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Section 8
Storing and looking after the paraglider
Storing and transporting the glider
Even if your paraglider was completely dry
when it was packed up after the final flight of
the season, for long-term storage you should
if possible take it out of the back pack and
spread out the canopy a little in a clean, dry
place away from direct light. If you do not
have the space to do this, then open the
backpack, internal bag and belt as much as
possible and avoid compressing it. It must be
stored at a temperature between 10° and 25°
C and in relative humidity between 50 and
75%. Make sure too that the paraglider is not
stored in a place where animals such as
mice or cats could use it as a place to sleep.
Do not store the paraglider near any
chemicals. Petrol, for example, causes the
material to disintegrate and can cause
considerable damage to your paraglider.
When your equipment is in the car boot,
keep it as far away as possible from any
spare petrol cans or oil containers.
The APUS RS should not be exposed to
extreme heat (e.g. in the boot of the car
during summer). The heat may cause any
moisture present to be pressed through the
fabric, thereby damaging the coating. High
temperatures accelerate the process of
hydrolysis, particularly when combined with
moisture, which damages fibres and coating.
Do not store your paraglider near radiators
or other heat sources.
Always transport your glider in the special
inner bag and use the backpack provided for
the rest of the equipment.
Looking after the paraglider
The life of any paraglider depends to a large
extent on how you treat it. This is especially
true for the APUS RS Hike given the fact that
the materials selected are extremely weight-
optimized, and it is more susceptible to wear
and tear if it is not used correctly. Follow the
care instructions and handle it carefully to
ensure that you have many years of
enjoyment from your APUS RS.
Fabric
SWING
uses
a
specially
developed
polyamide fabric for the APUS RS which has
a high-quality coating for improved UV
resistance,
colour
fastness
and
air
permeability. This fabric undergoes rigorous
laboratory tests and was tested for several
months under extreme conditions and heavy
use in flight.
Care is essential to ensure that the fabric
and glider remain durable and retain their
qualities. The glider should therefore be
protected from unnecessary UV light. Do not
unpack your glider until immediately before
flight and pack it up straight after landing.
Modern paraglider fabrics have better
protection against the sun, but UV rays in
particular are still one of the decisive factors
in how the fabric ages. The colours will fade
first and then the coating and fibres will
begin to age.
When the APUS RS is manufactured, the
side of the fabric with the coating is kept to
the inside. This provides relatively good
protection from damage for the coating
which is of key importance to the fabric
’s
features. When choosing a place to launch,
try to find somewhere which is smooth and
free of stones and sharp objects.
Do not stand on the glider. This weakens the
fabric, especially if it is on a hard or stony
surface. Pay attention to the behaviour of
spectators at the launch site, especially
children: do not hesitate to draw their
attention to the sensitive nature of the fabric.
When you are packing up your glider, make
sure that there are no insects trapped inside.
Many insects produce acids when they
decompose, which can cause holes in the
fabric. Grasshoppers make holes by biting
through the fabric and also excrete a dark
liquid which stains. Keep animals away when
