik Broschart and Steve Nash.

• 2007
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  The Team becomes more international

  

  Within the NOVA Pilots Team we award the title of "Pilot of the Year" for the first time. This acknowledges both commitment to the Team as well as excellent sporting achievement. The inaugural winners were Cornelia Voigt, Mario Eder, Hannes Kronberger and Christian Pichler.

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  Pilot of the Year 2007: Mario Eder.

  2007 – Das Team wird internationaler

  Within the NOVA Pilots Team we award the title of "Pilot of the Year" for the first time. This acknowledges both commitment to the Team as well as excellent sporting achievement. The inaugural winners were Cornelia Voigt, Mario Eder, Hannes Kronberger and Christian Pichler.

• 2006
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  More than 200 kilometres on a DHV 1-2

  

  The NOVA Pilots Team is founded - initially only in the German-speaking world. In the Wallis, Switzerland, the two Swiss pilots Marcel Dettling and Adrian Lutz fly the first ever 200km + FAI triangles on a standard wing, using MAMBOOs.

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  The record breaker: NOVA MAMBOO.

  2006 – Mehr als 200 Kilometer mit DHV 1-2

  The NOVA Pilots Team is founded - initially only in the German-speaking world. In the Wallis, Switzerland, the two Swiss pilots Marcel Dettling and Adrian Lutz fly the first ever 200km + FAI triangles on a standard wing, using MAMBOOs.

  The first Team meeting takes place on the Plose (Brixen) in Austria, organised by Christian Pichler and Mauro Pianaro.