Cheetah 160
Owner’s Manual
leading edge bolts are secure.
17. Check that the keel is horizontally straight with a slight downwards bow. Check that the tensioning
strop is secure, correctly fitted and that the split ring is in place. As shown in the earlier diagram.
18. Check that the wires are undamaged. Look out for corrosion and fraying. Pay particular attention to
inspection of the side wires as, in normal flight, these are the most heavily loaded.
INSPECT BOTH
ENDS: THE BASE BAR END AND THE CROSS TUBE JUNCTION END. REMEMBER: IF
IN DOUBT DO NOT FLY- RETURN YOUR GLIDER FOR A THOROUGH STRIP-DOWN.
19. Check operation of the VB. Pull the VB. rope and check that it pulls on smoothly and releases. If it is
jammed check and release if caught. If instruments are attached to the right hand upright it may
interfere with the VB. operation. The VB. cord runs down the rubber back of the right hand upright.
Crushing the rubber back impedes the movement of the cord. It may then be possible to pull the VB.
but not to release it. This is easily cured by inserting a length (30cm) of batten material inside the
rubber back of the upright and passing the VB cord through it. (This stops the rubber back from being
crushed and the rope impeaded.) With a topless glider it may be necessary to unzip the centre zip and
pull the cross tube centre forwards to get the VB. to release while on the ground (see appendix).
20. Finally check that all the quick release fasteners are secure. Pay particular attention to the base bar
quick pins. As the glider is moved and placed on the ground the safety rings in the base bar quick pins
may contact the ground. Long grass seems most likely to cause the problem but it is possible to
remove the safety ring from the pin. The problem is minimised if you put the pins in from the back of
the base bar. (Thus when the glider is sitting on its keel the head of the pin will contact the ground
rather than the safety ring.) Special attention should be given to checking quick release fasteners.
FLYING THE CHEETAH
Please note the following is not meant to be an exhaustive flying manual but merely a brief note
and should be read with that in mind. It is recommended that your first flight on the Cheetah, is
from a site you know well, using your normal flying gear in good weather conditions. (Don't
change more than one thing at a time.)
Take off
Before take-off make sure you've pre-flighted the glider, that you are clipped in and that you have
performed a hang check. On take-off the wings should be held level with the nose slightly raised. A strong
and committed take off run is always recommended. Keep the angle of attack low until you are running
fast. Once sufficient air speed has been achieved increase the angle of attack gradually to take off. Once
settled in flight, clear of the ground and obstacles, move your hands, one at a time, to a comfortable
position on the speed bar.
In Flight
The control in both pitch and roll is light and precise. Accordingly the glider should be flown with
moderate and precise inputs. The glider should not be flown too slow or in a semi-stalled condition as the
roll response becomes much slower.
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