SKY PARAGLIDERS ANTEA L, User Manual

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5. Rapid descent techniques
To descend you generally move away from areas of lift, however if, for whatever reason, you are
having problems coming down then you can use the following techniques to increase your sink rate.
A. Big Ears
Pull down on the outside A lines until the wingtips fold back on themselves. We recommend that
you fold each wingtip separately and not at the same time.
Keep the lines taut to stop the wingtips from re-opening.
Depending on the size of the big ears, the sink rate can increase to 3-4m/s.
As soon as you release the lines the paraglider should spontaneously reopen. You can speed it
up by pumping the brakes with a positive input. If you pump the brakes then we recommend that
you open one side then the other. Pulling down on both brakes simultaneously can result in a
stall.
B. Spiral
The Antea is a manoeuvrable wing that responds easily to input. To enter a spiral, apply one
brake progressively to about 35% and hold it in this position. The speed of rotation will increase
progressively, as will the pressure on the brake and the centripetal force that you experience.
You can decrease or increase the angle or speed of rotation by releasing, or pulling down on the
brake by several centimetres.
Once mastered the spiral allows you to descend by more than 10m/s. Movements which are too
abrupt or badly synchronised, or entering into a spiral too quickly can result in a spin.
Attention! The spiral is not a simple manoeuvre. The kinetic energy built up must be controlled so
as to allow a controlled exit from the spiral.
C. B-line stall
Grasp the B risers at the quick links and pull them down symmetrically. The paraglider stalls and
drops backwards before stabilising overhead. The descent rate increases to 6-8m/s. To exit the
B-line stall raise both hands together with a single, quick, movement. As soon as you release the
B-risers the Antea should return to normal flight. If the B-line stall is exited incorrectly it may go
into a parachutal (deep) stall. Application of the speed bar will effect a recovery. If there is no
speed bar then by pulling down on the A-risers by 4-5cm you should achieve the same result.
Caution: unlike big ears & the spiral, in the B-line stall the glider is in a stalled state.
6. Performance & use of brakes
The Antea has its best glide at trim speed (no brakes) - about 38km/h. The minimum sink rate is
achieved by applying approx 15% brake.
Beyond 30% brake, the aerodynamics and performance of the Antea deteriorates and the effort
required to manoeuvre increases quickly.
The very heavy brake pressure warns of an impending stall, this occurs at full brake travel (100%
brake).
In normal flying conditions the optimum position for the brakes, in terms of performance and safety,
lies in the top third of the braking range.