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Echo-PPG-manual-EN-1-2
June 2019
Active Piloting
Even though your paraglider is designed to be easy to fly, ‘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 of 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. Such reactions become instinctive in good pilots.
In order to get the best performance from the wing, the pilot should try to control it though small brake inputs and
weight-shift, rather than constantly being present on the brakes. A small movement early is more efficient than a
big brake movement later to control the wing. The more you let the glider fly at trim speed, the better performance
you will get out of it. The objective of active piloting is to get the glider to fly smoothly through the air with a stable
position above the head, and controlled angle of incidence. The paraglider is highly resistant to collapse without any
pilot action at all, but learning how to fly actively will increase this safety margin even further.
Speed System
Your powered paraglider is equipped with risers that have both trimmers and an accelerator system.
Launching and general flying is normally done without using the accelerator. The accelerator bar should be used
when higher speed is important.
To fly at full-bar the speed stirrup should be applied gradually until the two pulleys on each A-riser touch. Do not go
beyond this point by using excessive force to attempt to make the glider go faster as this may result in the glider
collapsing.
4. Flight Characteristics