Advance Theta
The developer's thoughts
For which pilot needs did you develop the Theta?
As a Mid-B wing, the Theta basically appeals to a very broad group of pilots. And its low weight starting at 3.1 kg, in combination with the very small packing volume, increases the playing field considerably. The Theta is a true all-rounder. First and foremost, it is a cross-country flight intermediate that has almost the performance of an IOTA DLS.
Whether the pilot walks with the Theta from the cable car to the launch site or up to a remote peak to launch, the glider should not be at fault. A complete Theta kit can be put together from just 6.5 kg, e.g. with a weightless harness and a lightweight rescue device. Of course, the compact package is also very practical for getting to the flying area by public transport, for example, or is suitable for taking with you on vacation.
You write that the Theta carries genes from competition gliders, how much marketing nonsense is that?
The technology of the new paraglider is effectively derived directly from the OMEGA ULS [winning paraglider at the X-Alps 2023, Paraworld note]. The heart of the matter is the internal structure, because that is where the development know-how is contained and the weight is saved. And that is precisely where we can draw on many years of experience, because our X-Alps athletes have inspired us to create ever more extreme designs.
The internal structures have become more elaborate, complex and filigree. You can see this clearly if you take a look inside a Theta yourself. It is essentially about distributing the force of as few lines or suspension points as possible across the entire canopy so that the internal tensions are homogeneous and the statics of the canopy are perfect. We use our own, self-developed design and simulation software for this.
Can you say something about the materials used?
Yes, of course! When we talk about the sailcloth, we have to differentiate between the outer shell and the inner workings. The upper and lower sails are mostly made of the lightest high-end materials available on the market, i.e. the Skytex 27 g cloth from Porcher (upper sail) and the even lighter D10 from Dominico (lower sail).
Basically, with ULS products we pay particular attention to ensuring that the choice of materials is adapted to the loads. Very important: we deliberately do not use ultra-light fabric for the suspended profile ribs. This makes a significant contribution to ensuring that the flight characteristics of the Theta are maintained even after many flights. It is a well-known problem that components of ultra-light paragliders, especially the profile ribs, warp over time, which leads to poorer take-off behavior and a reduction in performance in flight.
Edelrid's extremely low-stretch aramid lines make them very easy to maintain. Trim tuning is usually only necessary for these lines at the first check after two years. Last but not least, I would like to mention the Nitinol wires in the area of the leading edge. These are extremely light but at the same time very robust and therefore do not require special attention when packing.
At ADVANCE you often talk about flight comfort, what do you mean by that?
It's about making sure that pilots feel comfortable under our wings. We devote around 70% of our entire development effort exclusively to this topic. The wing should not pitch forward in an unpleasant way or stand up too much when flying into thermals, it should not roll or pull on the carabiners in an unpleasant way. These are all characteristics that give the pilot a subconscious feeling of unease and discomfort, especially in turbulent air. This must be eliminated.
On the other hand, the wing should still provide "meaningful" and pleasant feedback. This requires aerodynamic craftsmanship: profile design, designing lift distribution in profile depth and across the wingspan, etc. The best possible balance must be found from countless design parameters. That's why we test a lot in different flight conditions until the products meet our own high standards.
A calm, comfortable flight experience conveys safety, fun and joy in flying, so pilots stay in the sport for a long time. That is our goal.
Sizes are always an issue, what can you say about choosing the size for the Theta?
The Theta is very tolerant of different loads. This is not the case with all wings. Wings often fly better when they are well loaded or flown in the upper weight range. This is why I can recommend the Theta across the entire ideal weight range according to the weight table. It is particularly worth mentioning that we have reduced the size of the two smaller sizes 21 and 23 and thus achieved an ideal wing loading in the lower weight ranges. This has the advantage that even light pilots with a takeoff weight of 60 kg or more can choose an optimal weight range.