Resuming a revolution
The SYMPHONIA is a super-high A-wing with a very high technical effort for its class: 50 cells, inside sewing miniribs, double 3D shaping, brake reef system all over the wingspan, 32g high quality Porcher cloth, diagonal finger straps, very reduced rigging, unsheeted lines, as well as wrinkle reducing reinforcements.
These complex techniques in combination with a very clean surface finish are widening the performance frame in the A class by a significant margin.
Never before this kind of performance and speed was combined with such a high level of safety and comfort. Never before this kind of performance was safely flyable by such a big target group.
Gallery
Designer's note
Our PHI SYMPHONIA is opening the door to a new era: high performance wings have reached A class safety. A pilot can develop himself and choose to fly a simple training hill wing, a classical beginner wing or finally a high performance wing without taking more risks by leaving the A class.
The idea to expand the usual one dimensional relation between gliders classification and complexity, however, is not new. Traditionally, A-wings are technically very simple, as D wings are very complex. Building technically complex wings in the A-class is extruding the scale to a two dimensional field: the relationship between classification and complexity is not linear any more.
Some years ago, I was able to push the limits by a revolution in the B class with the Mentor 2 and 3. These low aspect ratio wings were found on the top of the XC rankings and impressed many classical high performance pilots which normally flew more demanding wings.
Through progress in technology and knowledge it is now possible to repeat the same in the A class. The SYMPHONIA is resuming the revolution of safe, low aspect ratio wings!
As the B-class got wider and wider in the last years, it was the next logical step to rise a new standard by presenting a high performance wing in the A-class. Enjoy!
Hannes Papesh
Technical data
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| SYMPHONIA | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number of cells | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| projected span (m) | 8.18 | 8.59 | 8.99 | 9.40 | 9.76 |
| projected area (m²) | 18.24 | 20.08 | 22.02 | 24.05 | 25.93 |
| projected aspect ratio | 3.67 | 3.67 | 3.67 | 3.67 | 3.67 |
| flat span (m) | 11.52 | 11.04 | 11.56 | 12.08 | 12.54 |
| flat area (m²) | 21.54 | 23.72 | 26.00 | 28.40 | 30.62 |
| flat aspect ratio | 5.14 | 5.14 | 5.14 | 5.14 | 5.14 |
| line length (m) | 6.27 | 6.58 | 6.89 | 7.20 | 7.48 |
| total line length (m) | 218.30 | 229.10 | 239.90 | 250.70 | 260.30 |
| maximum chord (m) | 2.55 | 2.67 | 2.80 | 2.93 | 3.04 |
| minimum chord (m) | 0.60 | 0.63 | 0.66 | 0.69 | 0.72 |
| weight (kg) | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.50 | 4.70 | 4.95 |
| weight range (kg) | 55-75 | 65-85 | 75-95 | 90-110 | 105-130 |
| certification (EN/LTF) | (A) | (A) | A | A | A |
| material top-, buttomsail, inside | Porcher 32, Porcher 38 | Porcher 32, Porcher 38 | Porcher 32, Porcher 38 | Porcher 32, Porcher 38 | Porcher 32, Porcher 38 |
| risers | 3+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 |
| speedway (mm) | 150 | 150 | 150 | 170 | 170 |
Weight range
Available colors
Secrets
After the first comparison flights, pilots usually ask about the secrets of the SYMPHONIA. Since it has the technical complexity of a modern high level B-wing, the performance is surprisingly high. Especially against the wind the SYMPHONIA shows its performance potential impressively by pulling forward, when it picks up the energy of a gust, instead of banking up and getting slower.
The airfoil is showing a very high level of stability and form stiffness, but is collapsing softly and reacting harmless in case of a deflation. We also love the clean surface finish. The technical and handwork skills of our factory (Aerodynamics in Sri Lanka) made it possible, that the canopy seams of the 3D shaping and the color design are as clean as never before. In combination with a new, optimized 3D shaping concept, the airfoil smoothness is reaching a new level.
Some secrets we will keep to ourselves, but an important factor for this success is time: that time, that the development team took to improve the protos and to reach the target of an A-rating safety without restraining performance and speed.
Scope of delivery
Glider, compression belt, innerbag, backpack