Pilot’s manual for Aspen6
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interrupted and the glider enters a parachutal stall without moving forward. It will soon stabilise above
your head. Stability of the canopy in this manoeuvre can be significantly improved when pulling the
B-risers simultaneously down and outward.
Recovery: On releasing the B-risers Aspen6 automatically returns to normal flight without staying in
deep stall or shooting in front of the pilot. Let go of the risers smoothly and symmetrically.
CAUTION: Do everything symmetrically and at the same time. If the B-risers are released unevenly the
canopy can enter a turn. If the risers are released slowly and very unevenly you could enter a spin.
5.2.3. Spiral Dive
The Spiral Dive is the most effective way of making a fast descent. Every pilot should be able to perform
a spiral dive and one day you may need to. In a Spiral Dive always stay aware of your altitude, which
decreases very rapidly. The sink rate reached in a Spiral Dive can be more than 16-18 m/s. During the
manoeuvre the pilot and glider will experience strong centrifugal forces. Forces of greater than 3G are
possible – a great strain on the pilot as well as the glider.
Initiation: Smoothly pull on one brake so that the glider goes from a normal 360-degree turn into a
steep turn and from there into a spiral dive. The transition into a spiral dive can be made easier by
weight shifting to the inner side of the turn. Keep an eye on the tension of the brakes all the time:
reduced tension signals an overload of the glider and danger of falling into a negative spin.
Recovery: Aspen6 recovers from a Spiral Dive automatically as soon as the brakes are released. Release
them smoothly and always finish a Spiral Dive with safe altitude!
CAUTION: When exiting the Spiral Dive make sure your position in the harness is neutral. Recovery from a
Spiral Dive can be delayed if you are weight shifting to the inner side of the turn.
5.3. SIV manoeuvres
No matter what category of canopy you fly or what level of certification it has, in turbulence or in strong
thermals you may experience all kinds of collapses.
Aspen6 behaves comfortably in these situations. Indeed not only does the glider deal with extreme
flight situations automatically, but it also offers – for its category – an above-average degree of safety.
Even so, you must follow all safety rules when practising SIV. Always pay attention to your altitude.
Before performing any SIV manoeuvre remember:
Practise throwing your reserve on the ground, in a simulator, so that reserve deployment is efficient
and automatic.
Rapid altitude loss and considerable rotational forces may develop during unstable manoeuvres.
Take account of these factors when throwing your reserve.
5.3.1. Asymmetric Collapse – one side of the canopy collapses
Initiation: Grab the outer A-line on one side and pull it down smoothly. The wing tip will collapse to
form a characteristic Big Ear. The size of the ear depends on the depth to which the lines are pulled.
You can stop any turn tendency by applying the opposite brake and by weight shifting onto the inflated
side of the canopy.
Recovery: Under normal conditions Aspen6 will reinflate spontaneously when the pulled lines are
released. Inflation time and loss of altitude can be reduced by suitable piloting. To stop any tendency
to turn off course pull the brake on the inflated side (be careful not to overreact and stall the inflated
side) and weight shift to that side. If the collapse remains then reinflate the collapsed side by ‘pumping’
the brake on the collapsed side.
