Advance Alpha

The Advance Alpha is a family of Swiss single-place, paragliders, designed and produced by Advance Thun of Thun.[1]

Alpha
Role Paraglider
National origin Switzerland
Manufacturer Advance Thun SA
Status In production (Alpha 6, 2016)
Unit cost
£1,698 (Alpha 3, 2004)

Design and development

The Alpha was designed as a beginner glider for new pilots.[1]

The design has progressed through six generations of models, the Alpha, Alpha 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, each improving on the last. The model sizes are each named for their rough wing area in square metres.[1][2]

Variants
Alpha 3 24
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.59 m (34.7 ft) span wing has wing area of 24.13 m2 (259.7 sq ft), 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is 58 to 75 kg (128 to 165 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[1]
Alpha 3 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11 m (36.1 ft) span wing has wing area of 26.03 m2 (280.2 sq ft), 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is 70 to 90 kg (154 to 198 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[1]
Alpha 3 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.44 m (37.5 ft) span wing has wing area of 28.16 m2 (303.1 sq ft), 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is 85 to 108 kg (187 to 238 lb). The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[1]
Alpha 3 30
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.62 m (38.1 ft) span wing has wing area of 30.05 m2 (323.5 sq ft), 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is 103 to 130 kg (227 to 287 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.[1]
Alpha 4 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.60 m (34.8 ft) span wing has wing area of 23.66 m2 (254.7 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is 5.3 kg (12 lb) and the take-off weight range is 55 to 75 kg (121 to 165 lb). Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[3]
Alpha 4 25
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.03 m (36.2 ft) span wing has wing area of 25.59 m2 (275.4 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is 5.6 kg (12 lb) and the take-off weight range is 65 to 88 kg (143 to 194 lb). Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[3]
Alpha 4 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.63 m (38.2 ft) span wing has wing area of 28.47 m2 (306.4 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is 6.1 kg (13 lb) and the take-off weight range is 78 to 106 kg (172 to 234 lb). Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[3]
Alpha 4 31
Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.29 m (40.3 ft) span wing has wing area of 31.79 m2 (342.2 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is 6.6 kg (15 lb) and the take-off weight range is 96 to 130 kg (212 to 287 lb). Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.[3]
Alpha 5 23
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of 23.75 m2 (255.6 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is 55 to 80 kg (121 to 176 lb). The glide ratio is 8.4:1.[4]
Alpha 5 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area has wing area of 25.97 m2 (279.5 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb). The glide ratio is 8.4:1.[4]
Alpha 5 28
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of 28.48 m2 (306.6 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb). The glide ratio is 8.4:1.[4]
Alpha 5 31
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of 31.81 m2 (342.4 sq ft) and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb) The glide ratio is 8.4:1.[4]
Alpha 6 22
Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 10.3 m (33.8 ft) span wing has wing area of 22.1 m2 (238 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is 50 to 70 kg (110 to 154 lb).[2]
Alpha 6 24
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 10.8 m (35.4 ft) span wing has wing area of 24.0 m2 (258 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is 60 to 80 kg (132 to 176 lb).[2]
Alpha 6 26
Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 11.2 m (36.7 ft) span wing has wing area of 26.1 m2 (281 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is 70 to 95 kg (154 to 209 lb).[2]
Alpha 6 28
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 11.7 m (38.4 ft) span wing has wing area of 28.5 m2 (307 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is 85 to 110 kg (187 to 243 lb).[2]
Alpha 6 31
Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.4 m (40.7 ft) span wing has wing area of 31.9 m2 (343 sq ft), 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lb).[2]

Specifications (Alpha 3 24)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 10.59 m (34 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 24.13 m2 (259.7 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 4.65:1

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 42 km/h (26 mph, 23 kn)

gollark: I see. I think you probably wouldn't be able to do that with dirt-cheap radio transceiver thingies. But how do you know if phones will work there?
gollark: What range do you need?
gollark: It might be better to use some sort of dedicated radio-frequency thing instead of the phone network.
gollark: Destroy time zones. UTC is superior.
gollark: Ah, clearly Google's used their immense computational power to crack it early, excellent.

References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 10. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster, Oklahoma, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Advance Thun SA. "ALPHA 6". advance.ch. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. Advance Thun. "Alpha 4: Technical details". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. Advance Thun. "Alpha 5 technical details". advance.ch. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
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