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FORWARD (ALPINE) LAUNCH
The HYBRID TANDEM has very good launch behaviour in no wind conditions.
For the best results we recommend the use of the following techniques: Lay out the glider and position yourself in the centre of the wing
with the lines almost tight.
With a positive and constant force inflate the wing holding only the A-risers, and smoothly increase your running speed. The wing will
quickly inflate and settle above your head without the tendency to stick behind.
After you leave the A-risers, apply about 10 - 15% brakes and the HYBRID TANDEM will gently lift you off the ground.
STRONG WIND AND REVERSE LAUNCH
The HYBRID TANDEM behaves better on the ground than single surface wings, with less of a tendency to inflate without input, but as
with any wing, care must still be taken once you are connected to the glider.
The Hybrid Tandem is suitable for doing a “Cobra Launch”, which reduces the force compared to a regular inflation.
If using a launch assistant, he or she should let you walk in under the wing on inflation rather than resist the inflation; this reduces the
tendency of the glider to lift the pilot prematurely.
TOW OR WINCH LAUNCHING
All APCO gliders are well suited for winching and have no bad tendencies on the winch. With towing it is important to have the wing
above your head on launch and not to try and force a stalled wing into the air. This is especially important if the winch operator is using
high tension on the winch. Very little brake if any need be applied on launch and during the tow. Directional changes can be made with
weight shift rather than brakes. While on tow, the brake pressure will be higher and more force may be needed to make corrections than
in normal flight.
FLIGHT TECHNIQUES
The HYBRID TANDEM is an exceptionally easy and forgiving glider, making it ideal for tandem pilots of all levels, and would be an
excellent choice for learning to fly tandem on.
The most common reason for a bad launch is a bad layout