Advance acoustic ALPHA 6 User manual

Getting started
english

Many thanks for choosing an ADVANCE
product. We wish you a lot of fun with it,
and many rewarding hours in the air.
This guide gives you a brief look at using
your ALPHA 6, but it does not replace the
manual, which you can download from
www.advance.ch/alpha.
Register your ALPHA 6 online at
www.advance.ch/warranty, so that you will
receive product updates and safety-related
advice about the ALPHA6 direct from us.
This information is always available to
download from our website on
www.advance.ch/safety.
Welcome to ADVANCE

The ALPHA 6 has an A classication and is
suitable for beginners and recreational
pilots, and is excellent for schools. This
wing demonstrates straightforward takeo
handling, high passive safety and simple
landing qualities. In addition strong brake
steering demands build little energy. All
these characteristics make the ALPHA 6
your safe companion in the skies.
You as pilot

Delivery and initial settings
Every ADVANCE paraglider has to be own
by the dealer before delivery to check for
correct basic settings. Any personal altera-
tion you make to the paraglider will result in
it losing its certication. The brake line
lengths should not be altered. They are
set at the factory so that, with brakes fully
released, the trailing edge remains un-
braked in accelerated ight
ALPHA 6 delivery includes:
§Compression strap
§Inner bag
§COMFORTPACK 2 rucksack
§Repair kit
§Mini windsock

The risers
1. Big ears system with ‘Quick Snap System’
2. Quicklinks and clips
3. Speed system pulleys
4. Brummel hooks
5. Magnet clips
6. Swivel
7. Suspension loop with ‘Easy Connect
System’ marks
8. Brake ring

Adjusting the speed system
The ALPHA 6 has a speed system which
provides a speed increase of 10 km/h
above trim speed. The ALPHA 6 speed sys-
tem is designed so that the wing prole
shape remains completely unchanged in
accelerated ight. This means that the pro-
le’s good qualities are maintained at high
speed.
Before your rst ight adjust the ALPHA 6
speed system correctly, and check that:
§The speed lines run freely through all
their pulleys on the harness.
§The speed lines are connected to the
risers by Brummel hooks.
§Your nal setting allows the full travel of
the speed system to be used.
§You particularly make sure that the
speed lines are not so short that the
wing would be permanently accelerated
in ight.

Easy Connect
The ALPHA 6 has an ’Easy Connect
System‘ on the risers, to simplify connec-
ting. Each riser has coloured sewing run-
ning up the back of the C-riser, red for left
and blue for right, in the direction of ight.
The coloured sewing facing the pilot, and
the riser running cleanly upward to the lines
conrm that the riser has not been connec-
ted with an 180 degree twist. For additional
assistance all ADVANCE harnesses will, in
future, have the same marking on their
suspension loops (red to red, blue to blue).

Easy lift off
To prepare for takeo arrange the wing in
the correct arc shape. Taking o is very
straightforward: take the A-risers in the
hands – the two each side will be connect-
ed by their magnets - and give the ALPHA 6
just a light initial pull. Lead the glider up
with the body leaning forward, but without
pulling too hard on the A-risers, until the
wing is correctly above you. After a look-up
check a few quick steps will have you in the
air.

Active flying
The ALPHA 6 has a very taut and stable
canopy. In normal ying conditions collaps-
es will be almost completely avoided if an
active ying style is employed. This means
always keeping the glider above the pilot -
in other words countering pitch and roll
disturbances.
§If the angle of attack increases (e.g. wing
goes back when entering a thermal)
the brakes should be briey released
completely, until the glider returns to and
remains overyou.
§If the angle of attack reduces (e.g. wing
dives forward) the wing should be briey
and strongly braked. Always make sure
that the airspeed does not fall below a
safe minimum, and avoid overreacting
with the brakes.
§If the paraglider collapses on one side
it can be kept ying straight, without
problem, by light opposing brake.

Active flying Expanded weight range
During ALPHA 6 development the interests
of budding acro pilots were considered:
The upper limit of the EN/LTF A classicati-
on for all sizes lies 15 kg above the recom-
mended weight range. When the ALPHA 6
is own at its upper weights the higher wing
loading produces a higher trim speed, re-
sulting in a more dynamic and agile ying
behaviour. The ALPHA 6 still keeps its EN/
LTF A rating at the higher wing loadings,
conrming its high level of passive safety.

Wet glider
There’s a risk of parachutal stall. Parachutal
stall is often the result of a combination of
factors. The water adds to the weight of the
glider. The additional weight causes a hig-
her angle of attack, putting the glider closer
to the stall. Then again, water drops on the
wing surface disturb the laminar airow ne-
ar the front of the wing, signicantly redu-
cing the maximum lift coecient available.
In order to guard against the risk of para-
chutal stall with a wet wing the glider
should braked as little as possible and big
ears should not be used under any
circumstances.
if the glider was still to go into parachutal
stall recovery should be achieved by use of
the accelerate system (speedbar) only.

Descent aids
For coming down quickly and eciently the
ADVANCE test team primarily recommend
that you use big ears, to get away from a
horizontal as well as a vertical problem.
The ALPHA 6 has split A-risers, which
make applying big ears easy. The outer,
narrower A-risers with a red covered line
are separated specially for this. To do this
manoeuvre pull both of these narrower, out-
er risers. This will fold the wingtips in, and
you can hold them there easily.
Sink rate can be further increased by using
the speedbar when the ears are folded.
To reopen release the risers; the ALPHA 6
wingtips then open themselves thanks to
the high internal wing pressure. Depending
on the situation the glider can be steered
using weight shift.
Another descending aid is the spiral dive.
When you are in the spiral keep your weight
neutral. The ALPHA 6 comes out of a spiral
by itself with a neutral sitting position. At

Descent aids
high sink rates of more than 14 m/s a steep
spiral can become stable if weight is ap-
plied to the inside of the turn. Outside
weight or outside brake are enough to re-
cover from a high sink rate spiral.
More manoeuvres are described in detail in
the manual on www.advance.ch

Packing and care
§Lay the ribs nose on nose when packing,
so that the plastic rods lie at on each
other and all at the same height.
§Fold the wing to the width of the inner
bag and pack it in.
§Lie the inner bag in the back of the ruck-
sack, then put the folded harness on top.
§Kneel gently on the material and wing to
compress them, then pull the rucksack
ap over them.
§Zip up the rucksack then pull in the side
straps.
Bad care shortens your ALPHA 6’s life. Do
not leave it in the sun more than necessary,
do not subject it to large changes of tem-
perature, and only store it in a dry place.

Service and Warranty
The ADVANCE warranty is valid for 3 years
to cover defects that are attributable to
manufacturing faults. Register your wing
after purchase. More details online on
www.advance.ch/warranty.
Your ALPHA 6 has to have a check every 24
months – or every 12 months if used a lot.
You can nd detailed information about the
worldwide ADVANCE Service Network on
www.advance.ch.
You can nd the up-to-date version of the
detailed ocial manual, more advice about
safety, and current information including
answers to frequently asked questions
(FAQs) on www.advance.ch.

ALPHA 6 22 24 26 28 31
m2 22.1 24 26 .1 28.5 31.9
4.8
kg 50-70 60-80 70-95 85-110 100-130
kg 70-85 80-95 9 5 -110 110 -12 5 13 0-145
kg 4.3 4.55 4.75 5.25 5.75
km/h 38 +/-1
km/h 48 +/-1
EN/LTF A
Technical Details
Flat surface area
Aspect ratio
Recommended take o weight **
Increased weight range **
Glider weight
Trim speed *
Max. speed *
Certication
*Values depend on wing loading, harness/pilot and glider size within the recommended take off weight ranges
** Pilot, wing, equipment
Service and Warranty

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uttigenstrasse 87
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