I totally agree that people have forgotten that they're flying fabric wings suspended by strings. These craft simply don't tolerate being un-loaded, and when you fast in bumpy air you're probably going to get un-loaded.
Thanks Chris. Great stuff. I was just at an event where a relatively new pilot flew into rough air with his trims fully out/open, while using tip steering toggles only, on what most would consider to be a "very safe" EN-B glider. He climbed several hundred feet, turned around and came back through the same area, only to find himself instantly under a fully collapsed wing, with enough twists in his risers to make them look like a 7 foot hank of a ship's docking line. Certain that recovery was futile, he quickly tossed his reserve and landed safely in a field below, within seconds of the encounter. I didn't want to critique either the training he'd paid for, nor his technique, but I certainly will forward him this vid from PG & PPG's greatest ambassador!!!
Thanks for the vid! I prefer to choose a wing designed for the speed and type of flight I'm wanting that day. I trim out now and then, but only in good conditions and when there's a need. Flying a slow type glider and using trims with bar, to change it, seems akin to putting nitrous on an old cavalier. It would make more sense to simply buy a faster car and use it well within its limits.
Really appreciate this! In the past I have been sucked in to adding speed so I wouldn't lose someone, and have probably sucked people in that way sometimes, but hopefully better about that now. I do think it would be nice if the culture was more like "if you are going fast you're going to have to circle back often to stay with your friends" rather than "you need something that will keep up with your friends" The situation I think I need to be careful in is when there is a headwind and a little more speed would make a relatively big improvement in ground speed. That is when I am most driven to apply speed. I would be interested in hearing Chris's thoughts on the best way to adjust trimmers - one at a time or both at once, can you adjust too suddenly, what to be watching for when you make adjustments, body position, etc. If there is a quick unanticipated change in air, where should your priorities be on the trimmers? Is it urgent to get the trims in immediately? Do people get in trouble by pulling trims in when they should be doing something else? I presume that will be highly situational, but I would be interested to hear thoughts and stories on the subject.
Chris, the manual for my glider (Nucleon 4) encourages me to release my trims in turbulent air. In fact, the following statement is in the manual in bold "The basic rule of flying reflex paragliders says: The more turbulent is the air encountered, the more trims should be released and use of regular brakes avoided (especially with speedsystem engaged)". This seems to conflict with your advice to pull in trims when the air is turbulent.
Thanks for the video, very informative. I have to disagree on the person responsible for this issues. Is not all the time the pilot. In my neck of the woods we have an incompetent and irresponsible instructor selling small gliders to new pilots. They want to fly faster and fly in high wind conditions. They fly with him in an unsafe location and he make them part of his team of pilots, something that give them a sense of achievement. But he do not take care of them he only hype their skills. Some not to smart pilots being lead by an irresponsible USPPA certified instructor using his credentials as an USPPA certified instructor just to make money and not keep the sport safe. So far, 2 fatalities this year, last one an assistant instructors.
I totally agree that people have forgotten that they're flying fabric wings suspended by strings. These craft simply don't tolerate being un-loaded, and when you fast in bumpy air you're probably going to get un-loaded.
Thanks Chris. Great stuff. I was just at an event where a relatively new pilot flew into rough air with his trims fully out/open, while using tip steering toggles only, on what most would consider to be a "very safe" EN-B glider. He climbed several hundred feet, turned around and came back through the same area, only to find himself instantly under a fully collapsed wing, with enough twists in his risers to make them look like a 7 foot hank of a ship's docking line. Certain that recovery was futile, he quickly tossed his reserve and landed safely in a field below, within seconds of the encounter. I didn't want to critique either the training he'd paid for, nor his technique, but I certainly will forward him this vid from PG & PPG's greatest ambassador!!!
Thanks, Chris. Very well said and understood.
Thanks, Chris very very valuable information!
Thanks for this video! Flying slow and enjoying it is just amazing!
Thanks for the vid! I prefer to choose a wing designed for the speed and type of flight I'm wanting that day. I trim out now and then, but only in good conditions and when there's a need. Flying a slow type glider and using trims with bar, to change it, seems akin to putting nitrous on an old cavalier. It would make more sense to simply buy a faster car and use it well within its limits.
I like to paramotor slow. The only time push trim and bar fighting upwind at altitude.
Well said!🎉
❤❤❤❤ so much good info.
Really appreciate this! In the past I have been sucked in to adding speed so I wouldn't lose someone, and have probably sucked people in that way sometimes, but hopefully better about that now. I do think it would be nice if the culture was more like "if you are going fast you're going to have to circle back often to stay with your friends" rather than "you need something that will keep up with your friends"
The situation I think I need to be careful in is when there is a headwind and a little more speed would make a relatively big improvement in ground speed. That is when I am most driven to apply speed.
I would be interested in hearing Chris's thoughts on the best way to adjust trimmers - one at a time or both at once, can you adjust too suddenly, what to be watching for when you make adjustments, body position, etc. If there is a quick unanticipated change in air, where should your priorities be on the trimmers? Is it urgent to get the trims in immediately? Do people get in trouble by pulling trims in when they should be doing something else? I presume that will be highly situational, but I would be interested to hear thoughts and stories on the subject.
Good stuff!
Chris, the manual for my glider (Nucleon 4) encourages me to release my trims in turbulent air. In fact, the following statement is in the manual in bold "The basic rule of flying reflex paragliders says: The more turbulent is the air encountered, the more trims should be released and use of regular brakes avoided (especially with speedsystem engaged)". This seems to conflict with your advice to pull in trims when the air is turbulent.
I think that's a really good point, reflex wings don't follow the same rules for trimmers.
Yeah, the Nucleon manual reads like "go fast and you'll be safer in any turbulence. we are so awesome."
Plus when you really size down on a speed wing, you're almost never have a deflation because of the tension. Like a 13m or less
Slow, calculated progression is where it’s at. Rushing into things and getting caught in a bad situation is never fun!
Thanks for the video, very informative. I have to disagree on the person responsible for this issues. Is not all the time the pilot. In my neck of the woods we have an incompetent and irresponsible instructor selling small gliders to new pilots. They want to fly faster and fly in high wind conditions. They fly with him in an unsafe location and he make them part of his team of pilots, something that give them a sense of achievement. But he do not take care of them he only hype their skills. Some not to smart pilots being lead by an irresponsible USPPA certified instructor using his credentials as an USPPA certified instructor just to make money and not keep the sport safe. So far, 2 fatalities this year, last one an assistant instructors.
Who?
I pulled my speedbar completely off of my Paramotor several months back. No need to go that fast.
No need for a motor to go fast. Just speed fly.
"right?" "entitlement?" 🤨
👍👍🦅🥷👍👍