Advance Alpha

{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name= Alpha
| image=
| caption=
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type=[[Paraglider]]
| national origin=[[Switzerland]]
| manufacturer=[[Advance Thun SA]]
| designer=
| first flight=
| introduced=
| retired=
| status=In production (Alpha 6, 2016)
| primary user=
| more users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
| produced= <!--years in production-->
| number built=
| program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
| unit cost= [[Pound sterling|£]]1,698 (Alpha 3, 2004)
| developed from=
| variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Advance Alpha''' is a family of [[Switzerland|Swiss]] single-place, [[paraglider]]s, designed and produced by [[Advance Thun]] of [[Thun]].<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 10. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

==Design and development==
The Alpha was designed as a beginner glider for new pilots.<ref name="WDLA04" />

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.<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="advance.ch">{{cite web|url=http://www.advance.ch/en/alpha6/|title=ALPHA 6|author=[[Advance Thun SA]]|work=advance.ch|accessdate=11 March 2016}}</ref>
<!-- ==Operational history== -->

==Variants==
;Alpha 3 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|10.59|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|24.13|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 35 cells and the [[Aspect ratio (aeronautics)|aspect ratio]] is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|58|to|75|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Alpha 3 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|26.03|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|70|to|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Alpha 3 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|11.44|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|28.16|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|85|to|108|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Alpha 3 30
:Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|11.62|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|30.05|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 35 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.65:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|103|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Alpha 4 23
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|10.60|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|23.66|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the [[Aspect ratio (aeronautics)|aspect ratio]] is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is {{convert|5.3|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and the take-off weight range is {{convert|55|to|75|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. [[Glide ratio]] is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="advance.ch1">{{cite web|url=http://www.advance.ch/Technical-details.428.0.html?&L=1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112154617/http://www.advance.ch/Technical-details.428.0.html?&L=1|title=Alpha 4: Technical details|archivedate=12 November 2011|author=[[Advance Thun]]|work=advance.ch|accessdate=15 March 2016}}</ref>
;Alpha 4 25
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11.03|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|25.59|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is {{convert|5.6|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and the take-off weight range is {{convert|65|to|88|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="advance.ch1"/>
;Alpha 4 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|11.63|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|28.47|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is {{convert|6.1|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and the take-off weight range is {{convert|78|to|106|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="advance.ch1"/>
;Alpha 4 31
:Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.29|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|31.79|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.75:1. The glider empty weight is {{convert|6.6|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and the take-off weight range is {{convert|96|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. Glide ratio is 8.3:1. The glider model is DHV 1 certified.<ref name="advance.ch1"/>
;Alpha 5 23
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its wing has an area of {{convert|23.75|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|55|to|80|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glide ratio is 8.4:1.<ref name="advance.ch2">{{cite web|url=http://www.advance.ch/en/products/paragliders/alpha-5/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511155440/http://www.advance.ch/en/products/paragliders/alpha-5/|title=Alpha 5 technical details|author=[[Advance Thun]]|archivedate=11 May 2014|work=advance.ch|accessdate=15 March 2016}}</ref>
;Alpha 5 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area has wing area of {{convert|25.97|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|70|to|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glide ratio is 8.4:1.<ref name="advance.ch2"/>
;Alpha 5 28
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its wing has an area of {{convert|28.48|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|85|to|110|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glide ratio is 8.4:1.<ref name="advance.ch2"/>
;Alpha 5 31
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its wing has an area of {{convert|31.81|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} and the aspect ratio is 4.85:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|100|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} The glide ratio is 8.4:1.<ref name="advance.ch2"/>
;Alpha 6 22
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|10.3|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|22.1|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|50|to|70|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="advance.ch"/>
;Alpha 6 24
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|10.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|24.0|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|60|to|80|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="advance.ch"/>
;Alpha 6 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11.2|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|26.1|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|70|to|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="advance.ch"/>
;Alpha 6 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|11.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|28.5|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|85|to|110|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="advance.ch"/>
;Alpha 6 31
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has wing area of {{convert|31.9|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 39 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.8:1. The take-off weight range is {{convert|100|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="advance.ch"/>
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==Specifications (Alpha 3 24) ==
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|wing area sqm=24.13
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|aspect ratio=4.65:1
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.advance.ch/en/alpha6/}}
{{Advance aircraft}}

[[Category:Advance aircraft|Alpha]]
[[Category:Paragliders]]