Windtech fenix - Manual (Page 10)

10
The FENIX is tested and certified to automatically recover without correction by the
pilot, but with the correct input the pilot can minimize any turning, and height lose, and
help the glider recover more quickly.
There are 3 basic steps to follow immediately if you have a collapse:
1: Weight shift to the flying side of your glider (away from the collapsed side). This helps
stop the rotation
& increases pressure in the wing in the inflated side.
2: If needed apply the correct amount of brake to the open (flying) side to slow any rota-
tion (spiral) induced by the collapse. Be very careful not to use too much brake as its pos-
sible to stall the flying side of the glider, and enter further unstable situations which may
be harder to recover from than the collapse itself.
3: Once the glider has straightened out, or the spiral has slowed, smoothly pull down the
brake on the collapsed side, with a long stroke/pump,
& the deflated side of the glider should
re-inflate. As the glider re-opens release the brake immediately but progressively.
With instruction
& experience the above will become a reflex action, and the correct
input to give will become second nature to the experienced pilot.
-- front/symmetrical tuck collapse
A front tuck /collapse is a symmetric tuck of the leading edge of the wing, starting from
the centre of the canopy to the wing tip. This can be either a tucking of just the central
part of the leading edge of the glider, which can sometimes cause a front 'horseshoe' or
'rosette-ing' of the glider, or even a complete 'blow-out' of the whole canopy in extreme
situations.
When flying, a front tuck may occur while leaving a strong thermal, or more often while
using the speed system in turbulent air, or sometimes whilst flying down-wind of anoth-
er paraglider
& being 'waked' by the wing tip vortices of the glider and turbulence wake
turbulence of the pilot.
Remember, the pilot can learn to help stop collapses by flying 'actively', but if a front
tuck does occur it will easily clear itself. Re-inflating the wing can be helped by correct
pilot input and, once the glider is overhead, symmetrically applying 40 % of both brakes
& then releasing immediately will get pressure back in to the glider and speed up the
recovery. Do not brake when the glider is behind you, as this can stall the wing, but wait
for the glider to shoot forward above your head, then brake.
-- cravats
If the wing tip gets stuck in a line this is a "cravat". This may cause a spiral very difficult
to control. First thing you have to do is to regain stable flight and flight straight. Then
by pulling down the stabile line try to free the wingtip. You have to be careful with the
amount of brake input since you may cause a stall by pulling to much the opposite
brake. In the case this method does not work the only option is a full stall. Do this with
plenty of height. If the wing spin accelerates and you can not control it any longer you
have to use the emergency parachute when there is still a lot of height.