APCO Aviation Karma EVO, Manual

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14.9 SPIRAL DIVES
The KARMA EVO has very good behaviour in spiral and has no tendency to stick in the
spiral. By progressively applying brake on one side the glider can be put into a spiral dive.
Safe high sink rates can be achieved like this. The spiral has to be exited slowly by
releasing the brake over one complete turn or the glider may pitch forward and possibly
suffer a collapse.
Care must be taken that the pilot has enough height to exit the spiral safely.
Sink rates in excess of 19m/s can be obtained.
CAUTION:
SOME GLIDERS CAN BE NEUTRAL IN SPIRAL AND MAY NOT EXIT WITHOUT
PILOT INPUT. TO EXIT A NEUTRAL SPIRAL THE PILOT HAS TO LEAN HIS/HER
WEIGHT TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN OR APPLY BRAKE ON THE
OUTSIDE WING. AS SOON AS THE GLIDER STARTS TO SLOW DOWN IN THE
SPIRAL THE OUTSIDE BRAKE MUST BE RELEASED.
PILOTS CAN SUFFER BLACK OUTS IN SPIRALS AND THE PILOT HAS TO EXIT
THE SPIRAL AS SOON AS he/she FEELS ANY ABNORMAL SYMPTOMS (Black
dots in field of vision or light-headedness).
14.10 STRONG TURBULENCE
NEVER FLY IN STRONG TURBULENCE!
If you unexpectedly encounter strong turbulence, fly with about 20% brake applied to
increase the internal pressure and the angle of attack of the canopy and land as soon as
possible. If the air is turbulent on landing approach, land with Big Ears.
Learn to fly actively and to anticipate collapses and prevent them by applying brake when
needed before you have unwanted collapses.
14.11 STEERING NOT FUNCTIONING
If the pilot cannot reach the brake or steering lines for any reason or if they are not
functioning properly, (for example: If they break on a damaged point) the pilot can control
the glider by pulling down on the rear risers.
Care must be taken when steering like this, as much less input is needed to turn the wing
and the response of the wing is also much slower than when using the brakes.
IF YOU PULL TOO MUCH ON ONE OR BOTH RISERS THE GLIDER WILL SPIN OR
STALL.
On the landing flare the pilot should be especially careful not to stall the glider too high.