Storing and looking after the paraglider
Section 8
35
Looking after the paraglider
Fabric
Swing uses a specially developed
polyamide fabric for the Core 3 which has a
high-quality coating for improved UV
resistance, colour fastness and air
permeability. This fabric undergoes rigorous
laboratory tests and was tested for several
months under extreme conditions and heavy
use in flight.
Care is essential to ensure that the fabric
and glider remain durable and retain their
qualities. The glider should therefore be
protected from unnecessary UV light. Do not
unpack your glider until immediately before
flight and pack it up straight after landing.
Modern paraglider fabrics have better
protection against the sun, but UV rays in
particular are still one of the decisive factors
in how the fabric ages. The colours will fade
first and then the coating and fibres will
begin to age.
When the Core 3 is manufactured, the side
of the fabric with the coating is kept to the
inside. This provides relatively good
protection from damage for the coating
which is of key importance to the fabric
’s
features. When choosing a place to launch,
try to find somewhere which is smooth and
free of stones and sharp objects.
Do not stand on the glider. This weakens
the fabric, especially if it is on a hard or
stony surface. Pay attention to the
behaviour of spectators at the launch site,
especially children: do not hesitate to draw
their attention to the sensitive nature of the
fabric.
When you are packing up your glider, make
sure that there are no insects trapped
inside. Many insects produce acids when
they decompose, which can cause holes in
the fabric. Grasshoppers make holes by
biting through the fabric and also excrete a
dark liquid which stains. Keep animals away
when you are packing up. Insects are not
attracted by any particular colours, contrary
to what is commonly believed.
If the glider gets wet or damp, it should be
dried as soon as possible in a well-
ventilated room (but out of the sun). It may
take several days before the canopy has
dried completely because the fibres absorb
water. Mould may form if the paraglider is
stored wet and the fibres may rot,
particularly when it is warm. This can make
the paraglider unsuitable for flying within a
short time.
A brand-new glider will often be compressed
when delivered. This is solely for the initial
delivery and the glider should not be
compressed in such a way again. Do not
pack your glider too tightly after use and,
even though it is very comfortable, never sit
on the backpack with the glider inside.
If salt water gets on the glider, it should be
rinsed immediately in fresh water (refer to
the section
“Cleaning”).
Lines
The Core 3 has various different high-quality
and accurately manufactured lines which
have been selected according to the load
and area of use. You should also protect the
lines from unnecessary UV light because,
as with the fabric, UV light in particular will
weaken the lines.
Dyneema lines, which are used in the area
of the main brake lines, for example, are
very temperature-sensitive and can be
permanently damaged at temperatures
above 75° C. Therefore your glider should
never be stored in a hot car especially
during summer.
Be careful that there is no abrasion caused
to the coating on the lines by rubbing,
particularly when ground-training with
crossed risers.
