Description
Lightness
The A4 is over 1kg lighter than the D4, and 500g lighter than its predecessor, the A3. It’s not just lighter, it’s much lighter, and the reduction in sail weight delivers all of the handling & performance benefits that come with lower inertia — crisper and more agile feel, more sensitivity in the climb, and better collapse behaviour. Of course, it’s nicer to carry, as well.
Performance
The Alpina 4 has a massive +12cm/s sink rate advantage over the A3 during full speed glides. In calm air, this results in a full glider-cone height gain every minute. In turbulence, the gain is larger as the A4 cuts through turbulence using gusts for altitude gain, much like a competition wing. The max speed of the A4 is 3kph faster, walking away from the A3 in accelerated flight.
In Active Air
Intuitive and efficient AoA control, an improved airfoil design, and optimised internal structure make the Alpina 4 an XC glide machine in turbulence. Its structure is the strongest we have yet made. Even in aggressive turbulence the profile remains undisturbed, retaining its shape and efficiency without performance loss from chordwise deformation.
New ACR System
The new Ozone Active Control Risers, inherited from the Mantra series, allows full AoA control throughout the speed range without deforming the camber of the profile. The ACR system acts on B & C lines giving 2-liner control with the comfort of a 3-liner design.
Safety
This is the best behaved Alpina yet. The A4 is highly resistant to collapse, even at full speed in turbulence. The post-collapse behaviour is the mildest of the series. This has been achieved by keeping the aspect ratio relatively low, by improving the structure and line architecture, and by optimising wing twist. Extensive testing shows little tendency to shoot or rotate after side collapse, and no shock re-inflation. The behaviour in frontals is excellent with immediate reopening.
Thanks to the Ozone Shark Nose profile, the wing is resistant to spin & stall and can be flown safely at low speed making top landings, or landings in tight spots, simple for a wing of this class.
Tuned for Joy
Compared to the A3, the handling is vastly improved. The brakes are linear — precise in the first part of the range and effective in the second. It is easy to adjust the angle of bank and to place the wing exactly where you want in the core. Strong chord structure and high sail cohesion make for highly coordinated roll/yaw and an agile, exciting feel.
The Pilot
The Alpina 4 is for intermediate to advanced pilots who fly 70-100 hours per year and have SIV experience. Due to its ease of use and high levels of passive safety, it is also very suitable for pilots moving up from the category below. More experienced pilots who want to fly with higher margins of safety will find the A4 a satisfying XC tool with class-leading performance.
