Advance acoustic EPSILON 8 Series User manual

Edition 1 / 02_2016
User manual

Contents
Thank you for flying ADVANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
About ADVANCE .......................................4
The EPSILON 8 ........................................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 with SPI .........................11
Setting up the speed system .....................12
Suitable harnesses.............................13
Weight range .................................14
Flight characteristics ................................... 16
Takeoff ......................................16
Normal flight..................................18
Turning flight..................................18
Accelerated flight ..............................19
Collapses ....................................20
Rapid descents ...............................21
Stalling ......................................23
Landing .....................................24
Flying with a wet paraglider (risk of deep stall) ........26
Winching ....................................26
Paramotoring .................................27
Acrobatics ...................................27
Maintenance, repairs and care............................29
Packing .....................................29
Care and maintenance ..........................29
Check.......................................30
Repairs......................................30
Disposal .....................................31
Technical details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Materials used ................................33
Certification ..................................34
ADVANCE Service Centres ..................36
The ADVANCE website .........................36
Warranty.....................................36
Wing parts ...........................................38
Line plan ............................................39
Risers...............................................40
Bowline ............................................. 41
2

Congratulations on your choice of an EPSILON 8 - 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 EPSILON 8 online on www.advance.ch/warranty; you
will then receive product updates or safety-related bulletins about the
EPSILON 8 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 EPSILON 8, and always
«happy landings».
Team ADVANCE
Thank you for flying ADVANCE
3

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
4

5

True Friendship
Perfectly balanced with unmistakeable looks. The new EPSILON 8
conveys a distinctive feel-good factor and glows with an ideal mix of
precision, performance and safety. Unique quality and an innovative in-
ner life transform this ADVANCE classic into a robust lightweight. Enjoy
the spellbinding experience of flying the EPSILON 8 – true friendship
awaits.
Outstanding features
Relax and enjoy the thermals
The EPSILON 8 demonstrates a very successful combination of pitch
and turn behaviour. Steering demands are answered directly and pre-
cisely. The EPSILON 8’s compact and stable canopy invites plenty of
confidence from the beginning. Even in challenging conditions pilots
feel calm and content, able to enjoy the thermals in a relaxed frame of
mind.
Long life thanks to a unique high quality light structure
Not just very light, but downright robust as well: the EPSILON 8 gets
attention with its unique choice of materials. Upper and lower surfaces
are made of the normal strong European Porcher cloth. Inside the wing
the latest technology from the OMEGA XALPS comes into play. Thus
the EPSILON 8 weighs almost as little as a light wing, and even so has
a long lifespan.
Modern technology delivers great performance
Many performance-enhancing new technologies are featured in the
EPSILON 8. It was designed as a three-liner but has only one gallery
level. This skimps on line metres and reduces drag. Precisely compu-
ted double-3D-shaping provides a super-smooth surface in the critical
nose area, and supports the correct shape of the real-life profile.
The EPSILON 8
6

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 EPSILON 8 has split A-risers for trouble-free big ears. Before take-
off the divided A-risers are held together by magnets. This simplifies
takeoff handling, and during takeoff they separate themselves for nor-
mal 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 EPSILON 8 has another
15 kg added on, but at these weights the wing remains in the EN/LTF B
category. This significantly widens the glider’s area of use.
ADVANCE Standards
Distinctive winglets have been reducing induced drag (vortex-ef-
fect) on ADVANCE wings for 25 years. Like all ADVANCE models the
EPSILON 8 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 ceramic rings.
7

Right from the start the EPSILON 8 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, en-
couraged by the knowledge that you can always trust the EPSILON 8
completely. The EPSILON 8 is perfect for schools, but it also provides
improving pilots with continued flying enjoyment, with maximum pas-
sive 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 EPSILON 8 comes with an COMFORTPACK rucksack, an inner
bag, a compression strap, a repair kit, carbon speed bar with lines, a
mini windsock in the canopy colours 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
The brake handle positions have been set at the factory to allow free
brake line travel of approximately 8 cm between the brakes free posi-
tion and the point where brake application first affects the wing trail-
ing edge in unaccelerated flight. This free run makes sure, among oth-
er things, that the trailing edge remains unbraked with brakes released,
both at takeoff and during accelerated flight, thus implying that the
brake line length should not be altered.
We recommend the bowline knot for fastening the brake handles. See
illustration at the end of the manual.
10

Speed system with SPI
The EPSILON 8 has a speed system with a Speed-Performance-
Indicator (SPI), which reads off against 3 positions on the backs of the
risers. The red markers on the speed system enable a precise speed
bar position to be set to suit the in-flight situation. Best gliding to the
next thermal needs an on-going choice of speed to fly, depending on
the current values of headwind, expected next climb rate , and the ra-
te of sink.
Each of the EPSILON 8 SPI positions has an icon with a value for
headwind, expected climb and sink rate. These indicated positions are
effective for only one of their three values, taken in isolation – conside-
red by itself. This means that either the headwind, or the expected ra-
te of climb, or the sink rate applies to that position. The SPI principle is
based on the simple (using headwind and sink) and the extended (in-
cluding expected climb rate) McReady Speed-To-Fly theory.
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McReady Speed-To-Fly positions
§With no headwind (or with a tailwind), little or no expected thermal,
and the glider’s normal sink rate (ca.1.2 m/s vario) you should fly wi-
thout speed bar application (0%).
§With a headwind of 10 km/h, or an expected next climb (vario) of 0.4
(+/- 0.1) m/s, or a sink rate (vario) of 1.4 (+/- 0.1) m/s set the 30% po-
sition. If two or more of these values apply at the same time you can
already use the 80% position.
§With a headwind of 20 km/h or an expected climb rate (vario) of 1.2
(+/- 0.1) m/s or a vario sink rate of 2.3 (+/- 0.1) m/s choose the 80%
position.
Caution: Even though the EPSILON 8 has a high degree of sta-
bility in accelerated flight you should only use as much speedbar
as you feel comfortable with.
Info: Although flying into a headwind (15-20 km/h) gives you the
feeling that your gliding performance is being badly affected,
bear in mind that strong sink (more than 2m/s) has a relatively
stronger adverse affect.
Setting up the speed system
The EPSILON 8 speed system can, with the help of the SPI, be adjus-
ted so that the whole speed system travel can be used. The system is
correctly set when pushing the first speed step gives you the 30% po-
sition, and pushing the second achieves 80% accelerate. Both toes ful-
ly extended should then reach 100% (pulleys touching).
The EPSILON 8 speed system is arranged so that the profile shape of
the wing is fully retained over the angle-of-attack range of the speed
system. This maintains the beneficial qualities of the profile at high
speeds.
Caution: The speed system is correctly adjusted when you can
use the full travel available on the risers. Make certain that the
speed lines are not set too short, thus causing the wing to be
pre-accelerated all the time.
12

Suitable harnesses
The ADVANCE EPSILON 8 is certified for harnesses in Group GH
(without rigid cross-bracing - see section «Certification»). The suspen-
sion points of the chosen harness should ideally have a carabiner dis-
tance of approximately 45 cm (equivalent to your shoulder width) and a
height of 40 to 48 cm.
The EPSILON 8 is neither suitable nor certified for use with har-
nesses in group GX (with effective cross-bracing). The use of such
harnesses can have a bad effect on both handling and extreme flight
characteristics.
Info: Experience has proved the theory – a streamlined harness
can significantly improve gliding performance.
13

Weight range
The weight ranges of the different wing sizes are given in the section
«Technical Data». The figures there represent total in-flight weights. This
includes the pilot’s body weight, plus clothes, as well as the weight of
all the equipment (glider, reserve, harness, instruments etc.).
Flying at the lower or upper weight limits can have an effect on the
paraglider’s flying characteristics and handling, without affecting the
pilot’s safety. Glide performance remains the same over the whole
weight range, but climbing performance will be altered – lighter means
better climbing in easy conditions.
When the EPSILON 8 is flown in its upper weight area, the higher wing
loading produces a higher trim speed, and a more dynamic and agile
flying character.
Info: The EPSILON 8 has a weight range that has been extend-
ed above the recommended region, but still keeps its EN/LTF B
certification; the upper limit of the EN/LTF B classification lies
around 10 kg above the standard weight range for the sizes 23
and 25 and 15 kg above the standard weight range for the sizes
27 and 29. When the EPSILON 8 is flown in its upper weight
region, the higher wingloading produces a higher trim speed,
and a more dynamic and agile flying character. The fact that the
EPSILON 8 keeps its EN/LTF B rating at the higher wing loadings
confirms its high degree of passive safety
14

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140
6050 kg
EPSILON823 // 55 – 75 kg +10 kg
+15 kg
+15 kg
+10 kg
EPSILON825 // 70 – 90 kg
EPSILON827 // 80 – 105 kg
EPSILON829 // 95 – 125 kg
Empfohlenes Startgewicht
Recommended takeoff weight
Plage de poids conseillée total volant
Erweiterter Gewichtsbereich
Increased takeoff weight
Plage de poids étendue
15

Flight characteristics
We recommend that you make your first flights with your new glider in
quiet conditions, in a familiar flying area. A few pull-ups at an easy site
will give you confidence in the EPSILON 8’s handling qualities, from the
very beginning.
Takeoff
Connecting the Risers
The EPSILON 8 has an “Easy Connect System“ on the risers, to sim-
plify connecting the risers. Each riser has coloured sewing running up
the back of the C-riser, red for left and blue for right, in the direction of
flight.
The coloured sewing facing the pilot, and the riser running cleanly
upward to the lines confirm that the riser has not been connected 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).
The “Easy Connect System“ also enables you to clip in while facing the
wing, This can be helpful for a reverse takeoff in windy weather.
Takeoff preparation
Before every takeoff carry out the following pre-takeoff checks:
1. Harness and helmet done up, reserve OK?
2. Lines free?
3. Canopy open?
4. Wind direction and strength assessed?
5. Airspace and field-of-view clear?
The EPSILON 8 has split A-risers; the thin outer one is used for big
ears. We recommend the use of both A-risers for takeoff (each side
will be clipped together by its “Quick Snap“ magnet). The wing will
then fill reliably from the middle out, and will pull up straight with little
effort. During takeoff the “Quick Snap“ magnets will snap apart by
themselves.
Tip: To get the wing in the right shape for takeoff do the follow-
ing: pull the brake lines in while you are sorting the lines until the
canopy arrives at the perfect banana shape
The EPSILON 8 takeoff behaviour is very smooth and easy for both
forward and reverse takeoffs. The canopy inflates quickly and rises
progressively, without hanging back.
16

The EPSILON 8 rises exceptionally easily, so it is very important that
you match your pull up technique to the weather conditions and the
steepness of the slope. This means:
§In a lot of wind and/or on steep ground the EPSILON 8 needs little or
almost no initial tug (just lead it up).
§In zero wind and/or on flat ground a more reasonable impulse would
be sensible.
Takeoff in light wind (forward takeoff)
The EPSILON 8 only needs a moderate pull-up impulse even in a light
wind. It is not necessary to step back and ‘run into the lines’. Guide
the glider up with pronounced leaning forward, but without too much
of a pull on the A-risers, until the canopy is overhead. During the pull-
up phase any directional correcting should only be done by decisive
going-under-the-wing, without using the brakes. After any necessary
corrections and a satisfactory visual check a few determined steps
with good leaning forward will achieve lift off, even in little wind. Careful
braking can shorten the takeoff run.
Takeoff in stronger wind (reverse takeoff)
The reverse takeoff is mainly recommended for stronger winds. Like
the forward takeoff we recommend that you use both EPSILON 8
risers. During the pull-up you should walk towards the EPSILON 8 as
necessary to control its rising rate. Turning round and taking off with
the EPSILON 8 will then prove to be easy.
Tip: Playing with the glider on flat ground in some wind gives a
good feeling for the wing. You can get to know the EPSILON 8’s
characteristics very well, and try out takeoffs, stalling, shooting
forward tendency and collapses – while remaining safely on
the ground. The ADVANCE test team have a motto: one hour’s
ground training is worth 10 high flights. But bear in mind that
ground practice puts use on the glider.
17

Normal flight
In calm air the EPSILON 8 best glide is achieved with fully released
brakes. Light braking brings the glider to its minimum sink condition.
When flying into a headwind, through descending air, or when procee-
ding to the next thermal, glide performance will be distinctly improved
by appropriate use of the speed system. See also section “Speed sys-
tem with SPI“.
Despite the wing’s high stability an active flying style is recommended-
collapses can be almost completely avoided. This means keeping the
lightly-braked glider directly above you; in other words, countering roll
and pitch disturbances.
§When the angle of attack increases (e.g. wing swings back when
entering a thermal) the brake lines should be briefly released fully,
until the glider returns to its overhead position.
§When the angle of attack reduces (e.g. glider shoots forwards) the
wing should briefly and strongly braked.
Be careful not to get below minimum speed, and don’t overreact with
the brakes.
Turning flight
The EPSILON 8 has precise response to brake application. It reacts
directly and progressively to increasing steering demands, once the
brake line free travel has been taken up. Steering can be effectively
assisted by active weight shift. Angle of bank can always be increased,
steadied or reduced by appropriate adjustment of brake position.
When circling in a thermal choose the desired angle of bank and corre-
sponding turn radius by using the inside brake line, and let the paragli-
der turn steadily like this. Stabilise the outside wing with outside brake
as required, in particular to keep the rate of turn constant. Too much
brake on the outside wing will slow the turn rate and airspeed down,
allow the pilot to swing back under the wing, and lose the glider’s abi-
lity to turn.
A harness that is matched to the EPSILON 8 flying qualities helps
you enter and settle on a very steady turn. See also section «Suitable
harnesses».
Caution: To keep good manoeuvrability make sure to fly your
EPSILON 8 with enough airspeed while turning in thermals - not
too much outside brake.
18

Tip: If a brake line were to break you can steer your EPSILON 8
with the rear C-risers if necessary.
Accelerated flight
The EPSILON 8 canopy remains very stable even when accelerated. At
their upper speed range however, paragliders fly at a lower angle of at-
tack, and are generally considered to be less structurally stable at high
speed. Because of the higher forces and energy, collapses at high
speed are more dynamic. See also section “Collapses”.
When encountering strong turbulence while accelerated you should
first release the speedbar completely before applying the brake neces-
sary to stabilise the wing. The high stability of the EPSILON 8 does al-
low you to fly through turbulence while accelerated. When doing this,
active speed system should be used, adjusting angle of attack and
controlling pitch attitude by using speedbar instead of brakes. Pitch
disturbances can then be reduced to a minimum, and better gliding
performance attained.
§When the angle of attack increases (e.g. wing goes back meeting a
thermal ) the speedbar should be briefly but strongly pushed.
§If the angle of attack reduces (e.g. wing shoots forward) the speed-
bar should be released.
Caution: Even though the EPSILON 8 is stable in accelerated
flight you should only use as much speedbar as you feel happy
with.
Tip: Take care not to use speedbar and brake at the same time,
otherwise you will get into the worst possible gliding situation, to
no advantage.
Tip: For best gliding always choose a speed that takes into ac-
count actual headwind, sink rate and expected quality of next
climb. See also section “Speed system with SPI“.
19

Collapses
Asymmetric collapse of the wing
The EPSILON 8 has a very stiff and stable canopy. With an active flying
technique collapses can be almost completely prevented in normal
flying conditions.
If the glider does, however, suffer a side collapse at trim speed, it will
respond to a collapse of more than 50% of the whole wing with moder-
ate turning, allowing heading to be easily held with light counter-steer-
ing. Normally, the wing will reopen without pilot action.
Due to higher aerodynamic forces during accelerated flight the glider
will respond to a side collapse with more energy. But the turning ten-
dency in fully accelerated flight is unspectacular and slow.
If a collapse is slow to reopen, a deep, fast but brief pull on the fold-
ed side brake will help. Here it is important to completely release the
brake again to let the glider keep its flying speed. Be careful with the
brake on the open side, and only apply enough to keep straight – so
as not to stall the wing. This side is providing the lift necessary to keep
the glider flying under control.
Poorly flown wingovers can cause a wingtip to fold inwards from the
side, causing it to catch in the lines and create a cravat. Due to the
high drag they produce cravats can lead to strong turning (spiralling).
Prevent this from developing by using just enough (but no more)
outside brake. Then open the cravated wingtip by pulling the orange
stabilo line. Clearing a cravat can be also done more quickly by ‘pump-
ing’. Apply 75% of brake on the affected side within a maximum of two
seconds, then release immediately.
Symmetrical collapse (frontstall)
Following a symmetrical collapse, whether spontaneous or deliberately
provoked by using the A-risers (all three blue lines on each side), nor-
mal airflow will break away from the profile and the paraglider will pitch
back. The pilot swings back under the wing after a short delay. Wait,
without applying brake, until the wing is again overhead and resumes
forward flight. After a big collapse this reopening can take a little time.
Reopening should not be forced by overreaction with the brakes; this
will raise the risk of fullstall.
Caution: After a very impulsively provoked front collapse in
accelerated flight (e.g. during SIV training) it is possible that the
front of the canopy will not open completely by itself. In this case
reopening should be helped with a brief brake input, in which
20