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Section 8
Storing and looking after the mini wing
Storage and transport
Even if your mini wing was completely dry
when it was packed up after the final flight of
the season, for long-term storage you
should if possible take it out of the back
pack and spread out the canopy a little in a
clean, dry place away from direct light. If
you do not have the space to do this, then
open the backpack, internal bag and belt as
much as possible and avoid compressing
the wing during storage. It must be stored at
a temperature between 10° and 25° C and
in relative humidity between 50 and 75%.
Make sure too that the mini wing is not
stored in a place where animals such as
mice or cats could use it as a place to sleep.
Do not store the mini wing near any
chemicals. Petrol, for example, causes the
material to disintegrate and can cause
considerable damage to your mini wing.
When your equipment is in the car boot,
keep it as far away as possible from any
spare petrol cans or oil containers.
The Hybrid Sport should not be exposed to
extreme heat (e.g. in the boot of the car
during summer). The heat may cause any
moisture present to be pressed through the
fabric, thereby damaging the coating. High
temperatures accelerate the process of
hydrolysis, particularly when combined with
moisture, which damages fibres and
coating.
Furthermore, the Dyneema lines used can
be damaged in temperatures above 70° C.
Do not store your mini wing near radiators
or other heat sources.
Always transport your mini wing in the
special inner bag and use the backpack
provided for the rest of your equipment.
Looking after the mini wing
Fabric
Swing uses a specially developed
polyamide fabric for the Hybrid Sport 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 wing remain durable and retain their
qualities. The wing should therefore be
protected from unnecessary UV light. Do not
unpack your Hybrid Sport 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 Hybrid Sport 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 mini wing,
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
