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5. Holding the A’s and your brake handles
6. Leading edge open
7. Aligned directly into wind
8. Airspace and visibility clear
Launching
Your LM5 will launch with either the forward or reverse techniques.
Forward Launch
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Nil to Light winds
When the wind is favourable, whilst gently holding the A risers move
forward positively, your lines should become tight within one or two
steps and the LM5 will immediately start to inflate. You should main-
tain a constant pressure on the risers until the wing is overhead. Do
not pull down or push the risers forward excessively, or the leading
edge will deform and possibly collapse making taking-off more difficult
and potentially dangerous.
Move smoothly throughout the entire launch, there is no need to
rush or snatch at it. You should have plenty of time to look up and
check your canopy before committing yourself. Once you are happy
that the LM5 is inflated correctly, accelerate smoothly off the
launch.
Reverse Launch
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Light to Strong Winds
Lay out your wing as you would for the forward launch. However, this
time turn to face it, passing one entire set of risers over your head
as you turn. Now you can inflate the glider with the A-risers. Once
the wing is overhead, release the risers, brake gently if necessary,
turn and launch.
In stronger winds, be prepared to take a few steps towards the
glider as it inflates. This will take some of the energy out of the glider
and it will be less likely to overfly you. This reverse-launch technique
can be used in surprisingly light winds too.
IMPORTANT: Never take off with a glider that is not fully
inflated or if you are not in control of the pitch/roll of your
wing.
Practice ground handling a lot! Not only is it great fun, but it will give
you a much better feel for your wing’s flight characteristics. It will
also improve your overall enjoyment of flying by giving you the feeling
of control and making your launches easier and less stressful.
Landing
The LM5 shows no unusual landing characteristics but as a reminder,
here are some tips:
Always set up for your landing early, give yourself plenty of op-
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tions and a safe margin for error.
Once below 30 metres avoid turning tightly.
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Allow the glider to fly at hands up (trim) speed for your final de-
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scent until you are around 1 metre above the ground (in windy or
turbulent conditions you must fly the glider actively all the way).
Apply the brakes slowly and progressively to slow the glider down
until groundspeed has been reduced to a minimum and you are
able to step onto the ground.
In light winds/zero wind you need a strong, long and progres-
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sive flare to bleed off all your excess ground speed. In strong
winds your forward speed is already low so you are flaring only
to soften the landing. A strong flare may result in the glider
climbing upwards and backwards quickly, leaving you in a vulner-
able position.
If the glider does begin to climb, ease off the brakes (10-20cm)
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- do not put your hands up all the way - then flare again, but
more gently this time. Keep the brakes at mid speed, stand up,
be ready to run and make sure you brake fully as you arrive on
the ground.
In strong winds you need to turn towards the glider the second
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your feet touch the ground. Once facing the wing pull smoothly
and symmetrically down on the brakes to stall the wing. If the
glider pulls you, run toward it.
If the wind is very strong, and you feel you might be dragged, or
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lifted again, stall the glider with the C risers. This stalls the wing
in a very quick and controllable way and will drag you less than if
you use the brakes.
Always land heading into wind!
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