Steilspirale
In any situation where you have to get down ASAP for diff erent reasons (weather, extreme updraft, or
other dangers), there are a couple of techniques that are described in this chapter.
Caution:
Die beschriebenen Manöver zum Schnellabstieg belasten Ihren Gleitschirm über das normale
Maß hinaus und sollten deshalb nur zum Training oder in Notsituationen angewandt werden.
Like a normal turn, it is very easy to get the U-Turn AIRWOLF into a spiral dive. The spiral dive gets you a descent
rate up to 20 m/s. To be settled for the real thing, practise it in optimum conditions. The diving spiral gets the pilot
down faster than other techniques and is therefore best suited for an emergency descent. They move down veri-
cally within the airmass. Don`t forget the G-forces when diving down, and take that into consideration before
initiating a rapid descent.
Caution:
If initiation is too fast there is a danger of a spin, in this case release the brake an try a smoother initiation.
Warning:
Never fl y a spiral dive while “big earing” the glider. It is illegal aerobatics and may over stress the both
pilot and material. It is illegal aerobatics and may overstress the pilot and the material.
Pull down on the outer A-risers one after the other (grab the line shackles) about 15-20cm to fold the wingtips.
Hold the brakegrips together with the A-risers. The glider stays fully steerable and descents with 4-7m/s straight
forward. If you release the A-risers, the folded cells open automatically. Should there be any problem with the
reopening, apply easy braking. „Big earing“ is due to the high wingload a very stable fl ight condition and well
suited for turbulent air. Be aware that you reduce the trimspeed, but that can be compensated by accellerating
with your legs.
Warning:
Don`t fl y exteme manoeuvers in this confi guration, it is dangerous due to the danger of overstressing
your glider. Fullstalls and spins are dangerous for a rapid descent because a wrong termination could have fatal
consequences no matter what glidertype you are fl ying.
Another very effi
cient method is the B-Stall. It allows for a rate of descent of 6 to over 9 meters per second. Check
the airspace under and behind you prior to initiating a B-Stall. To imitate it you hold the two B-risers above the lines
carabiner. While you hold the brakes in your hands at all times, pull them down progressively and symmetrically.
Now you stay in this position. Your sail will stop, partially empty, and stabilize itself above your head. End the move
by returning the risers symmetrically into their original position.
We recommend not to simply let the risers snap shut as this puts a lot of pressure on the material. In the paragraph
titled “advanced handling” you can read what to do if you get caught unexpectedly in a stall.
Page 12
Rapid Descent
Spiral Dive
“Big Ears”
B-Stall
ALL KINDS OF RAPID DESCENTS SHOULD BE PRACTISED IN SMOOTH
AIR AND WITH ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO BE PREPARED FOR EXTREME
SITUATIONS WHEN YOU NEED THEM
G
G
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Summary of Contents for AIRWOLF LTF2
Page 22: ...Material list U Turn AIRWOLF Page 17 ...
Page 25: ...Page 20 U Turn AIRWOLF Line code ...
Page 26: ...U Turn AIRWOLF Lineplan XS Page 21 ...
Page 27: ...Page 22 U Turn AIRWOLF Lineplan S ...
Page 28: ...U Turn AIRWOLF Lineplan M Page 23 ...
Page 29: ...U Turn AIRWOLF Lineplan L Page 24 ...
Page 30: ...U Turn AIRWOLF Lineplan XL Page 25 ...
Page 31: ...Page 26 Type test certificate U Turn AIRWOLF S ...
Page 32: ...Page 27 Type test certificate U Turn AIRWOLF M ...
Page 33: ...Page 28 Type test certificate U Turn AIRWOLF L ...