Niviuk Hook 4, Руководство пользователя, Страница: 8 / 24

8
4. IN FLIGHT
4.1 FLYING IN TURBULENCE
The HOOK 4 complies with an excellent homologation to face this type
of situation with the best safety guarantee. This wing is stable in all types
of weather conditions. It reacts admirably in passive flight, thus offering
a high level of safety in turbulent conditions. Nonetheless, all paragliders
always have to be piloted according to the prevailing weather conditions;
the pilot is the ultimate safety factor.
We recommend that the pilot adopts a proactive attitude when flying,
making the necessary fine adjustments to keep the wing in control. He/
she should stop braking to allow it to fly at the required wing speed after
a correction is made. Do not maintain any correction for longer than
necessary (braked) this would cause the wing to enter into critical flying
situation. Whenever necessary, control a situation, react to it and then
re-establish the required speed.
4.2 POSSIBLE CONFIGURATIONS
We recommend that training to master these manoeuvres be carried out
under the supervision of a competent school.
Asymmetric collapse
In spite of the great stability of the profile of the HOOK 4, heavy turbulent
conditions may cause part of the wing to collapse asymmetrically. This
usually happens when the pilot has not foreseen this possible reaction of
the wing. When the wing is about to experience an asymmetric collapse
the brake lines and the harness will transmit a loss of pressure to the pilot.
To prevent the collapse from happening, pull the brake line corresponding
to the compromised side of the wing, this will increase the angle of
incidence. If the collapse does happen the HOOK 4 will not react violently,
the turn tendency is very gradual and it is easily controlled. Lean your
body towards the side that is still flying in order to counteract the turn and
to maintain a straight course, if necessary slightly slow down the same
side. The collapse will normally open by itself but if that does not happen,
pull completely on the brake line on the side which has collapsed (100%).
Do this with a firm movement. You may have to repeat this operation to
provoke the re-opening. Take care not to over-brake on the side that is
still flying (turn control) and when the collapse has been solved; remember
to let the wing recover its flying speed.
Symmetric collapse
In normal flying conditions the design of the HOOK 4 ensures that a
symmetric collapse is quite improbable. The profile of the wing has been
designed to widely tolerate extreme changes in the angle of incidence. A
symmetric collapse may occur in heavy turbulent conditions, on entry or
exit of strong thermals or lack of adapting the use of the accelerator to the
prevailing air conditions. Symmetrical collapses usually re-inflate without
the glider turning but you can symmetrically apply the brake lines with
a quick deep pump to quicken the re-inflation. Release the brake lines
immediately to recover optimum flight speed.
Negative spin
This configuration is out of the normal flight behaviour of the HOOK 4.
Certain circumstances however, may provoke this configuration such
as trying to turn when the wing is flying at very low speed (while heavily
braking). It is not easy to give any recommendations about this situation
since it varies depending on the circumstances. Remember that you
should restore the relative air speed over the wing. To achieve this,
progressively reduce the pressure on the brake lines and let the wing gain
speed. The normal reaction would be a lateral surge with a turn tendency
no greater than 360º before restoring to normal flight conditions.
Parachutal stall
The possibility of this happening has been eliminated by the design of the
HOOK 4 and it is highly unlikely to happen on this paraglider. If it does
happen, the feeling would be that the wing would not be advancing; you