GIN Mirage - Manual (Page 13)

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* Don’t attempt to take off if the canopy isn’t roughly level overhead. Dangerous oscillations
may result if you apply full power with it too far off to one side.
* Keep your undercarriage down until you are definitely flying!
* The faster the trim setting, the more brake the glider will need to get off the ground.
Reverse Launching in Stronger Winds
Because the Mirage launches so easily it is possible to perform a reverse launch with both front
risers and one brake in one hand and the throttle and opposite brake in the other. If the wind is
appreciable this is the easiest method of launching, but if the wind is light the difficulty of
running backwards safely with a motor on makes a forward launch preferable.
Having started and warmed up your motor upwind of the canopy, attach yourself to the power
unit, face the canopy, approach the risers and clip them on to the appropriate mallions. Build a
wall first using front and rear risers simultaneously. We recommend that you momentarily raise
the glider off the ground to check for tangles and line snags.
Holding risers, brakes and throttle control as outlined above, pull the front risers up to lift the
glider over your head. It is unlikely to over-fly you, especially if it is trimmed to fly fast. This
may be contrary to what your paragliding intuition tells you, but on the fast setting (trim fully
off) the Mirage’s reflex wing section stabilizes the wing and prevents it from pitching forward.
It may even sit back a little but applying a small amount of brake makes it pop forward.
When the glider is steady above you turn round, apply power and take off.
As with forward launching, the trim/power/brake relationship must be established for the best
rate of climb and forward speed.
Points to Note:
*This is a cross-hands reverse launch. You must master this technique before attempting it
under power.
Your local Paragliding School will assist you here.
* All control inputs should be smooth and progressive.
* Don’t attempt to take off if the canopy isn’t roughly level overhead.
Dangerous oscillations may result if you apply full power with it off to one side.
* Keep your undercarriage down until you are definitely flying!
* The faster the trim setting, the more brake the glider will need to get off the ground.
Speed systems may cause problems when clipping in. Don’t get your lines crossed!
The Climb Out
Once off the ground and flying safely, continue into wind using the brakes to achieve the
desired climb rate. Don’t attempt to climb at too steep an angle. Attempting to use too much
brake to force a higher climb rate will only degrade the climb by creating extra drag and with
the addition of lots of thrust could result in a stall or a spin.
Under power the Mirage behaves more like a powered fixed wing airplane than a paraglider, and
it helps to think of it as such.
Provided there are no obstacles in your path, it is often safer, and quite spectacular, to fly level
with the ground after take-off gaining more speed before converting it into considerable height