Advance acoustic ALPHA 6 User manual

Edition 1 / 6_2015
User Manual

About ADVANCE .......................................4
The ALPHA 6 ..........................................6
ALPHA 6 – come fly with me ......................6
Outstanding features ............................6
All the details ..................................7
Piloting Requirements ...................................8
General advice about paragliding ..................8
Using the paraglider....................................10
Delivery .....................................10
Basic settings ................................10
Adjusting the brake lines ........................10
Speed system ................................11
Suitable harnesses.............................11
Weight range .................................12
Flight characteristics ................................... 14
Connecting the Risers ..........................14
Takeof f ......................................14
Normal flight..................................16
Turning flight..................................16
Accelerated flight ..............................17
Collapses ....................................18
Rapid descents ...............................19
Stalling ......................................22
Deep Stall ...................................23
Landing .....................................23
Flying with a wet paraglider (risk of deep stall) ........24
Winching ....................................24
Paramotoring .................................25
Acrobatics ...................................25
Maintenance, repairs and care ........................... 27
Packing .....................................27
Care and maintenance..........................27
Taking Care ..................................28
Check ......................................28
Repairs......................................28
Disposal .....................................29
Technical details.......................................30
Materials used ................................31
Certification ..................................32
Service .............................................34
ADVANCE Service Centres ..................34
The ADVANCE website .........................34
Warranty ....................................34
Wing parts ...........................................36
Line plan ............................................ 37
Risers ..............................................38
Boline Knot ..........................................39
Contents
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Congratulations on your choice of an ALPHA 6 - 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 glider. Here you will find
instructions and important information about safety, care and main-
tenance, and that’s why we recommend that you read this document
carefully before your first flight
Register your ALPHA 6 online on www.advance.ch/warranty; you
will then receive product updates or safety-related bulletins about
the ALPHA 6 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 ALPHA 6, and always
«happy landings».
Team ADVANCE
Thank you for flying ADVANCE
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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 working
practices at the ADVANCE factory in Vietnam ensure a high standard
of workmanship. Long term relationships with fabric and line manufac-
turers means that ADVANCE knowledge and expertise also finds its
way directly into the development of new materials.
ADVANCE attaches great importance to after-sales customer support,
and has built up a worldwide service network for this purpose. An
on-going interaction with its customers brings in a steady flow of new
knowledge that finds its way into ADVANCE products, thus completing
the «Circle of Service».
About ADVANCE
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5

ALPHA 6 – come fly with me
The ALPHA 6 is the perfect paraglider for first flights, building experi-
ence or occasional flying. As a beginner you can trust this wing 100%.
The ALPHA model is the well-tried classic for first flights, and after
basic training, offers many possibiities of exploring further afield. This
6th generation of the ALPHA series is modern in concept, founded on
many years’ experience, and promises reliability and durability.
Outstanding features
Easy takeoff
A revised ALPHA 6 line concept leaves the wing with visibly fewer
suspension points and fewer lines - easy to sort and easy to see.
After a simple takeoff your ALPHA 6 is in the air. The ALPHA 6 is also
light – thanks to carefully designed internal structure and high quality
materials.
Great in the air
Modern „Advanced Air Inlet Technology“ brings flying safety and wing
stability. The typical ADVANCE combination of semi-circular intakes
with an „Air Scoop Technology“ provides higher pressure in the wing
at high angles of attack. This results in progressive brake loading and
minimises any tendency to spin when turning. This means more pas-
sive safety.
Lasting fun
Modern design ensures that the fun continues long after your training
with your ALPHA 6. Double 3D shaping around the leading edge cre-
ates a smooth upper wing surface, giving you better performance. The
spartan line concept with its sophisticated diagonal ribs inside further
raises gliding performance - noticeably high for the A classification.
The ALPHA 6
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All the details
«Easy Connect System»
The risers have a new «Easy Connect System» which makes it simple
and quick to connect them to the harness. Concept and colour mini-
mize the risk of clipping in with risers twisted or on the wrong side.
«Quick Snap»
The ALPHA 6 has split A-risers for trouble-free big ears. Before takeoff
the divided A-risers are held together by magnets. This simplifies take-
off handling, and during takeoff they separate themselves for normal
flight.
«Smart Sail System»
The «Smart Sail System» aligns the weave of the fabric around the air
intakes with the local tension vector. Specially impregnated robust
cloth at this highly loaded place extends the glider’s life.
Extended weight range
On top of its recommended weight range the ALPHA 6 has another 15
kg added on, but at these weights the wing remains in the EN/LTF A
category. This significantly widens the glider’s area of use.
ADVANCE Standards
Distinctive winglets have been reducing induced drag (vortex-effect)
on ADVANCE wings for 25 years. Like all ADVANCE models the ALPHA
6 has swivels on the brake lines and comes with different sized brake
handles, to suit the glider size. At the risers the brake lines run through
brake rings.
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Right from the start the ALPHA 6 gives the beginner or leisure pilot the
safety they need when they lift off into the third dimension. A sense of
achievement is guaranteed from the beginner’s first flights, encouraged
by the knowledge that you can always trust the ALPHA 6 completely.
The ALPHA 6 is perfect for schools, but it also provides improving
pilots with continued flying enjoyment, with maximum passive safety,
long after they have finished their training.
General advice about paragliding
Flying a paraglider calls for appropriate training and a sound knowl-
edge of the subject, as well as, of course, the necessary insurance
cover and licence. A pilot must be able to correctly assess the weather
conditions before taking off. His or her capabilities must be adequate
for the actual paraglider.
Wearing an adequate helmet, suitable boots and clothing, and carrying
an emergency parachute (a ‘reserve’) are essential. Before every flight
all items of equipment should be checked for damage and airworthi-
ness. A proper pre-takeoff check must also be carried out.
Every pilot bears sole responsibility for all risks, including injury or
death, when participating in the sport of paragliding. Neither the manu-
facturer nor the seller of a paraglider can guarantee or be held respon-
sible for the pilot’s safety.
Piloting Requirements
8

9

Using the paraglider
Delivery
Before delivery every ADVANCE paraglider has to be flown by the deal-
er and checked for correct settings and trim. When this has been done
the dealer enters the date of the first flight on the label attached to a
centre rib. This entry, together with a completed warranty card, will
ensure that defects in the product attributable to manufacturing faults
are covered by the ADVANCE warranty. See ‘Warranty’ in the section
«Service».
Within 10 days of purchasing your glider we ask you to fill in the regis-
tration form on the internet, to be found under “Warranty”.
The ALPHA 6 comes with an COMFORTPACK rucksack, an inner bag,
a compression strap, a repair kit, a mini windsock in the canopy col-
ours and a ‘Getting Started’ booklet.
Basic settings
The length of the brake lines is set at the factory so that the trailing
edge is not braked (is crease-free) when brakes are fully released
in fully accelerated flight. This setting should be kept as a matter of
principle.
Adjusting the brake lines
If the length of the brake lines has to be readjusted there must be 8cm
of slack (free travel) between the brakes free position and the first influ-
ence of brake effect in unaccelerated flight (brake starts to take effect).
We recommend that the brake handles are secured with a bowline
knot. See the illustration at the end of this manual.
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