Gin Nano 4 User manual
Nano 4
User manual
v1.0 December 2017
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WARNING: Read this user manual before first flight!
Like any extreme sport, speedflying/paragliding involves unpredictable risks which
may lead to injury or death. By choosing to fly, you assume the sole responsibility
for those risks.
Because it is impossible to anticipate every situation or condition that can occur
while speedflying/paragliding, this manual makes no representation about the safe
use of the wing under all conditions. Neither Gin Gliders nor the seller of GIN
equipment can guarantee, or be held responsible for, the safety of yourself or
anyone else.
Many countries have specific regulations or laws regarding
speedflying/paragliding activity. It’s your responsibility to know and observe the
regulations of the region where you fly.
Gin Gliders reserves the right to alter or add to the contents of this manual at any
time. You should therefore regularly visit our website:
www.gingliders.com
where you will find additional information relating to your speedrider and any
changes to the manual. The date and version number of this manual are given on the
front page.
© Gin Gliders Inc
The information in this manual is provided for guidance only and is subject to change without notice. This manual is not intended as a
comprehensive assembly, use, service, repair or maintenance manual. Please see your dealer for all assembly, service, repairs or
maintenance. Your dealer may also be able to refer you to classes, clinics or articles on speedrider use, service, repair or
maintenance.
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Thank you...
..for choosing Gin Gliders. This user manual contains important information for the use and
maintenance of your speedriding glider. Detailed knowledge of your glider and equipment will
help you to fly safely and make the most of your flights.
Your GIN speed glider has been designed to meet the official standards for speedriding
gliders. These requirements also include the need to familiarise yourself with this user manual
and the information and instructions regarding safety, equipment and service prior to the
initial commissioning. These operating instructions must be fully read and understood before
the first flight.
Keep this manual for reference, and please pass it on to the new owner if you ever re-sell
your speedrider.
If you have any further questions about these operating instructions, please contact your
GIN dealer in the first instance, or Gin Gliders directly.
We wish you exciting flights and always a safe landing.
Your GIN team
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Contents
Gin Gliders 7
Manual 8
Gin Gliders website 8
Gin Gliders and the environment 9
Respect for nature and the environment 9
Environmentally-friendly recycling 9
Safety 10
Safety advice 10
Safety notices 10
Liability, warranty exclusion and operating limitations 11
Liability and warranty exclusion 11
Operating limitations 11
Glider categories and guidelines 12
EN/LTF certification 12
Description of flight characteristics 12
Target group and recommended flying experience 12
Description of pilot skills required 12
Suitability for training 12
Before the first flight 13
Harness 13
Reserve 13
Weight range 13
First flight 14
Flying the Nano 4 15
Preparation for launch 15
Material check 15
Pre-flight check 15
5-point check 16
General warnings and advice 16
Golden rules for speedriding gliders 16
Launching 17
Forward launch 17
Reverse launch 17
Tips for take-off 17
Knots or loops in the lines 18
In-flight characteristics 18
Normal flight 18
Accelerated flight 18
Turning 18
Rear-riser control 19
Active flying 19
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Rapid descent techniques 19
Spiral dives 20
B-Stall 20
Big ears 20
Landing 21
Range of use 21
Towing 21
Paramotoring 21
Tandem paragliding 22
Aerobatics 22
Dangerous situations and extreme flying 23
Dangerous situations 23
SIV / Safety training 23
Material stress 23
Canopy Collapses 23
Asymmetric collapses 23
Cravat / glider wrapped around lines 24
Symmetric collapses (Front stall) 25
Types of stall 25
Deep stall (parachuting, stable stall) 25
Full stall (dynamic stall) 26
Spin 26
Other tips for dangerous situations 26
Cascade 26
Emergency steering (rear riser steering) 26
Flying in the rain 26
Advertising and adhesives 27
Overloading 27
Sand and salt air 27
Temperature range 27
Storing, care, maintenance and repairs 28
Storing the speedriding glider 28
Packing the glider 28
Storing and transporting the glider 29
Care 29
Ground handling 30
Fabric 30
Lines 31
Rigid construction 31
Cleaning 31
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Maintenance 31
Type designation 31
Regular inspections 32
Lines 32
Inspection periods 32
Validity of inspection 33
Inspection by the pilot 33
Repairs 33
Gin Gliders workshops 33
Small repairs to the glider 34
GIN quality and service 34
Dimensions, illustrations, technical and EN/LTF data 35
Introducing the Nano 4 35
Delivery 35
Manufacturing 35
Overall illustration 36
Technical data 36
Riser and speed system 37
Riser 37
Riser diagram 37
Riser lengths 37
Speed System 38
Line system, brakes and line plan 38
Line system 38
Brake line adjustment 38
Factory setting 38
Incorrect adjustment 39
Line layout 40
Materials 41
Appendix 42
Glider details 42
Pilot details / Proof of ownership 42
Inspections and repairs overview 43
Notes 43
Addresses 44
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Gin Gliders
Dream
In forming Gin Gliders, designer and competition pilot Gin Seok Song had one simple dream:
to make the best possible paragliding equipment that pilots all over the world would love to
fly—whatever their ambitions.
At Gin Gliders, we bring together consultant aerodynamicists, world cup pilots, engineers
and paragliding school instructors, all with one goal: creating better paragliders.
Touch
We’re a “hands-on” company that puts continuous innovation and development at the centre
of everything we do.
At our purpose-built R&D workshop at head office in Korea, we are able to design,
manufacture, test-fly and modify prototypes all in a matter of hours. Our international R&D
team is on hand both in Korea and at locations worldwide. This guarantees that your
equipment has been thoroughly tested to cope with the toughest flying conditions.
Our own production facilities in East Asia ensure the quality of the finished product and also
the well-being of our production staff. Our facilities are independently certified to AS9100C
(Aerospace standard) and also to ISO 9001:2008.
Believe
We believe that the product should speak for itself. Only by flying can the pilot understand the
wing and develop trust and confidence in it. From this feeling comes safety, comfort,
performance and fun. The grin when you land should say it all!
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Manual
Preliminary note: In this manual “flying” is used for the both the terms “flying” and also
“riding”.
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with your new speedriding glider by reading this
manual before your first flight. This will allow you to acquaint yourself its new functions, to
learn the best way to fly the speedriding glider in various situations, and explain how to get
the best out of your speedriding glider. Information in this manual on design of the
speedriding glider, technical data and illustrations are subject to change. We reserve the right
to make changes without prior notification.
This manual complies with the EN 926-1 airworthiness standard and forms part of the
certification.
It is comprised of:
1. Manual (this document):
Instructions on getting started and using the speedriding glider
2. Inspection Information:
General instructions and guidance on carrying out the regular inspection of
speedriding glider
3. Glider details:
Pilot details , proof of ownership and inspections and repairs overview
This manual was current at the time of publication, and may also be downloaded from the
GIN website.
Gin Gliders website
Gin Gliders has a comprehensive website, which provides additional information about the
Nano 4, any updates to the manual and many other issues related to speedflying.
www.gingliders.com
On the Gin Gliders website, you will find an extensive range of accessories for your
speedriding glider and other useful products.
You will also find links there to other services and websites:
ƔGin Gliders Shops
ƔFacebook, Twitter & youtube
These websites and their content are provided for your use. The content of Gin Gliders
websites has been made available for your use on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Gin
Gliders reserves the right to alter the websites at any time or to block access to them.
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Gin Gliders and the environment
Protection of the environment, safety and quality are the three basic values of Gin Gliders and
these have implications on everything we do. We also believe that our customers share our
environmental awareness.
Respect for nature and the environment
You can easily play a part in protection of the environment by practising our sport in such a
way that there is no damage to nature and the areas in which we fly. Keep to marked trails,
take your rubbish away with you, refrain from making unnecessary noise and respect the
sensitive biological equilibrium of nature. Consideration for nature is required even at the
launch site!
Speedriding is, of course, an outdoor sport – protect and preserve our planet’s resources.
Environmentally-friendly recycling
Gin Gliders gives consideration to the entire lifecycle of its speedriding glider, the last stage of
which is recycling in an environmentally-friendly manner. The synthetic materials used in a
speedriding glider must be disposed of properly. If you are not able to arrange appropriate
disposal, Gin Gliders will be happy to recycle the speedriding glider for you. Send the glider
with a short note to this effect to the address given in the appendix.
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Safety
WARNING:the safety advice and instructions contained in this manual must be followed in
all circumstances. Failure to do so may invalidate the certification and/or result in loss of
insurance cover, and could lead to serious injuries or even death.
Safety advice
Paragliding demand a high level of individual responsibility. Prudence and risk-awareness are
basic requirements for the safe practice of the sport, for the very reason that it is so easy to
learn and practically anyone can do so. Carelessness and overestimating one’s own abilities
can quickly lead to critical situations. A reliable assessment of conditions for flying is
particularly important. Speedriding gliders are not designed to be flown in turbulent weather.
Most serious accidents with speedriding gliders are caused by pilots misjudging the weather
for flying.
Independent experimentation is strictly prohibited. This Manual does not replace the need
to attend training at a paragliding school. Most ski resorts have special regulations for
speedriding gliders. Please inform yourself if you are in a new area and stick to the local rules.
The manual must be passed on to any new owner if the speedriding glider is sold. It is part
of the certification and belongs with the speedriding glider.
Observe the other specific safety advice in the various sections of this manual.
Safety notices
Safety notices are issued when defects arise during use of a speedriding glider which could
possibly also affect other gliders of the same model. The notices contain instructions on how
the affected gliders can be inspected for possible faults and the steps required to rectify
them.
Gin Gliders publishes on its website any technical safety notices and airworthiness
instructions which are issued in respect of GIN products. The speedriding glider owner is
responsible for carrying out the action required by the safety notice.
Safety notices are issued by the certification agencies and also published on the relevant
websites. You should therefore visit on a regular basis the safety pages of the certification
agencies and keep up-to-date with new safety notices which cover any products relating to
speedflying.
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Liability, warranty exclusion and operating limitations
Use of the speedriding glider is at the pilot’s own risk!
The manufacturer cannot be held liable for any personal injury or material damage which
arises in connection with Gin Gliders speedriding gliders. The certification and warranty shall
be rendered invalid if there are changes of any kind (incl. speedriding glider design or
changes to the brake lines beyond the permissible tolerance levels) or incorrect repairs to the
glider, or if any inspections are missed (annual and 2-yearly check).
Pilots are responsible for their own safety and must ensure that the airworthiness of the
glider is checked prior to every flight. The pilot should launch only if the speedriding glider is
airworthy. In addition pilots must observe the relevant regulations in each country.
The glider may only be used if the pilot has a licence which is valid for the area or is flying
under the supervision of an approved flying instructor. There shall be no liability on the part of
third parties, in particular the manufacturer and the dealer.
Liability and warranty exclusion
In terms of the warranty and guarantee conditions, the speedriding glider may not be flown if
any of the following situations exists:
Ɣthe inspection period has expired, or the inspection has been carried out by the pilot
him/herself or by an unauthorised inspector
Ɣthe pilot has incorrect or inadequate equipment (reserve, protection, helmet etc)
Ɣthe pilot has insufficient experience or training
Operating limitations
The speedriding glider must be operated only within the operating limits. These are
exceeded, if one or more of the following points are complied:
Ɣthe take-off weight is not within the permissible weight range
Ɣthe glider is flown in rain or drizzle, cloud, fog and / or snow
Ɣthe canopy is wet
Ɣthere are turbulent weather conditions or wind speeds on launch higher than 2/3 ot
the maximum flyable airspeed of the glider (varies according to the total take-off
weight)
Ɣair temperature below -10°C and above 50°C
Ɣthe glider is used for aerobatics/extreme flying or flight manoeuvres at an angle
greater than 90°
Ɣthere have been modifications to the canopy, lines or risers which have not been
approved
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Glider categories and guidelines
The complexity of the speedriding glider system means that it is not possible to give any
more than a partial description of the glider’s flight behaviour and reactions to disturbances.
Even a small alteration in individual parameters can result in flight behaviour which is
markedly modified and different from the description given.
WARNING: The descriptions of flight characteristics contained in this Manual are all based
on experiences from the test flights and rides, which were carried out under standardised
conditions. No certification test flights were carried out with the Nano 4.
EN/LTF certification
The Nano 4 fulfils the EN 926-1 requirements and test methods for structural strength. It does
not have EN 926-2 or LTF certification!
Description of flight characteristics
Speedriding gliders are generally much smaller than normal paragliders. This is why their
flight characteristics vary a lot. The Nano 4 is usually flown with wing load higher than 5 kg/m2,
which results in high trim speed and dynamic reactions.
Target group and recommended flying experience
Speedflying is an extreme sport that involves a combination of paragliding and skiing skills.
There is high possibility of serious injury or even death if you are unprepared. In particular, the
small sizes of the Nano 4 require a lot of skill and experience. On the other hand, the larger
sizes are also suitable for training.
Description of pilot skills required
Designed for pilots that are familiar with speedriding gliders, who fly “actively” and regularly,
and understand the implications of flying a glider with reduced passive safety. This includes
beginners that are under the supervision of a licensed instructor.
Suitability for training
The Nano 4 is generally suitable for use as a training glider only when flown with a low wing
loading.
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Before the first flight
WARNING: Your instructor, dealer or a specialist must test-fly and inspect the speedriding
glider before your first flight. The test-flight must be recorded on the speedriding glider
information label. Any changes or improper repairs to this speedriding glider shall render
invalid the certification and warranty.
Harness
The Nano 4 should be flown with a speedflying/speedriding harness only. If in doubt about
the suitability of your harness, check with the manufacturer of the harness or your speedriding
instructor.
It’s important for your comfort and safety to fly with a suitable harness that is properly
adjusted. When choosing a harness, remember that the height of the attachment points (i.e.
distance from the carabiners to the seat plate) affects the sensitivity of the glider and the
relative brake travel. The lower (shorter) the attachment points, the more sensitive the glider is
to weightshift.
The adjustment of the harness chest strap controls the distance between carabiners and
affects the handling and stability of the glider. Excessive tightening of the chest strap
increases stability but also the risk of riser twists following glider collapses. It also increases
the likelihood of getting collapses due to poor feedback from the glider. The risk of twisting is
also strongly influenced by the seating position of the pilot. Flying in a laid back (reclined)
position makes it much more difficult to react in time to prevent riser twisting. With the chest
strap in a more closed position the glider also has more tendency to maintain a stable spiral.
With the chest strap in a more open position, feedback from the glider is increased but
stability is decreased. In general, the carabiner distance should not be set too narrow!
GIN speedriding gliders are developed with GIN harnesses, For flight comfort and safety it
is very important that you fly with a suitable, properly adjusted harness. In practice, it turns out
that few pilots have a harness that suits their flying style and speedriding glider. If you have
any questions or doubts regarding the use of your harness with the Nano 4, please contact a
GIN dealer or Gin Gliders directly.
NOTE: Don’t adjust your leg and shoulder straps too tightly. If you do, you may have
difficulty sitting back into your harness after take-off.
Reserve
It is a mandatory requirement to carry an approved reserve for use in emergency situations
where the speedriding glider fails and recovery is not possible, for example after colliding with
another sports aircraft. In choosing a reserve, you should be careful that you remain within the
specified take-off weight. The reserve is fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Weight range
The Nano 4 has no certified wight range and the appropriate size should be chosen
according to the pilot's skills. It is important to note that even if the speedriding glider is flown
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as a beginner in the weight range, the Nano 4 is still fast and has a dynamic behaviour.
Experts are considered very experienced pilots with a competition background.
SizeNano 4 #9.0
Nano 4 #10.5
Nano 4 #12.0
Nano 4 #13.0
Pilot niveauexpertadvanced
intermediate
beginner
WARNING: The higher the wing- loading at which you fly, the more dynamic and
demanding the reactions of the glider.
Note: Check your total flying weight by standing on weighing scales with all your
equipment packed into your rucksack.
First flight
Carry out your first flights only during stable weather, and in a familiar area or on a training
slope. You should steer gently and carefully to begin with so that you can become
accustomed to the reactions of the speedriding glider without stress.
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Flying the Nano 4
Preparation for launch
Follow a consistent routine every time you fly. This is very important for safety. We
recommend the following procedure:
Material check
Check the following condition of your speedriding and other flying equipment before every
flight:
ƔIs the glider fabric free from tears or other damage?
ƔAre the lines free from knots, tangles or other damage?
ƔAre the maillons connecting the lines and risers closed and secured?
ƔAre your carabiners in good condition?
ƔAre the risers in good condition?
ƔIs your harness in good condition?
ƔAre your trimmers in good condition?
ƔIs your rescue correctly installed?
ƔIs your rescue handle secure and rescue pin in?
Pre-flight check
A careful pre-flight check is required for any type of aircraft. Make sure that you exercise the
same level of care each time carry out the check.
ƔOnce you have arrived at the take-off, you should first take a look at the conditions:
observe wind speed and wind direction, airspace, turbulence and thermal cycles.
ƔCheck your speedriding glider, harness, rescue handle and pin, helmet and other
equipment.
ƔChoose a wide starting place, as uniform as possible and free from obstacles.
ƔPut on your harness and be sure to close the leg straps! Then put on your helmet.
ƔPlace the glider in a curved shape and sort the lines.
ƔConnect the riser to the harness carabiners. Make sure that the carabiners are closed
and that nothing is twisted.
ƔCheck the correct position and symmetry of the trimmers.
ƔCheck one last time that there are no knots in the lines, nothing is twisted and that
the lines are not caught in vegetation, rocks or are tangled with your boots or skis.
You must be particularly attentive in lighter winds.
WARNING: If there are obvious creases in the glider as a result of tight packing or long
term storage, carry out some practice inflations before your first launch and smooth out
the trailing edge a little. This ensures that the flow profile is correct during launch. This is
particularly important in low temperatures.
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5-point check
The 5-point check is carried out immediately before launch to check the most important
safety points once again. It should always be carried out in the same sequence so that
nothing is overlooked. The 5 points are:
1. Is your personal equipment in order (harness, carabiners, reserve, helmet) and are all
straps done up?
2. Is the canopy arranged in a half-moon shape and are all the air intakes open?
3. Are all the lines untangled and are any lines under the canopy?
4. Does the weather, in particular wind direction and strength, allow a safe flight?
5. Are the airspace and launch area clear?
General warnings and advice
Before flying, check the following:
ƔAre you in good physical and mental condition?
ƔAre you familiar and compliant with all applicable laws and regulations in your area?
ƔAre you within your intended weight range?
ƔDo you have the necessary insurance cover?
ƔAre you briefed thoroughly about the site, airspace and expected weather conditions
of the day?
ƔIs your equipment and choice of site suitable for your level of experience?
ƔDo you have a suitable helmet, gloves, boots, eyewear and adequate clothing?
ƔAre you carrying some form of identification, in case of an accident? Take along a
radio and mobile phone if possible.
ƔDo you fully understand how to safely fly your new wing? If not, have your instructor
or dealer explain anything you are not sure about.
Ɣthere have been modifications to the canopy, lines or risers which have not been
approved.
Golden rules for speedriding gliders
ƔAssess objective risks!
ƔWeather: Never ůy if there is a Föhn wind, storm or cold front
ƔAvalanche: Check the avalanche bulletin if available. Being prepared in steep
slopes means: having avalanche training and tools (Barifox, ABS-System and
snow shovel)
ƔCheck your equipment each flight
ƔFly only if you feel well. Don’t fly if you are sick, have physical problems or if you
drunk too much the night before
ƔPlan new routes carefully:
ƔCheck pictures
ƔFly over the new terrain with sufficient height
ƔAvoid dead ends
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ƔYour first run should always be a safety run: snow conditions might have changed
and there might be rocks visible, while they were covered with snow one day before
ƔUsually take-offs and landings on ski pistes are forbidden. Ski pistes and
infrastructure has to be overflown with sufficient clearance
ƔYou are going faster than you think! Don’t risk your life.
ƔTalk with your buddies. Tell them if they take too many risks or if the weather or
avalanche conditions are too dangerous
Launching
The Nano 4 has fast but progressive inflation characteristics with no tendency to hang back or
shoot forwards. However, since the Nano 4 is a small glider, the takeoff speed will be very
high. It is therefore not recommended to launch in backwind situations or when the take-off
area is not free of obstacles. We recommend to take-off only with skis. Take-off with a
snowboard is not recommended.
Forward launch
The Nano 4 can be launched without the A-risers. For your first launches, make sure that the
trimmers are in the neutral position. The Nano 4 will inflate easily—there is no need to
aggressively pull or push the risers at all. As the glider comes above your head, make sure
that the canopy is correctly inflated and that there are no knots or tangles in the lines. Check
that the airspace and visibility are clear. If everything is in order, move forward decisively off
the take-off.
Reverse launch
It is possible to reverse launch the Nano 4, however it is not recommended. Because of the
small size, a speedriding glider can be forward launched in relatively high winds. If the wind
gets very strong, we recommend to perform a “cobra launch”. In order to take-off safely with
skies: take the brakes and turn around to face the wing. Pass one set of risers over your head
as you turn. Make sure the lines are free from knots or tangles. Check that the airspace and
visibility are clear. Gently pull up the glider in an arc. When the glider is overhead, brake it
gently if necessary, turn around and launch.
Tips for take-off
ƔIf the glider comes up slightly off-centre, make small corrections by moving towards
the lower side.
ƔLaunch the wing by pulling upwards in an arc, not towards you.
ƔPractice ground-handling regularly to improve your take-off skills!
ƔThe pilot must work actively to keep the glider on the ground in higher winds (wind
speeds from approximately 6 m/s), otherwise the glider may rise above the pilot
unintentionally.
Note: During reverse launch and ground handling, care should be taken that the brake
lines do not rub over the riser. This may cause damage to the riser or brake lines.
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Knots or loops in the lines
If you have taken off with a knot in the lines, you should wait until you have enough height
and distance from other pilots before you attempt to loosen the knot. Control with weight shift
and gently brake the opposite side before attempting to open the knotted side by pulling on
the brake line. Make sure you don’t fly too slowly and stall or spin the glider. If the knot does
not open, land safely as soon as possible.
In-flight characteristics
Normal flight
The brake lines are used to adjust the speed according to the flight situation in order to
ensure optimum performance and safety.
“Trim speed” is defined with brakes fully released and trimmers in neutral position while
“Slow speed” (brakes pulled 30%, trimmers neutral) offers the best glide and minimum sink in
still air.
Stall speed is approached by bringing your hands towards your hips. Notice the decreased
wind noise and a significant increase in brake pressure. Be sure not to allow your glider to
enter a stall any time!
WARNING: Flying too slowly close to stall speed increases the risk of an unintentional
asymmetric or full stall. This speed range should therefore be avoided and used only on
landing during the final stage of the flare.
Accelerated flight
Once you have become accustomed to flying the Nano 4, you can practice using the trimmer
system, which increases the speed and sink rate a lot. During your first few flights, familiarize
yourself with your glider’s speed range and corresponding brake positions and pressures.
When flying accelerated the glider reacts much faster to a collapse. Also the glider reacts
more radically when a collapse happens during accelerated flight compared to flying at trim
speed.
Be sure to be in a stable flight position when you open the trimmers. Apply the trimmer by
opening the buckles and letting the trimmer webbing move progressively and symmetrically
through. Be careful using the trimmers in turbulence and near the ground.
Turning
Enter a turn with good airspeed, weightshift and then apply the brake. Once established in the
turn, regulate your speed and turn radius with weightshift and the outer brake.
Make your first turns gradual and progressive. Also remember that your harness and its
set-up has an influence of the turning behaviour of the wing.
If the brakes are applied more, the bank attitude increases significantly and the glider will fly
a fast turn increasing in steepness, which will eventually become a spiral dive (further
information on this is in the section “Spiral Dive”).
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Rear-riser control
As any other speedriding glider, the Nano 4 reacts very well on rear-riser input, especially
with open trimmers. For hook turns, we recommend to use the rear-riser.
WARNING: Rear-riser control should not be used in strong turbulence. In this case, close
the trimmers and fly the glide actively with the brakes.
Active flying
Practice active flying to eliminate collapses in all but the most turbulent conditions.
Keep tension on the brakes approximately equal to the weight of your arms. This allows you
to stay relaxed and sensitively feel the internal pressure in the wing through the brakes. If you
feel a loss of pressure in one or both sides of the wing, quickly apply the appropriate brake(s)
to regain pressure. Release the brake promptly as soon as normal pressure is resumed.
If you miss the above timing and get a collapse, be sure to first raise your hands and
release the brakes before considering any other corrective actions.
The Nano 4 has excellent pitch stability. Nonetheless, in turbulence or during manoeuvres,
the glider may pitch. If the glider pitches in front of you, apply brake to slow it down. If the
glider drops behind you, ease off the brakes to allow it to speed up. The objective is to
reduce the pendulum effect by adjusting the speed of your glider so that glider and pilot are
travelling at the same speed.
The same general principles also apply when gliding with open trimmers.
Summary: "Active flying"
ƔThe pilot sits upright in his harness, his view goes in the direction of the flight.
ƔHe constantly responds to increasing and decreasing brake pressures with the aim of
maintaining a constant pressure on the brake lines.
ƔThe further in front of you the glider pitches, the larger the brake input required, but
for a shorter duration.
ƔWhen brake pressures decrease, brake firmly; when brake pressures increase, ease
off the brakes.
WARNING: Never release the brakes when the glider is behind you but accelerating
forwards.
Rapid descent techniques
Some flying situations call for a very rapid descent to avoid a dangerous situation, e.g. the up
current from a cumulus cloud, an approaching cold front or a storm front.
Rapid descent methods should all be practised in calm conditions and at sufficient altitude
so that a pilot is then able to employ them effectively if extreme conditions arise. Rapid
descent techniques are divided into three different manoeuvres which increase the sink rate
in a safe and controllable manner. For the Nano 4 we recommend only spiral dives as Big ears
and B-stall are not appropriate for speedriding gliders.
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Nano 4 user manual
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Always try to avoid the need to use descent techniques. Thoroughly check the conditions
before launch, and pay close attention to how the day develops.
Spiral dives
The spiral dive is the most effective method for making a rapid descent, and can allow sink
rates over 30 m/s. Spiral dives attain higher rates of descent, but the g-forces can be
significant and the manoeuvre is technically demanding.
Before entering a spiral, make sure you have adequate height for recovery. To enter the
spiral dive, weight shift and progressively apply the inside brake until the glider enters the
spiral. As the glider accelerates into the spiral, centre your weight and control your rate of
descent with weightshift and outer brake.
To exit the spiral, check your weight is centred (or slightly towards the outside) and
progressively release the inside brake. As the glider starts to exit the spiral, you may also
choose to reduce the pendulum moment by briefly re-applying the inside brake. Be aware
that the skis on your feet add momentum to your body and that there is a higher risk for twists
in abrupt turns.
Deviations from the carabiner distance, unapproved harnesses or spirals with excessive sink
can change the maneuver considerably; pilot action may be required. In such cases, exit the
spiral by weightshifting to the outside and progressively applying the outside brake.
WARNING: In the spiral dive, very high turn speeds can be reached with an increase in
acceleration due to gravity (up to over 6g), so exercise care when attempting this
manoeuvre. Take note of the following:
ƔThe high g-forces experienced in steep or prolonged spirals may result in
disorientation or even loss of consciousness.
ƔAlways maintain ground clearance of 150 – 200m. The manoeuvre must be exited
at this height above ground.
ƔDo not attempt to enter a spiral dive while in big ears. This places excessive forces
on the speedrider and may result in structural failure.
ƔFrequent steep spirals may cause premature aging of your wing.
ƔDue the small size of the Nano 4, height loss in spirals is significant.
WARNING: You must immediately deploy your reserve if you lose control of the glider and
the sink rate and find yourself in a stable spiral. The high g-forces in the spiral may rapidly
lead to a loss of consciousness which prevent later deployment of your reserve.
B-Stall
Big ears are not recommended with the Nano 4.
Big ears
B-Stall is not recommended with the Nano 4.
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