NOVA Performance Paragliders

To the launch, get set, go! The BANTAM 2 features all the characteristics that enable top rankings in competitions like the Red Bull Dolomitenmann, Rise & Fall, etc. A quick launch is essential and this occurs reliably thanks to the short lines and easy inflation. In the air, the ultralight mountain wing impresses with even better glide performance, higher stability and top speed than its predecessor. For several years now, the BANTAM concept has proven itself at the Red Bull Dolomitenmann: with the BANTAM (1), Chrigel Maurer has won the individual paragliding discipline three times in a row. During the development of the BANTAM 2, the core characteristics were once again significantly improved.

Compact companion. The short lines and direct handling of the BANTAM 2 enable extreme precision – from launch to landing. Its predecessor gave rise to Theo de Blic's world-famous Throw & Go videos, in which he launches the BANTAM from narrow cliffs and exposed peaks. The BANTAM 2 excites with even simpler and less complicated launch behaviour, which is also an absolute advantage on less extreme launch sites. Feedback through the risers and brakes is conveyed even more directly. The agility and speed of the miniwing means lots of flying fun. The BANTAM 2 can also withstand strong winds without any problems. Improved flare and stall behaviour guarantees a soft landing. The combination of these features make for a great flying experience. Whether hike & fly, climb & fly or simply a pleasurable glide down - the BANTAM 2 is a great companion for your day in the mountains.

New design – same principle. With our own design software, we were able to significantly optimise the characteristics of the BANTAM 2. It also benefits from the know-how generated by the design of the ION 7 & ION 7 Light and the MENTOR 7 & MENTOR 7 Light. Based on the successful design of its predecessor, the BANTAM 2 meets all the demands of a fun mountaineering wing. It differs in essential parameters such as profile and arc. This increases stability, and improves performance and launch and landing behaviour. The slightly increased aspect ratio of 4.5 (BANTAM (1): 4.4) also contributes to a better glide. With a distance from pilot to canopy of 4.3 m and a weight of only 1.6 kg in size 12 (50 grams less than its predecessor), the BANTAM 2 is even more light and compact.

Simply flying. Thanks to its clever features, using the BANTAM 2 is easier than ever before. Coloured sheathed main lines make pre-launch preparations easier and do not tangle much. The 7 mm easily manageable and ultralight Kevlar-reinforced risers have been stiffened to minimise twisting. If there are slippery conditions on take-off, the included holding pins allow you to easily secure the glider. During launch, the pins detach from the ground and fly down into the valley attached to the glider. The Nitinol rods in the leading edge make packing easier as they reduce volume while retaining their shape. After landing, you can quickly pack your BANTAM 2 and be ready for the next adventure.

PS: the perfect combination with the BANTAM 2 is our mountaineering harness MONTIS which weighs only 320 grams in size M.

Ultra-lightweight. The ultimate in lightness.

Designed for hike & fly, climb & fly and vol biv, ultra-lightweight products are built to be as light and compact as possible. To achieve this, we use the lightest materials and technologies available - but never at the expense of safety! For the longest possible enjoyment of the product, we recommend particularly careful handling of the equipment.

The BANTAM 2 is made of these materials:

Risers: Light risers, 7 mm wide, Kevlar-reinforced
Nitinol rods for better profile shape in accelerated flight and easier packing
Fabrics:
Upper and lower surface: Dominico 10D 26 g/m²
Profile ribs: Porcher Skytex 27 hard 27g/m²

Target group

The BANTAM 2 is aimed at pilots who like to fly small, manoeuvrable, ultralight paragliders. With regard to pilot experience, the well-known rule applies: the skill required increases with the wing loading. So if you fly the BANTAM 2 12 (EN D) at the upper end of the weight range, you must expect very dynamic flight behaviour. Accordingly, a high degree of wing control is needed. In contrast, the BANTAM 2 in size 14 (EN C) is quite a tame mountain glider when loaded in the lower third of the certified weight range. It can climb even in weaker thermals.

In general, the BANTAM 2 is ideal for hike & fly and climb & fly - as well as for competitions such as Red Bull Dolomitenmann or Rise & Fall.

To choose the right glider size for your ability, please check the technical data and ask your NOVA dealer advice.

Video

Quote from...

...Theo de Blic:

"The BANTAM (1) was the very first wing NOVA sent me a few days before I signed my contract, and it's fair to say that it was that wing which made our partnership what it is today. Therefore, it holds a special place in my heart.

The BANTAM 2 retains everything that made the BANTAM 1 so special: its dynamic and fun behavior, incredible lightness, and precise handling. It also adds performance, stability, and an extended speed range, making this wing the ultimate hike & fly machine."

Red Bull Dolomitenmann 2023

At the 36th Red Bull Dolomitenmann 2023, the BANTAM demonstrated its outstanding take-off and flight performance. Only BANTAM 2 pilots were on the podium.

For the first time, women were also allowed to participate, but without their own ranking. Our miniwing dominated here as well.

Out of a total of 112 pilots at the start, ten flew BANTAM 2 and 50 flew BANTAM 1.

We congratulate everyone and thank them for their confidence in the BANTAM!

Ranking overall: www.pentek-timing.at/results/2023/14439-01.pdf
Ranking Paragliding: www.pentek-timing.at/results/2023/14439-06.pdf

Technology

The ultimate in lightness.

Designed for hike & fly, climb & fly and vol biv, ultra-lightweight products are built to be as light and compact as possible. To achieve this, we use the lightest materials and technologies available - but never at the expense of safety! For the longest possible enjoyment of the product, we recommend particularly careful handling of the equipment.

Consistent at top speed.

Using thin webbing at the leading edge, the upper and lower surfaces are connected in the middle of each cell. This promotes leading edge solidity in flight, which is particularly beneficial to performance when flying at speed.

Smart stuff.

What we mean by that is, for example, Nitinol. This material can be bent when packing the equipment, but it always returns to its original shape. This characteristic can be very useful! In paragliders, the high-quality Nitinol rods replace the usual nylon rods. They are even more robust and ensure an optimally shaped airfoil contour. In harnesses, the properties of Nitinol are used, among other things, to ensure that the airbag fills with air before take off.

Comfort on the ground. All NOVA paragliders are made to be easy to use. For packing you can use a concertina bag, but it is not essential. Our extensive experience with rods has taught us that the packing method has little influence on the durability of the wing. Bent rods quickly spring back into their original shape.

More compact. The aspect ratio of a glider is not the only factor in passive safety, but still a very important one. A high aspect ratio favours cravats after asymmetric collapses, generally shortens brake travel and normally makes wings more difficult to fly. Nova's analytical tools permit us to build performance wings even with a low or moderate aspect ratio.

Under pressure.

NOVA Air Scoop is an optimised air intake, which increases the internal wing pressure. NOVA's Air Scoop principle is similar to the ram-air inlet duct on a sports car: increased airflow produces higher pressure. Higher internal pressure in a paraglider means improved performance through increased structural stability and collapse resistance.

Technical data

		12	14
Number of cells		33
Projected span	m	6,4	7,0
Projected area	m²	12,1	14,0
Projected aspect ratio		3,4	3,5
Flat span	m	8,0	8,6
Flat area	m²	14,4	16,2
Flat aspect ratio		4,5
Distance pilot – canopy	m	4,3	4,5
Total line length	m	157,6	170,0
Max. chord	m	2,2	2,4
Min. chord	m	0,5	0,5
Weight	kg	1,6	1,8
Certified take off weight	kg	60-90	55-100
Certification		EN/LTF D	EN C/LTF D

Materials

Leading edge:	Dominico 10D, 26 g/m²
Top surface:	Dominico 10D, 26 g/m²
Lower surface:	Dominico 10D, 26 g/m²
Profile ribs (suspended):	Skytex 27 hard 27 g/m²
Profile ribs (unsuspended):	Skytex 27 hard 27 g/m²
Main lines:	Liros PPSLS 191 / TSL 140
Gallery lines:	Edelrid U-8000 / PPSLS 65
Brake lines:	7850-240 / PPSLS 65
Risers:	Kevlar 7 mm

Service

Every NOVA paraglider comes with a big package of extra services and guarantees. When you buy the wing you get more than just the product¹.

Optimise your wing.

During the initial flights the lines are subjected to real loads for the first time. This leads to stretching and shrinking - regardless of which line material is used. During NOVA Trim Tuning² our software analyses how out of trim the glider has become and then calculates the required correction values. Trim Tuning aids safety and increases your flying fun.

More than a check.

The NOVA Full Service is more than just a check. Just like the Trim Tuning, we analyse the line lengths and ensure that the wing is restored to the optimal profile alignment across the whole of the span. Additionally we give the wing a full health check. Our NOVA Full Service gives you confidence in your wing.

Three years without worry.

If your wing has undergone NOVA Trim Tuning, the date to the next check is extended from two years to three years. The two-year check becomes a three-year check. This allows you to have an extra year of carefree flying. Please note the maximum permitted flying hours in the manual.

Full four year warranty.

As standard, NOVA provides a three year, rather than a two year, guarantee on its paragliders. If your wing has undergone NOVA Trim Tuning and a NOVA Full Service, then we will extend the guarantee for a further year to four years. You get a good feeling flying a NOVA wing.

Everything available, anytime.

If you register your wing at myNOVA, it is added to our Quality Assurance Database. In the database - accessed through myNOVA - you can download all the key data about your wing. The database will also assist the person servicing your glider by getting information about your glider at the click of a button. Your glider will be more comprehensively checked.

1 The guarantee and service provision is limited, subject to conditions and not offered to the same extent in all countries. Detailed information is available in our guarantee conditions.

2 This service is included in the purchase price in selected countries. Please contact your dealer for more information.

Colours

Red

Please press the play button to launch the colour configurator.

Main colour
- White
- Orange
- Lime
- Peacock
- Petrol
- Grey
- Red
Center wing
- White
- Orange
- Lime
- Peacock
- Petrol
- Grey
- Red
Bank wrapper
- White
- Orange
- Lime
- Peacock
- Petrol
- Grey
- Red

This 3D model will assist you to see the approximate appearance of a custom colour. But please be aware: the actual colours may vary from the 3D model. For any queries, please contact your NOVA Partner or email us directly at info@nova.eu.

Scope of delivery

Mini Stuff Sack.

Simple Flag.

The Simple Flag fits in your pocket and is useful when there is no permanently installed wind indicator at a take-off or landing site. By means of a loop it can easily be attached to a stick or branch before the flight. Tip: Even if want to do some spontaneous ground handling, the Simple Flag will serve you well.

Holding-Pins.

The Holding-Pins are made of wood - if you lose one in nature it is not the end of the world. The wing is delivered with a few spares. Please make sure you remove the pins before stowing your glider in the compression bag. This prevents damage to the cloth.

Repair kit.

Everyone hopes it will never happen: a hole or tear in the paraglider. We have included a minor damage repair kit in the right colour for such an eventuality.

Manual.

We have enclosed a very detailed manual which contains everything you need to know about your flying equipment. Please study it before flying your gear for the first time.

FAQ

What is the difference to the DOUBLESKIN?

The DOUBLESKIN is also a mountain wing made of ultralight materials ("Ultra-lightweight"), but in "standard size" and EN A certified. It is therefore suitable for pilots who appreciate an easy-to-fly glider that impresses with a low take off speed and a good climb rate in weak thermals.

How should I pack the wing?

The Nitinol rods in the leading edge are characterised by low weight and volume and are less susceptible to kinking than nylon rods. However, when packing, we recommend not bending the rods too much. Apart from that, no special technique is required and you can use any type of packsack. You will achieve the smallest possible volume with our Ultralight Compression Bag. But to protect the equipment in the long term, the wing should be stored loosely packed.

What does "distance pilot – canopy" mean?

This value indicates the distance from the carabiner main attachment point vertically upwards to the lower sail. In other words, it describes how far the pilot is from the glider. With hike & fly gliders, this distance is particularly relevant for launching: the closer you stand to the glider with the lines stretched out, the less space is required for the inflation. In flight, a small distance provides "direct contact" with the glider. A slightly larger distance indirectly increases the glide performance and provides a more "all-round" flying feeling, which is especially desirable for thermalling and XC gliders.

The ideal distance to the canopy must therefore always be evaluated in relation to the intended use.

How do I use the holding pins?

The pins can be attached to the specially provided tabs of the wing using the loops provided (the exact instructions can be found in the manual of the glider.) If used correctly, the pins are pulled out of the ground or the snow when taking off and they fly into the valley attached to their loops. If one still get lost, it is no drama - our holding pins are made of wood and therefore biodegradable. It is very important to remove the pins when packing to avoid any damage to the glider.

Is the extreme lightweight cloth as durable as regular cloth?

The very light cloth is a little more sensitive to damage than a heavier paraglider cloth. Unnecessary mechanical stress (dragging the wing over the ground, intensive ground handling) and unnecessary UV exposure should be avoided. In general, wings should always be folded when dry and loosely stored in the glider bag. All NOVA paragliders – whether light or standard – are covered by our comprehensive guarantee package.

Three-liner | Cells: 33 | Aspect ratio: 4.5 | Weight: 1.6 kg – Size 12 (EN/LTF D)

BANTAM 2 – Built for para-alpinists