This manual is not intended as an instruction book on how to fly the Sport, you should be a
qualified pilot or under suitable supervision, but the following comments describe how to get
the best from your Sport.
Active Piloting
Even though the Sport is designed as a first time glider, ‘active piloting’ is a tool that will
help you fly with greater safety and enjoyment. Active piloting is flying in empathy with your
paraglider. This means not only guiding the glider through the air but also being aware o f
feedback from the wing, especially in thermals and turbulence. If the air is smooth the
feedback can be minimal but in turbulence feedback is continuous and needs to be
constantly assessed by the pilot through the brakes and the harness. Such reactions are
instinctive in good pilots. Maintaining contact with the glider through pressure on the brakes
is essential and allows the pilot to feel the loss of internal pressure which often preceds a
collapse. The Sport is highly resistant to collapse without any pilot action at all, but learning
how to fly actively will increase this saftey margin even furthur.
Harness
The Sport is tested with a ‘GH’ type harness. The GH category includes weight shift
harnesses as well as ABS style (semi stable) harnesses.
Take-off
The Sport is easy to inflate in light or stronger winds and will quickly rise overhead to the
flying position. The best inflation technique is to hold one A riser in each hand. The ‘big ears’
risers should be also held for the best inflation.
a) Nil Wind – Inflation is best done by taking both of the A risers in each hand. This is the
reason why the A risers are both marked with red cloth, and they are velcroed together t o
make it easier to grasp them before the launch. The vecro is intended to come detatched in
flight, particularly when the speed system is used, though ithas no significant effect if the
velcro remains attached. In nil or very light wind, stand with all the A lines taut behind you,
then take one or two steps back (do not walk all the way back to the canopy) and then
begin your launch run pulling gently and smoothly on the A risers. As soon as the canopy
starts to rise off the ground stop pulling so hard on the A risers but pull all the risers evenly
through the harness. Maintaining gentle pressure on the A risers always helps in very calm
conditions. Have your hands ready to slow up the canopy with the brakes it it starts t o
accelerate past you.
b) Reverse Launch – In winds over 10 km/h it is probably better to do a reverse launch and
inflate the canopy whilst facing it using the A risers.
The Sport has little tendancy to overshoot but releasing pressure on the A risers when the
canopy has risen about 45° will help to reduce this. The stronger the wind and the greater
the pressure on the A riser the more quickly the canopy will rise.