PHI has announced two new products on the same day: the PHI ROWDY, its first parakite, and the BEAT 2 light NT, an update of its lightweight EN-B wing with the Nitinol technology it debuted a few weeks earlier on the MAESTRO 3.
ROWDY: PHI’s first parakite
According to Hannes Papesh, the PHI ROWDY is the result of CFD simulations and FSI analysis and the construction of three prototypes, of which the simplest and most radical was chosen for series production. The wing has only two lines with a single A-line — unlike most parakites, which use a double A — which, according to the manufacturer, reduces line drag and simplifies the riser system to just two per side. It features PHI’s Nitinol technology with neoprene padding on the leading edge and a sand-drainage system on the trailing edge designed for use on the beach.
The PHI ROWDY comes in four sizes (16, 19, 22 and 25), with 40 cells, a flat aspect ratio of 4.72 (3.4 projected) and a wing weight of between 3.78 and 5.18 kg depending on size. The certified in-flight weight range is 50 to 120 kg. It is certified under EN/LTF 926-1, a standard specific to parakites and separate from the EN A-D scale for paragliders. The factory price given by PHI ranges from €3,490 to €3,790.
BEAT 2 light NT: same cut, more compact
PHI keeps the patterns and cuts of the BEAT 2 light — its best-selling model, according to the brand — but adds the new 4-layer MJ29 fabric and Nitinol technology with neoprene padding in the nose, resulting in a smaller pack size while keeping the same weight as the current version. The wing remains EN-B certified, with 56 cells, a flat aspect ratio of 5.31 (3.88 projected), six sizes (18 to 26) and wing weights of between 3 and 4.15 kg. The certified weight range goes from 55 to 130 kg depending on size, with DGAC certification for paramotor use.
PHI Rowdy compared
In the parakite world, the PHI ROWDY’s most direct rival could be the Flare Scout: it shares the same progression-oriented approach, with four sizes (16, 19, 22 and 26, versus 16, 19, 22 and 25 for the ROWDY) and flat aspect ratios of between 4.7 and 5.2 depending on size, very close to the PHI wing’s constant 4.72. Flare presents it as a wing designed to make getting into parakiting intuitive, safe and motivating, with a removable winglet system that lets you adjust roll behaviour as the pilot progresses — an “advanced beginner and up” approach very similar to the one PHI claims for the ROWDY. The Niviuk Jester (flat aspect ratio 5.5, three-line A/B/C layout versus the ROWDY’s two) and the Flare Bandit (aspect ratios of 6.5 to 7.1) belong to a higher-performance tier and do not compete in this entry and progression segment.
Among lightweight EN-B wings, the BEAT 2 light NT has a recent rival in the Gin Bandit 2, presented at the end of 2025: it also seeks the lowest possible weight without losing handling, with a flat aspect ratio of 5.5 and 3.24 kg in size S, figures very close to those of the PHI wing.
+Info: phi-air.com/rowdy and phi-air.com/beat-2-light-nt
