Phaëthon

The Phaëthon model of brooms is a broom line created by Phaëthon Artifice as their signature innovation besides the Runic Vambrace. The Mark I had 100 units made over late 2015 to 2016. The Mark II had 70 units made in 2017. It has a niche market presence.

Origins

Founders Alvis Norling and Casey O'Doherty had affinity with the Comet line of broomsticks during their years at Hogwarts. When Alvis made the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, he received a customized broom as a gift from his grandfather, retired broom maker Weyland Norling modified from a Comet 300 (Grandad’s Gift). He nicknamed the broom Phaeton. Casey has a more embarrassing background: a Comet 470 was the only model he could ride without immediately getting motion sick. And he still crashed into the lake once trying to practice in stormy weather.

Alvis further tweaked his grandfather’s design on the side after starting his apprenticeship. By the time the duo founded their start-up company, enough innovations had been made to qualify for a unique broom patent.

Features

The Phaëthon broom is outmatched by several racing brooms for speed. Its appeal rather comes from various quality of life and safety features.

Most notable is a set of buffering enchantments to reduce forces felt by the rider during maneuvers, greatly reducing the chance for motion sickness. It has pinpoint turning, banking and breaking along with sustainable hovering at a fixed height. There is also vertical takeoff and landing assistance activated by kicking the foot guards. The line is highly weather resistant.

The Mark II also has a protocol that recognizes if the rider falls off mid-flight. The broom will automatically home in on the rider in peril so they can reach and re-mount the broom.