MAC PARA Colorado2, User Manual

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We recommend that your first flights with your Colorado 2 be done with trimmers set on or
just below the neutral setting (the white stitching mark) This is where the Colorado 2 will
feel more like a conventional paraglider wing. With this trimmer setting, try to fly with a
small amount of brake at the point where they just begin to feel heavier.
In turbulent air fly with brakes lightly applied (10-15 cm) to maintain some internal pressure
and trimmers set to neutral. This will help avoid canopy collapse. If the canopy pendulums
forward correct this by promptly applying the brakes. A pendulum movement of the canopy
backwards is corrected by easing up on the brakes to let the canopy move forward.
When you have become fully confident in your wing try experimenting with slower and
faster trim-settings, weight-shift and speed bar. The more time you spend on your
Colorado 2 the more likely you will enjoy the extra speed and security it will offer you.
Different trimmer settings
NOTE: Adjusting trimmers in flight requires more pilot attention.
With the trimmers fully open (trimmer buckle over and passed the white line) the wing’s
speed increases (good for flying long distances). The canopy becomes stiffer and is less
sensitive to turbulence and its stability improves. On faster trimmer settings or when flying
with a speed bar the brake pressure increases and the handling changes. When the
trimmers are fully opened and the speed bar is pushed all the way forward, we recommend
steering the glider using the torque compensator lines.
Some pilots with free-flying experience may have a tendency to keep the brakes slightly
applied at all times. Such a technique, while quite reasonable on a free-flying wing, is not
advisable for reflex gliders. When you apply the brakes with released trimmers and full
speed bar the wing will collapse because it loses its reflex characteristic.
Warning!!! On faster trim settings with fully accelerated speed bar do not touch the
main brakes! Doing so will result in major collapse! In flight mode use only WTST
brakes for steering of the glider.
On the slower settings (trimmer buckle pulled below the white line), sink rate improves and
handling becomes lighter, giving you an improved climb rate for thermaling and shorter and
slower take-offs and landings. Do not hesitate to use thermals in order to gain some
altitude and save fuel.
Note!! If trims are not adjusted the same, the wing will turn. Trimmer setting is an
important part of the checklist before every flight!
Accelerated flight (speed bar applied)
When flying with the speed system engaged the angle of attack is lower and the glider
increases flight speed. In contrast to most paragliders it does not decrease wing stability; in
fact the reflex gliders seem to counter turbulence even better. To use the speed system
and accelerate the glider, simply place your feet on the stirrup and push forward in a
horizontal plane. If you feel a loss of back pressure while flying with the speed bar
engaged, this is a warning that the canopy is probably about to collapse.