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MAGIC-MOTOR-manual-EN-1-3
June 2020
Active Piloting
‘Active piloting’ is a tool that will help you fly with greater safety and enjoyment. It means flying in empathy with your
paraglider, not only guiding it 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.
Rapid Descent Techniques
Big Ears
The ‘baby A-riser’ allows the wing tips of the paraglider to be folded in simply and easily to increase its sink rate.
This big ear facility does not mean you should fly in stronger winds, but allows you to descend quickly without
substantially reducing the forward speed of the canopy (B-lining substantially reduces the canopy’s forward
speed). To engage big ears, lean forward in the harness and grasp the baby A-risers (one in each hand) at the
maillons, keeping hold of both brake handles if possible. Pull the risers out and down at least 30cm so as to
collapse the tips of the glider. It is very important that the other A-lines are not affected when you do this, as this
could cause the leading edge to collapse. Steering is possible by weightshifting with big ears in. If the big ears do
not come out quickly on their own, a gentle pump on the brakes will speed things up.
Before using the big ears facility in earnest it is essential to practise beforehand with plenty of ground clearance in
case a leading edge collapse occurs. Always keep hold of both brakes in order to retain control. Putting your hands
through the brake handles so they remain on your wrists is a good method of doing this.
B-Line Stall
This fast descent method is a useful emergency procedure. With both hands through the brake handles, take hold
of the top of the B-risers, one in each hand, and pull them down by around 50 cm. This will stall the canopy and
forward speed will drop to zero. Make sure you have plenty of ground clearance because the descent rate can be
over 10 m/sec. To increase the descent rate pull harder on the B-risers. When you release the B-risers the canopy will
5. Flight Characteristics