Windtech tuareg - Manual (Page 11)

11
-- thermal flying
The best and most interesting flights, even better when made with company, are those
flying in thermic conditions, and all pilots want to experiment and experience the won-
der of flying in thermals. The tuareg is blessed with superb handling and manoeuvra-
bility, which means that you don't need a lot of brake to turn it, and by using the outside
brake to control the airspeed of the outer wing, you can flatten the turn and climb excep-
tionally well and efficiently.
When working the thermal lift we must close the trim (this is all maillons at equal level.
Thermal flying conditions can make flying much more challenging and difficult. Only the
most experienced pilots should fly in strong thermal conditions. There is always a degree
of associated turbulence in thermal conditions, and when the pilot encounters turbulence
they must fly "actively", with precise brake input and weight-shift, ideally with collabo-
ration from the passenger as well by shifting the weight from one side to the other one.
In the case of extreme turbulence, so long as you haven't got big-ears in, as a rough guide
fly very actively with around 30 per cent brake.
> flying in turbulence
-- asymmetrical tuck / collapse
An asymmetric tuck / collapse is when part (one side) of the wing (say 20% or anything
up to 90% of the span) tucks or collapses, usually induced by turbulence but sometimes
also though poor pilot control in turns and wingovers.
The tuareg is tested and certified to automatically recover without correction by the
pilot with a maximum direction change of 90 degrees of turn, but with the correct input
the pilot can minimise any turning, and height loss, 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 it’s 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
after a small surge forward.