Golden5 paramotor appendix
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With the right timing this method makes for very nice landings especially in nil-wind
conditions. However, if you brake too much too early and the glider starts to climb, let it
climb but keep control of the brakes and don’t let the glider surge forward. Prepare for a
harder landing.
If the glider descends very quickly through the last few metres of the air because of a
fading headwind and you do not feel a lot of brake pressure, you must brake the glider
earlier. The more energy, speed and brake pressure you have, the more lightly you should
apply your brakes to avoid an excessive climb.
FAST DESCENT TECHNIQUES
With an idling or turned-off engine the sink rate should be enough to descend quickly
enough. It will be 2-3 m/s, depending on the engine and wing loading. On a paramotor
you wouldn’t usually fly in thermal conditions that make fast descent techniques
necessary, unless you are a very experienced pilot and familiar with these options. In
general though you can perform all common fast descent techniques as described in the
main manual.
Big Ears: This manoeuvre works as described in the main manual. Sink rate may be slightly
higher. Manoeuvrability by weight shifting may be restricted, depending on the motor
system.
B-Line Stall: This manoeuvre works well with the higher wing loading of a paramotor.
Forces for entering Big Ears are a little higher because of the higher load – you have to
pull harder. The glider rocks back more on entry and surges forward more on exit. When
exiting Big Ears don’t apply any brake until the glider has returned to normal flight.
Spiral Dive: Because of the high wing loading it is very easy to enter a spiral dive with a
paramotor on the Golden5. Pay attention to how much brake you apply on entry. As soon
as the glider enters the spiral, do not apply much more inside brake but instead regulate
the spiral and the descent rate with the outside brake.
You gain a lot of energy during a spiral dive. Take care on exit to bleed this energy off
gradually. Apply more outside brake to initiate the exit, but keep the glider in some
steeply banked turns with some inside brake to reduce the energy. Never try to bring back
a glider which has already started to climb out of the spiral dive into these fading turns.
If the glider starts to climb out of the spiral too fast, just let it go. Try to centre yourself,
keep your hands up and brake the glider only if it surges really far after the big climb.
Because of the high wing loading and the extra drag caused by the frame and propeller
all paramotors have a stronger tendency to stay in a stable spiral dive. This means you
should only perform a spiral dive on your paramotor if you really know how to do it.
Always keep the glider at moderate sink rates.
INCIDENTS
Generally the same rules as in free flight are valid. Please refer to the main manual.
Asymmetric collapses: In case you get an asymmetric collapse on your Golden5, just keep
it on course with some brake input on the open side. Release the speedbar if you have it
on. With open trimmers the necessary brake pressure may feel unusually high. It is very
