12
EPIC 2 MOTOR-manual-EN-1-01
November 2022
This manoeuvre is useful if you need to lose a lot of height quickly, perhaps when escaping from a thunderstorm. It
should not be performed with less than 100m of ground clearance.
Spiral Dive
A normal turn can be converted into a strong spiral dive by continuing to apply one brake. The bank angle and speed
of the turn will increase as the downward spiral is continued. Be careful to enter the spiral gradually as too quick a
brake application can cause a spin or an over-the-nose spiral.
BGD gliders are designed and tested to recover from normal spirals with a descent rate inferior to 16 m/s,
automatically without pilot input. If the pilot increases the descent rate of the spiral to over 16 m/s or initiates what is
known as an over-the-nose spiral, the glider may require pilot input to recover. In this case all the pilot needs to do is
to apply some outside brake and steer the glider out of the turn.
The over-the-nose spiral is a special type of spiral dive where the glider points almost directly at the ground. It will
enter this if you make a sudden brake application during the spiral entry so that the glider yaws around. The nose of
the glider ends up pointing at the ground, after which it picks up speed very quickly. This technique is very similar to
SAT entry technique, and like the SAT it is an aerobatic manoeuvre, which is outside the normal safe flight envelope.
Please do not practise these manoeuvres as they can be dangerous. Care should be taken when exiting from any
spiral dive. To pull out of a steep spiral dive, release the applied brake gradually or apply opposite brake gradually. A
sharp release of the brake can cause the glider to surge and dive as the wing converts speed to lift. Always be ready
to damp out any potential dive with the brakes. Also be ready to encounter turbulence when you exit from a spiral
because you may fly though your own wake turbulence, which can cause a collapse.
CAUTION: Spiral dives can cause loss of orientation (black-out) and some time is needed to exit this manoeuvre. This
manoeuvre must be exited in time and with sufficient height.
Do not perform spiral dives with big ears or asymmetric collapses. The high G loading on fewer lines could overload
and break the lines.
Flight Characteristics
