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This section describes flying conditions which can be deliberately induced, or which can
develop unintentionally due to turbulence or pilot error. Any pilot who flies through
turbulence is sure to be faced with these special flight conditions at some point. So take a
good look at these flight manoeuvres or prepare for them by SIV (safety training over
water). Mastering these flying conditions significantly improves your active flight safety.
Sufficient height, as well as the carrying of a reserve parachute, is imperative.
WARNING!! All the critical flight conditions described here require thorough knowledge;
otherwise carrying them out may be very dangerous. Sufficient height above the ground
is imperative. Bear in mind that all disturbances of the canopy can increase the sink rate
by 2 - 10 m/sec, depending on the degree of disturbance. Carrying out these manoeuvres
wrongly may lead to a crash.
Remember this is a glider with unspectacular reactions to disturbances in the air.
Whenever in doubt, raise the brakes and let the glider fly. The glider has a high internal
pressure, resistance to tucking and very high degree of passive safety. It is
recommended that at this stage you already practise an active flying style. The key to
active piloting is keeping the glider above your head at all times. We recommend in
principle that you hold the brake handle in your hand whenever possible, or fly with your
hands through the brake handles, to allow you to react immediately to any possible
disturbances.
WARNING!! If you fly with your hands through the brake handles, you may lose valuable
time in activating the rescue system.
The Envy 2 is certified for towing. The Envy 2 has no out of the ordinary towing
characteristics, although a relatively low angle of attack and thus low tow tension should
be maintained during launch and the initial part of the tow. The Envy 2 has no tendencies
towards deep stall/parachuting. Therefore we allow tow- launched flights with a similar
technique to that described above. There is sufficient margin to counter-steer the glider in
a normal towing situation. Make sure you use proper equipment, experienced personnel
and all relevant safety precautions for towing. We recommending the use of a winching
adapter: this should be mounted on the upper end of the main karabiner.
WARNING!! Please always ensure that the brake lines are adjusted to the lengths
recommended here. Setting them shorter could lead to a tendency to stall during towed
flight. Apart from this, there are no special procedures.
EXTREME FLYING MANOEUVRES
TOWING
Note!! Although, motorized flight can be a great success due to the gliders very easy take-
off characteristics, stability and good handling, always use a certified combination of
engine - harness and glider. If in doubt check with your federation. Contact the
manufacturer or importer for the current legality of motorized flight.
WARNING!! The Envy 2 is not suitable for jumps from aircraft.
WARNING!! The Envy 2 is not designed to be used for aerobatics.
MOTORISED FLIGHT
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Asymmetric collapse:
“Cravat” / Line-over:
Front Tuck:
A negative angle of attack can cause all or part of the leading-edge of the Envy 2 to collapse
(e.g. in turbulent air). Basically the Envy 2 will re-open spontaneously from closures of up to
70% with a change of direction of up to 180°. The time this takes, and the associated height
loss, can however be noticeably reduced by appropriate action by the pilot. Apply opposite
brake on the inflated side, the outside of the curve, to stop the turning movement of the
canopy. This should be accompanied by appropriate weight-shift. If you react
immediately, 30% brake on the open side should suffice to hold the canopy on a straight
course. In the event of a big collapse, this braking should be applied very carefully to avoid
stalling the remaining inflated wing. The pilot's correction for direction can be aided by a
pumping out the deflation; a slow, long pumping action of the brake of the deflated side of
the wing helps the canopy to re-inflate. If the pilot does not correct, the Envy 2 usually self-
recovers. However, if it does not self recover and the pilot does not correct the canopy can
enter a stable spiral dive.
In the event of some lines becoming tangled during flight (caused by whatever), the
following action is recommended:
The pilot stabilizes the glider by gently applying the brakes. Please be aware that in this
condition the brake pressure can be higher and the brake travel shorter.
Without pilot input a line-over will result in a stable spiral dive.
Here are the various options to untangle a line-over:
- pumping the collapsed side.
- pulling the stabilizer line or lines causing the problem.
- should both measures fail, it may be possible to untangle the line-over by inducing a full
stall. This manoeuvre, however, should only be carried out by advanced pilots with
experience in extreme flight situations and with sufficient altitude available.
Attention! If these manoeuvres fail or if in any doubt, the pilot should instantly use their
emergency parachute system!
A front tuck can be induced by strongly pulling the A-risers or by sudden, heavy
turbulence. The entire leading edge spontaneously collapses. Gentle braking on both
sides will reduce the lateral pendulum motions and simultaneously accelerate re-
inflation. The Envy 2 generally self recovers from an initiated front tuck.
When having a very large front tuck, a frontal rosette can happen (the wingtips move
forwards: shaping a horseshoe). Gentle braking can avoid this deformation.
A quick recognition of the situation and a quick reaction by braking on both sides as long
as the collapsed wing is behind the pilot helps the recovery and limits the altitude loss.
