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A
irBorne WindSports-
Fun MANUAL – Rev 1
Issue Date: 1 July 2003 Page 13
Section 9 FLIGHT TECHNIQUE
Take Off..Don’t forget to hook in...
The Fun has a slightly tail heavy static balance and is very easy to launch. Hold the nose in a slightly elevated
position with the wings level, run hard keeping the nose at the same angle.
It is important that the pilot accelerates smoothly during the launch run. A rapid acceleration will
cause the nose to rise sharply with the risk of stall on launch.
Turns
The Fun can be easily directed into a turn even at slow speeds, however for a fast roll rate and easier
handling, it is best to pull on a little extra flying speed.
The Fun will maintain a turn until the turn is removed by pilot input. Allow yourself plenty of margin for safety.
Don’t fly too slowly when scratching close to the hill.
Stalls
When practising stalls make sure you have sufficient altitude. Push out slowly (approx 1 mph per sec. speed
reduction), the glider will tend to mush without dropping a wing. The sink rate will increase in this mush mode
more than two fold.
If you push out faster the nose will pitch higher, this is followed by a gentle pitch down until the glider regains
flying speed and recovers from the stall.
Never stall the glider with the nose pitched up too high. This is a dangerous manoeuvre and can result in a
tail slide and severe tumble. As a guideline, the angle at which the glider stalls is about the same as the angle
it will recover.
If you push out too much in a turn the glider will turn tighter unless you are flying very slow, in which case you
may tip stall. So keep on a little extra speed in turns until you get used to the glider.
Spins
The Fun will resist spinning. If you do stall a wing in a turn and enter the initial stages of a spin, move your
weight forward and to the high side of the rotation and the glider will recover.
Thermalling
The optimum speed for thermalling is a little above stall speed, it may be necessary to fly faster than this in
rough conditions to maintain good control. Depending on the nature and area of the thermal a bank angle of
between 10 and 50 degrees can be used.
Landing
Landing is easy in the Fun.
Your final approach should be a straight glide into the wind faster than trim speed, approx 25 mph (40 km/h).
Reduce air speed slowly keeping wings level.
When the glider reaches trim speed a full flare is required. Flare aggressively holding the uprights out and up.
It is important that the pilot does not swing the legs forward whilst flaring.
This results in the pilot’s
centre of gravity moving forward which will cause the nose to drop.
In strong wind it is possible to fly the glider onto the ground slowing up gradually. Be careful not to push out
too hard in windy conditions.
Summary of Contents for FUN 160
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