Advance acoustic Progress 3 User manual

Edition 1 / 01_2018Manual

2

Contents
Thank you for flying ADVANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About ADVANCE ...........................................5
Outstanding features ....................................6
Harness Overview ......................................7
Rucksack overview .....................................9
Safety information .........................................10
General recommendations about
paragliding ...........................................10
Preparing the product ......................................11
Delivery .............................................11
Delivery package ......................................11
Air-Foam Hybrid-Protektor ...............................11
Adjusting the harness...................................12
Exchanging components ................................14
Installing the reserve....................................16
Compatibility check ....................................23
Reversing technique....................................24
Setting up the Rucksack Mode ...........................25
General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ground handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Clipping in with EASY CONNECT..........................26
Use in Practice............................................26
Takeoff preparation and check............................27
Takeoff and landing ....................................27
Using the speed system.................................27
Flying with the foot stirrup ...............................27
Flying with ballast ......................................28
Use for training........................................28
Winching ............................................28
Acro flying ...........................................28
Tandem flying .........................................28
Landing in water.......................................29
Care, check & repair .......................................30
Care ................................................30
Air-Foam Hybrid-Protector Care...........................31
Check...............................................31
Repairs..............................................31
Disposal .............................................31
Technical Data ............................................33
Material Description Harness .............................34
Material Description Rucksack............................35
Service..................................................36
ADVANCE Service Centres .........................36
The ADVANCE website .................................36
Warranty.............................................36
3

Congratulations on your choice of an PROGRESS 3 – a quality product
from ADVANCE. We hope that you will spend many rewarding hours in
the air with it.
This user manual is an important part of the harness. Here you will nd
instructions and important information about safety, care and main-
tenance, and that’s why we recommend that you read this document
carefully before your rst ight.
Register your PROGRESS 3 online on www.advance.ch/warranty; you
will then receive product updates or safety-related bulletins about the
PROGRESS 3 direct from us. This information will also be available to
download from our website at www.advance.ch, as will the latest ver-
sion of this manual and further updated information.
If you have any further questions or problems please contact your
dealer or get in touch directly with ADVANCE.
Now we wish you a lot of enjoyment with your PROGRESS 3, and al-
ways «happy landings».
Team ADVANCE
Thank you for flying ADVANCE
4

ADVANCE, based in Switzerland, is one of the world’s leading para-
glider manufacturers. Since it was founded in 1988, the company has
consistently pursued its own directions and concepts, both in develop-
ment and production. The results are quality products with distinctive
characteristics.
Behind the ADVANCE brand name is a team of specialists who share
the passion and trust in the company’s products. At home in the air
themselves, they contribute their valuable personal experience and
dedication to the working processes.
Total control of the production process and supervision of the work-
ing practices at the ADVANCE factory in Vietnam ensure a high stand-
ard of workmanship. Long term relationships with fabric and line man-
ufacturers means that ADVANCE knowledge and expertise also nds
its way directly into the development of new materials.
ADVANCE attaches great importance to after-sales customer sup-
port, and has built up a worldwide service network for this purpose. An
on-going interaction with its customers brings in a steady ow of new
knowledge that nds its way into ADVANCE products, thus completing
the «Circle of Service».
About ADVANCE
5

Practical, comfortable and universal
The PROGRESS 3 reversible harness provides great versatility in a
compact form. Whether for travel, training, thermal ying, short hike
and ys or freestyle manoeuvres: With this multitalented harness in S,
M and L sizes you are always best equipped for all your exploits.
Outstanding features
Versatile use
The PROGRESS 3 is a fully-congured paraglider harness and a com-
pact rucksack. Considered with its low weight (3.6 kg for the M size), it
is perfect for those who prefer low volume paragliding equipment.
Safety from the start
The PROGRESS 3 Air-Foam Hybrid Protector has an ingenious interior.
After the rucksack turns into a harness the protector lls with air within
60 seconds. The reversible harness then has fully-functioning protec-
tion prior to takeoff.
Top comfort for flying and carrying
Since 2008 3D development techniques for ADVANCE harnesses and
rucksacks have guaranteed unique levels of sitting and carrying com-
fort – as well as their clean outlines. The effect is doubled in the case
of the PROGRESS 3. When a harness, its ergonomic seat surface and
Legpads conform to the pilot’s shape in ight: as a rucksack its shoul-
der straps and back section generously share the loads.
PROGRESS 3 – Unique Versatility
6

Harness Overview
Side view
1 Shoulder harness Velcro (right - e.g. for mounting a Solario) and
drink tube guide (left)
2 Drink tube opening
3 Large back pocket
4 V-connection channel with zip
5 Reserve container in protector compartment
6 Compact Edelrid FORAS carabiners with wide opening and
Antitwist carabiner xer
7 Holdback for speedbar
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Frontview
8 Small chest strap
9 Traditional 2-buckle closure system
10 Easy Connect System
11 Attachment for optional Footrest
12 Can take Cockpit or Front Container
13 Adjustment buckles for upper body recline
14 Setting for seat angle (lower back support adjusts automatically by
running strap)
15 Distance between Legpads
16 2 Side Pockets: 1 exterior zip (left),
1 internal net (rt.)
17 Speed system with Carbon Speedbar
18 Adjustable, certied Air-Foam Hybrid-Protector
8

Rucksack overview
1 Detachable helm net
2 Ergonomically shaped, adjustable shoulder harness
3 Ergonomically shaped Waist Strap with elasticated side pockets
(le.)
4 2 elastic medium side pockets (rt., one above the other). Top has
room for a 1.5 ltr drink bottle.
5 Rucksack handle
6 Large elastic side pocket (le.), e.g. for hiking poles or a 1.5 ltr drink
bottle
7 Ergonomic-shaped mesh back support
8 Waist strap pocket with zip
9 Hand loops for relaxed walking
9

Like all commercially available reserve parachutes, paraglider harness-
es are never suitable for free fall parachuting because their design and
construction details do not allow such a thing. Neither the reserve par-
achute nor its attachments to the harness can withstand the loadings
involved in an abrupt opening.
All harness adjustments should be made before the harness is own.
Correct adjustment of the PROGRESS 3 greatly contributes to safety,
correct function and comfort in ight.
No protector can offer complete protection against injury. The
PROGRESS 3 Air-Foam Hybrid-Protector only serves to dampen the
effects of those ground impacts from a low height that may follow un-
lucky takeoffs and landings, and therefore minimise injuries that could
result.
When carrying out safety training over water, thought should be given
to the fact that the air in a foam protector makes it oat, and turn the
pilot head down. Then there’s the risk that foam parts will eventually ll
with water and sink, with the pilot.
PROGRESS 3 certication is restricted exclusively to paraglider sport.
General recommendations about
paragliding
Taking part in paragliding sport requires appropriate training and a
comprehensive knowledge of the equipment, as well as the neces-
sary insurance and licences. A pilot must be able to correctly assess
the weather conditions at the chosen site before taking off. His abilities
must be sufcient for the demands of the selected paraglider. When
carrying out paragliding the pilot must also take responsibility for his
care of the natural world and the landscape.
The wearing of an adequate helmet, suitable footwear and clothing,
and the carriage of a reserve parachute are all essential. Before every
ight all items of equipment must be checked for damage and airwor-
thiness. A pre-takeoff check must always be carried out.
While engaged in paragliding every pilot bears sole responsibility for all
risks, including those resulting in injury and death. Neither the manu-
facturer nor the seller of a paraglider can guarantee the safety of a pi-
lot, or be held responsible for it.
Safety information
10

Delivery
Before delivery every ADVANCE product has to be checked by the
dealer for delivery package contents and correct initial settings. A
completed warranty form makes sure that deciencies of the product,
attributable to the manufacturer, are covered by the ADVANCE warran-
ty (see under “Warranty” in the section” Service”).
We ask you to complete this form on the ADVANCE website under
“Warranty”, within 10 days of purchase.
Delivery package
Delivery of a PROGRESS 3 harness contains:
§Removable EN/LTF-certied Air-Foam Hybrid Protector (91/09)
§Speed system with Carbon speedbar
§COMPRESSBAG
§2 Edelrid FORAS Twistlock alu carabiners including anti-twist cara-
biner clip
§Ronstan ball-bearing speed pulleys
§Reserve connection
§Reserve handle with attached four ap inner container
§Getting Started Booklet
Optional:
§Foot stirrup
Air-Foam Hybrid-Protektor
The PROGRESS 3 internal Air-Foam Hybrid-Protector has a sophistica-
ted inner structure and requires no special treatment. When the ruck-
sack is reversed into a harness it normally lls with air within approxi-
mately 60 seconds and already provides full protection before takeoff.
At an impact it absorbs the deceleration energy and softens the blow.
Risk of back or pelvic injury can thereby be considerably reduced.
The airbag conforms to the LTF 91/09 certication requirements.
Preparing the product
11

Adjusting the harness
The PROGRESS 3 is easy to adjust.Put the harness on, close the chest
strap and leg straps (2-buckle system) and hang the PROGRESS 3 up
by its carabiners in a harness stand.
Shoulder and back strap buckles have Neoprene and light Neoprene
covers and allow for continuous adjustment, so that sitting position
can be quickly and easily modied in ight. The development team ha-
ve established standard settings. These positions are shown by grey
sewing on the shoulder and back straps. The seat strap standard set-
ting is fully opened. Pictures in this manual show the various adjust-
ment possibilities.
ADVANCE recommend that you thoroughly familiarise yourself with
these adjustments before your rst ight in the harness. As well as that
you should always make your rst test ight with new equipment in qui-
et weather conditions.
Info: For realistic adjustment the harness back pack should be
packed as for ight, and the reserve mounted as well. These
preparations will provide a good simulation of an in-ight
situation.
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Abs 1 alt aus S4
Abs 2 alt aus P2 («GZ einstellen», Abs. 2, S.1)
+ geänderte Sätze!
Abs 3 geändert!
+ Abs. 4 + Info alt aus S4

Adjusting the upper body angle
Upper body attitude is altered by the adjustable back straps.
Pull them in to a reasonably upright back position at which you feel
comfortable. These straps are mounted relatively high at the sides
to give good back support, and take weight off your shoulders.
Pulled in back straps make you sit up. Completely loosened back
straps put the pilot in quite a reclined position. ADVANCE recom-
mend the standard setting.
The adjustment system allows for quick and straightforward back
position changes during ight.
Tip: for easy-running adjustments take the load off the buckles
by sitting up.
1 Seatstrap setting
The seat strap is adjusted to individual requirements because the
seating area adapts itself precisely to the body shape. Pulling
in the straps raises the seat surface, resulting in a atter seat angle.
Completely releasing the seat straps makes it easier to get into the
harness after takeoff.
2 Chest strap adjustment
The chest strap is used to change the distance between the
carabiners. The shest strap is secured with the automatic Quick-
release buckles and these make up the Safe-T-System. The wider
the chest strap the more agile the seat, and therefore the more ef-
fective will be steering by weightshift. A narrow setting results in a
quiet and damped feeling from the wing. The adjustment range is
very large and the harness agility can be changed to any setting
to suit the conditions, as the pilot prefers. An ideal setting for the
ying position leaves a gap of about 2 cm between shoulders and
strap.
Info: ideally adjusted shoulder straps are quite loose in ight and
do not apply pressure on the shoulders, but are still able to pro-
vide comfortable support when required.
3 Setting the distance between the leg straps
The distance between the leg straps and LegPads on the
PROGRESS 3 can be set to suit the individual, and is adjustable
during ight. When pulled in, leg strap pressure on the inside of the
upper thighs can be relieved during long ights, for example.
Info: the widest interconnect setting will provide the
highest PROGRESS 3 comfort for takeoff, landing and ground
handling.
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* Abs. 1 S4 HB, letzter Satz Abs1 aus HB PS Satz vor
Tipp
* Tipp + folgender Abs.: P2 HB im Absatz Rückengurte
einstellen
* 2. Sitzgurte aus P 2 HB S. 12 Satz Lendenwirbelstüt-
ze rausnehmen d.h in FR nicht beachten
* 3. Schultergurte einstellen S4 HB, letzter Satz P2 HB
(letzer Satz von Schultergurte einstellen.)
* Info aus P2 hinter Schultergurte einstellen
* Distanz zw Beingurten aus P 2 HB, dito Info

4 Mini chest strap adjustment
The mini chest strap keeps the shoulder straps in the best po-
sition for takeoff and landing. The appropriate width can be set as
required. If you prefer not to use the mini chest strap it can be un-
looped and removed.
5 Adjusting the speed system
The speed system should be adjusted to a length where the
full travel of the paraglider speed system can be used. Make su-
re that the speedlines are not set too short – the wing must not be
permanently accelerated in ight.
Exchanging components
Air-Foam Hybrid-Protektor
The PROGRESS 3 comes with the Air-Foam Hybrid-Protector built in.
Its compartment is under the seat surface with the Legpads. You can
take it out if it needs repair or replacement.
To do this open the zip that runs across the harness under the
Legpads. Then release the Protector from the Velcro eece tape which
holds it central in the compartment, and pull it carefully out.
To reinstall push the Protector back into the open pocket under the
Legpads, fasten it in position with the Velcro and the eece strip then
close the zip.
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Fitting the optional foot stirrup
The optional foot stirrup, included in PROGRESS 3 LTF 91/09 certica-
tion, should be tted as follows:
The black loops at the ends of the stirrup support lines attach
to the small tapes loops below the carabiners with small quick-
links (Maillons Rapides). The bungee holdbacks from the harness go
through the D rings at the front of the seat shell , and should be
tied to the small loops halfway down the stirrup lines – as short as
practical, but not under permanent tension.
A speed loop accelerate system is supplied with the foot stirrup.
ADVANCE recommend that only this speed system is used when ying
with the foot stirrup.
A split ring connects the speed loop to the footrest so that the lo-
op can always be conveniently picked up by a foot while ying with the
foot stirrup.
Cockpit attachment
A cockpit can be supported from the small tape loops below the chest
strap, or from the main carabiners..
15

Installing the reserve
General advice
The reserve compartment is under the PROGRESS 3 pilot’s seat. The
reserve handle is easy to reach.
Caution: installing the reserve must be done by a suitably
skilled person. Your safety depends on it!
Bear in mind that every reserve/harness combination has its own pe-
culiarities. To ensure reliable functioning it is essential that pilot and
packer are familiar with the system before the reserve is installed. We
strongly recommend that the reserve is installed by a qualied person
or your ADVANCE dealer.
Suitable reserves/reserve compartment volume
Older type, relatively bulky reserves, are more difcult to de-
ploy from modern and more compact harnesses, especially
under high g loadings. The certied reserve volume for the
PROGRESS 3 depends on harness sizes. S + M size: 2.5–6 Liter,
L size: 3–6.5 Liter.
Info: for a general approximation of a reserve volume, its weight
in kilos x 2.7 gives a volume in litres. But, depending on packing
style and skill, it can still be that a reserve that conforms to
the maximum certied volume for a container, using the weight
formula above, cannot be released without problem.
Caution: if the volume of the packed reserve lies within the up-
per third of the certified volume range, it is especially important
to observe that the reserve has been correctly folded to conform
to the length of the inner container!
Caution: when installation is complete only a test release/com-
patibility check can confirm that the actual reserve/PROGRESS
3 combination will work.
Caution: a reserve parachute volume can expand by up to 30%
when it has been newly folded. ADVANCE therefore strongly rec-
ommend that a new compatibility test is carried out after every
repack.
16

Steerable reserves
The PROGRESS 3 can be used with a steerable reserve. The reserve
risers connect to the coloured supports under the covers on the har-
ness shoulders, using two maillons, each of 2400 daN minimum safe
working load. The reserve risers run to the reserve compartment via
the channel at the side. The unused harness V-connection can be led
through the opening into the back pocket and stowed away.
Caution: steerable reserves tend to take up more volume.
Info: you can also use QuickOut carabiners with a steerable re-
serve on the PROGRESS 3.
Installation: general
The reserve handle and the four-ap inner container are xed together
and this combination is designed so that the pull of the handle acts
equally over the whole width of the inner conatiner. This minimises
the risk of the container jamming in the reserve compartment, or the
reserve lines getting caught up. The reserve handle together with the
four-ap inner container are essential parts of the harness, and this ar-
rangement conforms to the latest LTF certication requirements. Only
the original reserve handle with its four-ap inner container is allowed
to be used.
Packing the reserve in the inner container
Always fold your reserve to the shape and dimensions of the inner con-
tainer supplied with the PROGRESS 3. At the nal packing stage put
the line bundles opposite the reserve handle. When the lines have
been stowed in the inner container there should be 90 cm of reserve
line remaining outside, between the inner container and bridle/steera-
ble risers.
17

Close the container ap in the order indicated (1-3). Secure the nal
container ap (3) with a 5 to 6 cm line loop (ca. 3 nger widths). Now
check the tension of the bungee loop and adjust if necessary. --> lift
the package by the lines - the weight of the reserve should release the
line loop.
Closing the inner container
Now close the outer container ap (red border) with two similar line lo-
ops (5 to 6 cm). These two line loops are secured in the two attached
rubber bands though their eyelets on the outer ap.
18

Connecting the reserve to the harness
The reserve bridle and the harness connection must be connected to
each other by the means of a suitable quicklink of at least 2400 daN
safe load (g. 1). These two lines must be stabilised at the maillon, for
example by using rubber O rings, to prevent the webbings slipping
round and cross-loading the maillon during a reserve deployment.
In collaboration with the PMA (Paraglider Manufacturer’s Association)
and German climbing rope manufacturer Edelrid, ADVANCE carri-
ed out an exhaustive series of tests in 2017 to investigate the strength
of the direct loop-in-loop method of connecting these two webbing
items (g. 2). This involved a series of material combinations of harness
V-lines and reserve bridles, such are as used in ADVANCE harnesses
with COMPANION reserves. Compared with a Maillon Rapide connec-
tion the strength of this arrangement was slightly reduced, but not to
an extent that would compromise its function.
For this reason the direct looping of ADVANCE products is reliable
and safe, provided certain basic precautionary measures are obser-
ved, such as the centering of the connection position on both loops,
and then pulling the line junction as tight as possible. We cannot ma-
ke a denitive statement about the strength of such a connection of
ADVANCE harnesses with other reserve.
Caution: don‘t use sticky tape instead of O rings for locating the
loops on the maillon!
Info: when looping a COMPANION reserve to the PROGRESS3
the V-line Neoprene protector must finally be pulled over the
connection.
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
19

Putting the inner container in the reserve compartment
Lead the reserve V-connection lines up from their stitched attach-
ments on the shoulder supports, then down to the reserve compart-
ment via the opened V-connection channel that runs down the si-
de of the harness. After reserve installation this channel closes by zip
fastener.
To install the reserve rst lay the connection lines in the reserve com-
partment followed by the inner container. It is essential that the inner
container is installed with the closure aps facing downward – towards
the ground in ight. Follow the instructions illustrated on the inner con-
tainer and the inside of the reserve compartment. The silver spots on
container and compartment roof must face each other . In addition
the reserve handle connection must lie at, without twist.
Thread short lengths of packing help lines through the two reserve
compartment white closure loops .
Caution: if, after a repack, the reserve does not fit in the inner
container it must be folded again to match the shape of the inner
container.
20