Bantam

Made for para-mountaineers

Small, compact, dynamic – the BANTAM is the perfect miniwing for all mountaineers who prefer a flight with plenty of speed to a descent on foot.

Its excellent glide was demonstrated at the Dolomitenmann 2019, when Chrigel Maurer and his team won the overall rankings. Only 1.65 kg (size 12) makes the BANTAM the lightest certified non-single-surface wing on the market (as of October 2019).

A little rebel in its own weight class

At only 1.65 kg (size 12), this little power pack can be carried in a conventional hiking backpack and it has enormous fun potential. If you like it less dynamic or have a higher take off weight, the BANTAM size 14 is the ideal partner for para-mountaineering adventures. Our 320 grams MONTIS harness (size M) is the perfect match for the BANTAM. In size 12, wing and harness have a combined weight of less than 2 kg.

Let your ambition fly ...

The low aspect ratio and extremely short lines make the launch simpler and the handling more direct. Even at trim speed, the BANTAM is fast and the speed increase at full acceleration is impressive. Nevertheless, the stability in turbulent air remains remarkably high. Even if you are not a Dolomitenmann, Rise&Fall, etc. competitor, the BANTAM can help you achieve your hike & fly personal best. And the best thing... in comparison to single-surface gliders, its flare characteristics are a particular advantage of the BANTAM. This offers a safety reserve even during adverse landing conditions.

By professionals for professionals

The BANTAM was weight-optimised where possible without neglecting any of the technical details. It features extra short mini-ribs and an upper surface vector tape. With a line length of only four metres (size 12) – a best value in this glider class – the glider can be laid out well even on the smallest launch site. The focus in terms of brake geometry was on precise handling and optimal flare behaviour. This of course helps during landing, but also during take off, because with some brake the glider generates a lot of lift and takes off even at low speed. And once in the air, it’s full speed ahead. Brake travel is very long and its top speed is correspondingly high.

Pilot target group

The BANTAM (EN/LTF D) is not suitable for beginners or instruction and is aimed at experienced pilots who want to be on the move with as little weight as possible during hike & fly, mountain running, vol biv or competitions. Flown with a high wing-loading, its very direct handling and dynamic flight characteristics enable manoeuvres such as barrel rolls. Also in extreme situations, the BANTAM requires precise control inputs and active intervention by the pilot. Just as you should not immediately change from a low aspect ratio glider to a very high aspect ratio wing, we advise against doubling the usual wing load from one wing to another.

“For me, the BANTAM is setting a benchmark for this type of wing because it glides better and clearly has better top-speed. The handling is simpler and I feel comfortable and this means I can use all the available performance.” CHRIGEL MAURER

Upper surface vector tape

This tape reduces the crease that is created when braking. This markedly increases climb performance and handling. In the BANTAM, this vector tape runs just in front of the mini-ribs, which, for the sake of weight optimisation, are as short as possible.

Mini-ribs

Mini-ribs increase the number of cells in the rear wing area and thus provide an aerodyna-mically optimised trailing edge. The mini-ribs of the BANTAM are particularly short – another measure to keep the paraglider as light as possible.

Zig-Zag 3D-Shaping

As well as the double 3D-shaped seams, there is an additional diagonal 3D-shaped seam on every cell. This forms a striking zig-zag pattern. The advantage is that this seam doesn’t run in the direction of the spanwise force. This means the seam runs more cleanly and is more aerodynami-cally advantageous. This innovation reduces the creases in the leading edge.

Light Risers

The Light Risers are ergonomic and like the paraglider itself, are designed to save weight on equipment. A pair of risers weighs only 160 g.

Weight-optimised cloth

We only use the highest quality sail cloths in all our wings, and we not only test the cloth for durability (high porosity or reduced tear resistance through UV damage or wear) but also for mechanical robustness, for example stretching. For quality control purposes we regularly take samples during serial production. The BANTAM is made from the lightest cloth currently available on the market. It is also characterised by its small packing volume and high UV resistance.

Holding pins

By means of small loops and wooden pins the paraglider can be easily secured for take off in very steep and slippery terrain – e.g. on snow. This prevents the glider from sliding down while being laid out. If you inflate the canopy, the pins will release automatically. Detailed instructions on how to use the holding pins can be found in the manual.

Ultralight Compression Bag

Every BANTAM is delivered with an Ultralight Compression Bag (22 L, 34 g). The NOVA Compression Bag reduces the volume of the wing, protects it from sweat and helps to pack it flatter, which makes carrying it in your rucksack more comfortable.

Color

Peacock

Materials

Leading edge: Dominico 10D, 26 g/m2
Top surface: Dominico 10D, 26 g/m2
Lower sail: Dominico 10D, 26 g/m2
Profile ribs: Porcher Skytex 27 Hard, 27 g/m2

Main lines: Liros PPSL 191 / TSL 140
Gallery lines: Edelrid U-8000 / PPSLS 65
Brake lines: 7850-240 / PPSLS 65
Light Riser: Kevlar 12mm