______________________________________________________________________________
25
Getting down fast
All rapid descent manoeuvres should be
practised initially in smooth conditions with
plenty of altitude before you need to use
them 'for real'. It is important to distinguish
between the three techniques, and to
know the merits of each.
WARNING!
All
other
manoeuvres, such as full
stalls and spins, should
be avoided as fast
descent techniques. They
are not very efficient, and
incorrect recovery can have dangerous
consequences (as with any paraglider)!
Steep Spiral Dive
A maximum sink rate of over 15 meters
per second can be achieved in a steep
spiral dive, but it is advisable to build up
gradually to these sink rates when you first
practise spiralling.
Getting the UP Trango XC³ into a spiral
dive is very simple and has already been
described in the chapter regarding turning.
When entering the spiral it is essential to
induce the turn gradually; if you apply the
brake too quickly you may enter a spin. If
this
happens,
release
the
brake
immediately and let the glider recover
before trying again. Keep a steady tension
on the inside brake and observe the
increased angle of bank and sink rate. A
little brake on the outer wing will help
stabilize the glider at a high sink rate.
To recover from a spiral, simply release
the inside brake. Do this gradually to
prevent an uncontrolled steep climb
caused by the excess energy built up
during the dive. Be prepared for the glider
to climb a little and to damp out the
subsequent dive. Be warned that steep
spiral dives are equal to high G loading on
both you and your glider!
WARNING!
Spiral dives with high sink
rates expose the pilot and material to
very high centrifugal forces
– incidents
caused by pilots falling unconscious
during
spiral
dives
have
been
recorded. Approach this manoeuvre
with caution. NEVER fly a spiral dive
with Big Ears engaged
– this could
lead to a catastrophic material failure!
B-Line Stalls
To induce a B-line stall, start from
normal, un-accelerated flight. Reach
up and take hold of BI,II, III risers at
the quick links, still with your hands in
the brake handles, and pull down
simultaneously by approximately 15
cm. The first few centimetres of travel
will be quite hard, but as the glider
settles into the stall so the effort
becomes less.
The glider will drop back a little as it
stalls, and then centralize over your
head. With 15 cm or so of pull a sink
rate of up to 9 meters per second can
be achieved. With less pull you will get
a decrease in sink rate. The risers
should not be pulled beyond this point,
as it may result in the canopy entering
an unstable phase or going into a
frontal
rosette.
Should
you
inadvertently have pulled too far down
on the B-risers, simply release them a
little again until the wing is again stable
above you, showing the characteristic
deep crease along the B-level and
being fully stretched out spanwise.
To recover from a B-line stall, the
risers should be released abruptly and
simultaneously. Doing so will allow the
wing to re-inflate completely and
resume normal flight. It is not unusual
for the canopy to dive in front of the
pilot as the wing regains speed, angles
of up to 30-45° are perfectly normal. In
