We take customer care very seriously!

Paragliders are sophisticated flying machines and similar to a racing bicycle, after 15 – 20 hours of airtime they require a service. On a racing bike this means adjusting the steering column and the gears; on a paraglider it means re-trimming the lines. NOVA takes its responsibility very seriously and provides this re-trimming service for all its wings.

All the important questions and answers on the NOVA Trim Tuning can be found below.

How will a NOVA Trim Tuning (NTT) benefit me?
During the design of a paraglider, our development team spend many hours trying to maximise the   potential of the wing through fine-tuning. The NOVA Trim Tuning guarantees that the wing is returned to its optimal condition.

Isn’t is possible to manufacture a glider so that it already compensates for the predicted shrinkage and stretch of the lines?
Unfortunately not. During manufacture NOVA takes into account moderate predicted shrinkage and stretch, but it is not possible to fully compensate for the actual change of length in advance. Firstly, the wing would fly far too fast if the trim was excessively compensated for; secondly, the change of trim depends largely on the flying behaviour of the pilot. 
 

Why doesn’t NOVA just use Kevlar (Aramid) lines, which are less susceptible to stretching?
Competition pilots know that Kevlar isn’t immune to stretching. Even a completely Kevlar-lined wing like the FACTOR 2 should be subject to a Trim Tuning. In comparison to Dyneema, Kevlar lines have the disadvantage of being more susceptible to wear due to repeated bending and in the long-term may lose their tensile strength. Depending on load, we favour a hybrid line set using both Dyneema and Kevlar.

NOVA recommends NOVA Trim Tuning after 20 hours airtime. Why?
After 20 hours airtime all the loops have tightened; the lines have largely completed their stretch and shrinking process. Generally speaking, the change of line length in the subsequent 100 hours is less than in the first 20 hours. 

What happens if I decide not to send my wing for a Trim Tuning?
Like all paragliders, if there is a change in the trim even NOVA wings will have altered launch and flying characteristics. Generally wings which are out-of-trim will be less dynamic, less agile and may have reduced glide performance.


Is it dangerous if I decide not to undertake the Trim Tuning?
Not really. At the end of each paraglider development process we test the wing in various out-of-trim settings. Only when the wing will fly safely even when it is clearly out-of-trim would we consider it ready for production. If the wing is out-of-trim, there will be changes in the flying characteristics. Once the NOVA Trim Tuning has been completed, the interval to the first NOVA Full Service is extended to three years. 

Is the date of purchase or the date of the Trim Tuning pertinent to when the NOVA Full Service should be scheduled?
The date of purchase. Whether the Trim Tuning is performed after a short time or a year, in either case the interval to the NOVA full Service is extended to three years from the date of purchase. Delaying the Trim Tuning will not delay the date the NOVA Full Service must be performed. If the Trim Tuning is not undertaken, the NOVA Full Service must be performed after two years or 100 flying hours1. 
 

Who performs the NOVA Trim Tuning?
The technical staff at NOVA as well as NOVA accredited service centres. An up-to-date list can be found at NOVA Try & Buy.
 

Why do the service centres have to be accredited by NOVA?
The NOVA Trim Tuning is performed using specific software and an agreed test protocol. Non-accredited companies don't have the tools or the necessary know-how to perform the service to our required standard.

How many wings have been re-trimmed so far?
The system has been in place for about ten years and thousands of wings have already been checked and re-trimmed. The system has been continuously improved, so it is proven and very sophisticated. Any insights we glean through the process are fed into our Quality Assurance Database which in turn assists us when developing new gliders. In the paragliding industry we are unique in offering a process for ongoing and continuous quality assurance.
 

Any questions?
Visit our Trim Tuning page or send us an email at:
service@nova.eu

1Three years or up to 100 hours airtime – whichever comes first.