M A N UA L
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PA P I L LO N
PARAGLIDERS |
R A Q O O N
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Practice on the ground with the right wind at a suitable location. Slowly pull up the canopy and try
to hold it up as long as possible without looking at it. That is a good way to improve the feeling for
your glider and is a prerequisite for „active flying“ (the key to avoid collapses). Very important is also
a close look at the terrain. Watch for obstacles that could cause turbulences (buildings, trees, ...). On
certain days, for example a freshly mowed meadow as landing field, could cause a lot of thermal
activity.
Fly very alert on a thermally active day. Watch your canopy, collapses most of the time, announce
themselves. Light braking in turbulences mostly avoids a collapse. You should have already practiced
that on the ground. Should a collapse occur close to the ground don`t always try to prevent a turn
away. There is a danger when the braking on the open side is to strong, to lose the airflow on this
side and stall the glider. Rather use the turn away motion to try to open the collapsed side.
Apply smooth braking on the open side, depending on the size of the collapse, and maybe a little
pumping action. Some canopies open a lot better when the brakes are fully applied once on the
according side, but that depends on the brakelines adjustment and your armlength.
Wrapped lines are cleared by braking the opposite side at enough altitude and pumping the af
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fected side a couple of times. Watch out for a possible stall. If that does no clear the situation, try to
pull dow the outer lines as much as possible. If you are too low for that, stabilize the canopy on the
opposite side avoid turning away, and leave the lines like they are. Instead of any risky manoeuvres
rather concentrate on the landing. In the end one more advice in order to have all kinds of situa
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tions under control.
Visit a safety-training above water. There is no better way to practice the right behaviour than sim
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ulating a dangerous situation. Don`t get caught off guard by your first collapse. In addition, during
safety-training you can familiarize yourself with the particulars of your equipment and you gain
confidence in your gliders as well as your own abilities.
Thus far the expert advice concerning collapses by Ernst Strobl.
Deep Stall
If the wing stalls but is still filled with air, you are in a deep stall. Strictly speaking, this is not a flight
because no airflow is attached to the canopy. Further brake pull leads to a full stall, a stall with par
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tial emptying of the canopy, forward folded ears and backward flight.
The Papillon BODYGUARD 7 is not stall sensitive. If in a stall, caused by overpulling on the brakes or
rear risers or a delayed B-stall exit, the release of the brakes or rear risers, recovers the stall. Should
the stall be caused by an extreme flight condition or configuration (i.e. takeoff weight too low), a
symmetric forward push on the A-riser or use of the speed system recovers the stall.
ATTENTION:
Practicing stalls should be done with enough safe alti-
tude. Never apply asymmetric brakes during a stall, it could cause a
spin.
