Pluto II
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4. CARE, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
The materials used to construct your Pluto II have been carefully chosen for maximum
durability. If you treat your glider carefully and follow these guidelines it will last you a
long time. Excessive wear can occur by bad ground-handling, careless packing,
unnecessary exposure to UV light, exposure to chemicals, heat and moisture.
Ground-handling
Choose a suitable area to launch your glider. Lines caught on roots or rocks
lead to unnecessary strain on the attachment tabs during inflation. Snagging
lines may rip the canopy fabric or damage lines.
When landing, never let the canopy fall on its leading edge. The sudden
pressure increase can severely damage the air-resistant coating of the canopy
as well as weaken the ribs and seams.
Dragging the glider over grass, soil, sand or rocks, will significantly reduce its
lifetime and increase its porosity.
When preparing for launch or when ground-handling, be sure not to step on
any of the lines or the canopy fabric.
Don't tie any knots in the lines.
UV damage
Protect your canopy and lines from unnecessary exposure to sunlight.
Storage
Avoid packing your glider when it is wet. If there's no other way, then dry it as
soon as possible away from direct sunlight. Be careful to avoid storing your
canopy when damp or wet: this is the most common reason for canopy
degradation.
Don't let your glider come into contact with seawater. If it does, rinse the lines,
canopy and risers with fresh water and dry it away from direct sunlight before
storing.
After flight or when storing, always use the inner protection sack.
When storing or during transport make sure your glider isn't exposed to
temperatures higher than 50°C.
Never let the glider come into contact with chemicals. Clean the glider with
clean lukewarm water only. Never clean using abrasives.
For long-term storage don't pack the glider too tightly. Leave the rucksack zip
open when possible to allow any moisture to evaporate.