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27
WARNING!
Mistakes
during the execution of
the
following
manoeuvres
may
seriously compromise the
safety of pilot.
Collapsing the paraglider
Asymmetric collapse
The UP Trango XC³ belongs to the new
generation of paragliders that, as well as
having very good performance, also
exhibit a high degree of stability. Wing tip
collapses can almost always be prevented
through active flying.
Once
an
asymmetric
collapse
has
occurred, the pilot aims to maintain flying
direction through weight shift and careful
application of brake input on the open
side.
If the open side is braked too much it may
stall, and the wing will enter a spin
– this is
the classical recipe for cascading events
(see the spin chapter).
In rare instances a wingtip may catch in
the lines during asymmetric collapses (see
cravats here below).
Cravatte
Our test pilots have found absolutely NO
tendency towards cravatting in all the test
flights the Trango XC³ has been subjected
to. But under extraordinary circumstances
any paraglider may cravatte, and if this
happens the pilot should know how to deal
with the situation.
The first step is to STOP any rotation, or, if
this is not possible, to slow down the
rotation as much as possible
– a cravatted
wing that is left to its own devices may
very quickly enter into a spiral dive of such
vehemence that the pilot cannot stop the
rotation any more. Once the rotation is
under control the pilot attempts to free
the cravatte by pulling on the stabilo
line, perhaps in combination with
pumping action through the brake
lines.
If
neither
of
these
approaches work then the
experts may decide to
try either a full stall or a
brief spin on the cravatted
side
– please note that these
measures should ONLY be
practised during an SIV training over
water.
WARNING!
Should the pilot
be unable to control the
rotation it is normally
best
to
deploy
the
reserve
parachute
immediately.
Uncontrolled
and cravatted spiral dives are among
the
most
dangerous
canopy
configurations in paragliding
Full frontal collapse
A negative angle of attack occurring
through
turbulence
or
from
simultaneously pulling down both A-
risers results in a full frontal collapse of
the leading edge of the canopy. The
UP Trango XC³ will normally reinflate
quickly on its own, but can be assisted
through the application of a light
double-sided symmetrical brake input.
The stalls
When a paraglider flies through the air
a laminar and a turbulent airflow forms
around the surface of the wing. When
the laminar airflow along the top
surface is interrupted, dangerous flight
configurations follow
– we say that the
wing stalls. This is most often the
