It's wonderful that you recorded the full stall to Infinite anecdote . That's one for the history book of paragliding. I guess another point that could be made is that less break =more speed =less time in the turbulent area + more energy available to deal with whatever incident.
You hear so many instructors tell their students to “maintain some pressure” Most won’t know how much is too much. Would be nice to explain to most people what the effect is on center of pressure, and why pitch stability is affected and what it means.
Exactly - Use enough brakes to get feedback from the glider, no more. And with the launch I have a go at getting the pod with my foot while my shoulders are still forward (usually successful), if that doesn't work I just don't get into the pod until I'm flying stable. I almost never use my hands unless I've dragged the pod on the ground on launch and it gets twisted. Pods aren't necessary to be in all the time lol. They're good on glide for aerodynamics but in a thermal or just after launch, for me, being inside the pod is the least important thing.
Exactly, I also stay upright with shoulders forward, helps a lot to get into the pod. And yes there's no need to use your hands to get into any pod, it is more about the body position and a good pre-flight check, not to get the pod twisted before take-off.
Thanks for the video, it really helps! As a beginner, that topic confuses me so much. I have been told indeed to "keep some pressure", "be at contact point", "apply the weight of your arms" or "use the rule of 400 grams". I can't tell if all these are the same as the shoulder brake mentioned here or if it's the level just before. Also, what I have been explained to is that in active flying, you do need to keep a certain amount of brake, so you have a margin of brake to release both ways in case of sudden change of angle of attack. So thanks for the video, I'm more confused now, but at least I know I seriously need to dig this topic, and to clarify what people actually mean when they say "weight of your arms" and all :)
What you need to do is fly at contact position, which is taking out the slack out of the brake lines, but not inducing a bend on the trailing edge, this you can visually check as you doing a glide, pull just enough brakes to take out the slack just before it induces a bend on trailing edge. Remember this position, this is the position you want to be flying at. This is your neutral position, to which you return after doing any action. Dose this make it more clear for you?
When you fly with the brakes on 25% and get to a stable flight at that speed if you turn loose one break all of a sudden it will thrust that side around from the pressure buildup under the wing. This is often a tight turn and the pilot spirals down 100 ft, and hits the ground hard. There's a certain minimum radius and a certain minimum speed. When you get below these two points you don't have control authority anymore and you can't do anything but ride whatever it wants to do
It's wonderful that you recorded the full stall to Infinite anecdote . That's one for the history book of paragliding. I guess another point that could be made is that less break =more speed =less time in the turbulent area + more energy available to deal with whatever incident.
All valid points ☺
You hear so many instructors tell their students to “maintain some pressure”
Most won’t know how much is too much.
Would be nice to explain to most people what the effect is on center of pressure, and why pitch stability is affected and what it means.
Not a bad idea for a video, I'll see what I can do.
Exactly - Use enough brakes to get feedback from the glider, no more. And with the launch I have a go at getting the pod with my foot while my shoulders are still forward (usually successful), if that doesn't work I just don't get into the pod until I'm flying stable. I almost never use my hands unless I've dragged the pod on the ground on launch and it gets twisted. Pods aren't necessary to be in all the time lol. They're good on glide for aerodynamics but in a thermal or just after launch, for me, being inside the pod is the least important thing.
Exactly, I also stay upright with shoulders forward, helps a lot to get into the pod. And yes there's no need to use your hands to get into any pod, it is more about the body position and a good pre-flight check, not to get the pod twisted before take-off.
Thanks for the video, it really helps! As a beginner, that topic confuses me so much. I have been told indeed to "keep some pressure", "be at contact point", "apply the weight of your arms" or "use the rule of 400 grams". I can't tell if all these are the same as the shoulder brake mentioned here or if it's the level just before. Also, what I have been explained to is that in active flying, you do need to keep a certain amount of brake, so you have a margin of brake to release both ways in case of sudden change of angle of attack. So thanks for the video, I'm more confused now, but at least I know I seriously need to dig this topic, and to clarify what people actually mean when they say "weight of your arms" and all :)
What you need to do is fly at contact position, which is taking out the slack out of the brake lines, but not inducing a bend on the trailing edge, this you can visually check as you doing a glide, pull just enough brakes to take out the slack just before it induces a bend on trailing edge. Remember this position, this is the position you want to be flying at. This is your neutral position, to which you return after doing any action. Dose this make it more clear for you?
@@FlyingKarlis Very clear! Thanks a lot :)
@@FlyingKarlisvery clear explanation, thanks
Very useful info! Thanks!
Glad you found it useful!
Bungee cord to one foot from the end of your pod, then you never have to release brakes to settle into your pod.
Very true, there is also a technique to it and once mastered there will be no need for the bungee. Bungee is like the training wheels for bicycle 😅
When you fly with the brakes on 25% and get to a stable flight at that speed if you turn loose one break all of a sudden it will thrust that side around from the pressure buildup under the wing. This is often a tight turn and the pilot spirals down 100 ft, and hits the ground hard. There's a certain minimum radius and a certain minimum speed. When you get below these two points you don't have control authority anymore and you can't do anything but ride whatever it wants to do
That’s the new hot topic huh
It should have been discussed years ago at the paragliding schools. Unfortunately this is not talked about enough 😕
Thanks for getting the word out about this. It seems counter intuitive to think that it causes a harder shoot. Glad to know about this one. Thanks!
Happy I can do my part to help the paragliding community to improve their understanding about the wings we fly! 😍