Sinus 912 LSA Glider 550 MTOW
www.pipistrel.eu
REV. 3
Appendix
use 1
st
stage of flaps for increased maneuverability. In very strong winds (20 kts and more), use
neutral flaps (0 deg.) for the complete approach and roundout.
Parking
Nothing special to add here. Taxi to the apron with flaps in negative position (minimum lift) and
spoilers retracted. Again, taxi slow for reasons mentioned under “Taxi”.
Come to a standstill, shut
down the engine, insert the parachute rescue system activation handle’s safety pin, unlock and
leave the airbrakes handle hanging down freely
(this reduces stress to airbrake plate’s springs and
maintains their stiffness). It is recommended to shut both fuel valves for longer parking or when
parked on a slope.
Soaring
Soaring is a learned skill. Your soaring performance is vastly dependant on your weather knowl-
edge, flying skills and judgement.
“Good judgement comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judge-
ment.”
So be careful and do not expect to become a competition-class glider pilot over night.
Once you have shut down the engine and feathered the propeller as described in this manual, you
are a glider pilot and you must start thinking as a glider pilot.
The most important thing is to try very hard to fly as perfectly as possible.
This means perfect stick and rudder coordination and holding the same angle of attack in straight
flight as well as in turns. Only so will you be able to notice what nature and its forced to do your air-
plane.
When ridge soaring and flying between thermals, I would recommend to have flaps in neutral
position. When thermalling or making eights along the ridge, do have flaps in 1
st
stage.
Speeds range from 75 km/h
(40 kts)
to 100 km/h
(55 kts)
. To quickly overfly the span between two
thermals, fly at 130 km/h
(70 kts)
with flaps in neutral position.
WARNING!
Never make a full circle flying below the ridge’s top, fly eights instead until you
reach a height of 150 meters
(500 feet)
above the ridge top. From then on it is safe to fly full
circles in a thermal.
Entering and exiting a turn when flying unpowered requires more rudder input than when flying
with the engine running.
So work with your legs! To quickly enter a sharp turn at speeds between
80 - 90 km/h
(43 - 48 kts)
basically apply full rudder quickly followed by appropriate aileron deflection
to keep the turn coordinated. Same applies for exiting a turn at that speeds.
When soaring for long periods of time in cold air, monitor engine temperatures. Note that if the en-
gine is too cold (oil temperature around freezing point), the engine may refuse to start.
Fly in such a
manner you will safely reach a landing site.
To improve your soaring knowledge I would recommend two books written by a former world
champion:
1. Helmut Reichmann - Flying Sailplanes (Segelfliegen as German original).
2. Helmut Reichmann - Cross Country Soaring (Steckenkunstflug as German original).
The first is a book for beginners, the second imposes more advanced flying techniques, tactics and
cross country flights strategies.
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