13
LAUNCHING AND FLYING THE COMBAT
Before launching, hook in to the glider and do a careful hang check. We recommend that you hang as close to
the base tube as possible - this will give you lighter control pressures and better control in both roll and pitch.
1. If the wind is more than 25 km/h or gusty you should have an assistant on your nose wires on launch, and, if
necessary, an assistant on one or both side wires. Make sure all signals are clearly understood. Do a hang check
immediately prior to launch. The angle at which you hold the glider should depend on the wind speed and slope of the
terrain at launch; you want to achieve a slight positive angle of attack at the start of your run.
2. Run aggressively on launch and ease the bar out for lift off.
3. The flying characteristics of the Combat are typical of a high performance flex wing. Make your first flights from a
familiar site in mellow conditions to give you time to become accustomed to the glider.
4. We recommend that you take-off with VG off or approx. 1/4 on.
5. Do not take off if the sail is wet, especially the leading edge, as the stall speed will increase significantly.
Always
fly with a dry sail!
6. For the same reason
take special care to avoid ice covering the glider, particularly the leading edge in
wintertime.
Warning:
It is important that you do not take off with VG on more then ½ length of VG rope. The
glider with VG more than ½ on becomes easier to stall and the roll response gets longer. With low
speed during take off it can lead to unintended stall.
SPEED TO FLY
The range of trim speed for the Combat with VG off is 33 - 35 km/h (21-22 mph). The speed bar position in front of
the pilots face corresponds to this range.
With the VG on the trim speed for the Combat is 40 – 45 km/h (25-28mph) depending on sprog setting. The base bar
position opposite the pilot’s neck or little bit lower corresponds
to this range. The roll pressure increase significantly and
the roll rate becomes significantly slower with the VG full on.
Never fly your Combat when its trim speed with VG on more than 50 km/h (31mph) – the glider becomes
pitch unstable and dangerous to fly.
The Combat speeds up to 110 km/h (69 mph), being essentially roll neutral, with no tendency to yaw. The pitch bar
pressure decreases with the VG on, being light when flying close to the trim speed, but progressive and consistent,
constantly increasing when the speed increase.
AEROTOWING
Special care must be taken in any form of towing.
We recommend that the VG be set to 1/4 - 1/3 on prior to launch. This provides the best qualitative flight
characteristics for flying in formation with the tug at normal aerotow speeds
Fix the excess VG rope on the control frame so it will not interfere with the construction of the cart during
take off. Make sure that all the harness ropes are hidden inside the harness and will not get tangled on the cart
during take off.
If possible, it is best to adjust the keel cradle on the cart to re-set the glider to the proper angle of attack. For Combat
gliders the best angle of the keel tube in relation to horizon is approx. 18 - 20 deg.
If it is not possible to re-adjust the cart, recognize the launch will be more demanding, and more dangerous, as the
glider will have an increased tendency to leave the cart at a lower speed, where lateral control is reduced, and the
tendency to come off the cart with one wing low is increased. To some degree, this can be compensated by pulling
forward through the control bar to position the base tube below your shoulders, and holding tight to the hold down rope.
This will cause the glider to raise the keel as it begins to develop enough lift to lift out of the cart. At that point, and not
before that point, you can release the rope and ease your weight aft to fly the glider off of the cart. Be prepared to pull in
once clear of the cart if necessary so as not to climb more quickly than the tug.
Once clear of the cart and in the position behind the tug, use firm lateral movements of short duration for roll and
directional control in order to stay in the position behind the tug. Do not move to one side of the bar and wait for the glider
to respond - this will lead to over control and being out of position, and may lead to roll / yaw oscillations. It is better to
"bump" the glider firmly in the direction of the desired correction and then return to center. If you need more correction,
bump again. In pitch, stay on top of the situation and be as aggressive as necessary to keep the tug on the horizon.
