M A N UA L
|
PA P I L LO N
PARAGLIDERS |
R A Q O O N
18 | 19
RAPID DESCENT
In any situation where you have to get down ASAP for different reasons (e.g. thunderstorms, ex
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treme updraft or other dangers) there are a couple of techniques to do so:
ATTENTION:
The described maneuvers stress your paraglider more
than normal and should only be performed for practice or in a real
emergency situation!
„Big Ears“
Another important and in many cases recommended rapid descent method is called „Big Ears“. By
pulling on the outer A-lines, the „ears“ of the paraglider (usually two to four cells) are collapsed. The
sink rate increases, while the airspeed remains approximately constant. This can help, for example, to
escape cloud suck, whereas in a spiral the paraglider would still remain in the area of suction under
the cloud.
Both designated outer A2-risers (grab at or above the quick links) are being pulled down simultane
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ously for 15-20 cm to fold in the wing tips. The brake toggles are to be held in hand together with
the pulled down A-lines.
For additional stability and for an increased sink rate the speedsystem should be actuated. The
glider remains fully steerable by weightshifting and descends at an elevated sink rate (4-7m/sec,
depending on how many cells are folded in).
Once the A-risers are released, the folded wingtips re-inflate automatically, if not, you may pump
the brakes gently.
Due to the high wingload “big earing” is a very stable flight condition even in turbulent conditions.
Please be aware that you reduce the trimspeed during “big ears”, but this can be compensated by
applying the speedbar.
Since the wing loading increases and the airspeed remains roughly the same due to the greater
drag, the stall speed increases.
The BODYGUARD 7 shows an unproblematic behaviour during this manoeuvre.
NOTE:
The BODYGUARD 7 facilitates big ears with a special big ear aid
(seperate riser with big ear icon).
B-Stall
This maneuvre offers the possibility to descend comfortably and safely: By pulling down the B-risers
the wing is folded along its lateral axis and thereby stalled, which causes a sink rate of about 6 to 9
metres per second.
