Technology

TRUE THREE LINERS
The less line you have on a paraglider the less drag you have and the better the glider performs. By attaching only three sets of lines across the chord we are able to eliminate up to 20% of the line on a wing. Many gliders have only three risers but have a bifurcation high on the C lines with short D lines branching off to support the back of the chord. With the creation of the Magic 4, Airwave become the first manufacturer to certify a true three liner.

PROGRESSIVE CLOSED CELLS
Airwave gliders use a progressive closed cell system. The tips, like on most gliders, are completely closed. However, where many wings suddenly change to open cells for the rest of the leading edge, or use a system where every third or fourth cell is closed, we use a progressive system. There are more closed cells towards the tips and less and less towards the centre of the wing. This gives the most aerodynamically efficient system, the best inflation and reinflation characteristics, better internal circulation, and enhances the performance of our wings.

HYBRID SAIL
Paragliders never age uniformly. The leading edge of the top surface is exposed to UV in flight and on the ground, plus it is under the most tension in flight and subject to the greatest forces. For this reason we build this section of the glider with a heavy weight 49gm/sqm Gelvenor cloth, while the rest of the wing is made from the much lighter 39gm/sqm Porcher cloth. The result is a much lighter hybrid sail with maximum resilience to UV aging and general wear and tear that is still light enough to keep its nimble handling characteristics.
(More detailed information -> HYBRID SAIL)

CSS – CONTROLLED STABILITY SYSTEM
Much of a paraglider's stability is determined by how the two surfaces attach together. If a glider has a weightshift cell (a centre cell with lines attaching to either side of it) then the stability can be controlled by limiting the size of the cell. The bigger the cell the greater effect weightshift has and the more unstable the wing becomes, equally restricting the size of the cell limits the effect. Although high performance wings and acrobatic gliders need to be very sensitive to weightshift, lower level paragliders need stability over agility. However, lower level wings have bigger cells, so by nature the weightshift cell is actually bigger than on high performance wings. Traditionally, designers have used other tricks to rebuild the stability in to the wing; at Airwave we restrict the size of the weightshift cell with our Controlled Stability System.
(More detailed information -> CONTROLLED STABILITY SYSTEM)


SPAN-WISE STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENERS
By building structural strengtheners across the span of our higher aspect ratio wings we are able to radically increase their rigidity and solidity. Despite their long, thin, racy looks, our high performance wings are able to cut through turbulence where many other wings of their class would collapse; in fact many pilots say they look so solid in turbulence it’s almost as if there is an inflatable tube inside the leading edge.

AIRWAVE´S MATERIAL
Airwave paragliders are made from the very best materials available. We test all of our materials ourselves, not believing manufacturer's claims, and we have carefully chosen each component for durability, quality, and performance so that your glider will last longer and perform better than any other on the market.
(More detailed information -> MATERIALS)