Gradient Avax XC5 User manual

[en] - User manual, [de] - Betriebshandbuch, [fr] - Manuel d’ulisaon, [cz] - Uživatelská příručka
Avax

[en]
Gradient s.r.o., Plzenska 221/130, 150 00 Praha 5, tel+fax [phone], www.gradient.cx, [e-mail].
Avax User manual
Contents:
1. Introducon......................................................0
2. Your paraglider................................................1
2.1. Technical descripon....................................1
2.2. Technical data..............................................2
2.3. Materials.......................................................2
3. Cercaon.....................................................3
4. Adjusng your glider......................................3
4.1. Brake-line lengths.........................................3
4.2. Speed system................................................4
5. Operaon in ight.........................................4
5.1. Standard ight regime.................................4
5.1.1. Pre-ight inspecon...................................4
5.1.2. Launching...................................................4
5.1.3. Flight...........................................................4
5.1.4. Landing.......................................................5
5.2. Fast descent.................................................5
5.2.1. Big ears.......................................................5
5.2.2. B-line stall..................................................5
5.2.3. Spiral dive..................................................6
5.3. Siv manoeuvres...........................................6
5.3.1. Asymmetric collapse................................6
5.3.2. Full-frontal collapse..................................6
5.3.3. Deep stall...................................................7
5.3.4. Full stall.....................................................7
5.3.5 Negave spin...........................................7
6. Maintaining your glider..................................8
7. Repairing your glider....................................9
8. Enjoy your ying..........................................10
9. Line Map........................................................11
Please read this manual carefully and keep its instrucons in mind while using your Avax
XC5 paraglider
1. Introducon
Congratulaons on buying a new Avax XC5 – GRADIENT’s latest high-performance wing in
the EN-D category. We believe you will be very happy with your new glider in terms of its
ight characteriscs, exceponal performance and really nice handling.
The Avax XC5 is a high-performance XC wing compeon glider and therefore it’s meant
only for very experienced pilots.

1.
This manual provides informaon which will help you y safely and keep your wing in good
condion. If, aer reading this booklet, you have any further quesons or uncertaines,
please do not hesitate to contact Gradient or any authorised Gradient dealer and we will
gladly answer all your quesons.
We would be pleased to receive your feedback when you get to know your Avax XC5.
2.1. Technical descripon
The Avax XC5’s ground plan has a very slender, ellipcal shape with a slight posive contoron
of the leading edge. This means that the “ears” (stabilo) of the canopy are slightly swept back
in ight. This modern design has a number of advantages.
The prole of the glider has been specially developed to deliver maximum stability over as
wide a speed range as possible. The posion and size of the cell openings help support this
objecve.
The leading edge is reinforced using integrated nylon and elasc. This ensures opmal
inaon of the canopy and helps to retain the leading edge’s perfectly clean shape at
maximum speed.
Aachment points between the lines and the canopy are reinforced by elasc nylon strings,
opmising the distribuon of forces across the glider.
The glider features a unit cell structure with two non-carrying ribs and double diagonal
segmented ribs (DD system) that aach directly to the upper surface. This opmises the
denion of the top surface curve without losing stability in ight.
The arrangement of the speed system and the layout of the line aachment points improve
stability at maximum speed – an essenal feature of modern high-performance paragliders.
The well-proven three-row line concept is used. Main and mid-level lines are unsheeted
Edelrid Aramid. Top level lines are unsheeted Liros Dyneema. Every line have UV protecon.
All lines have the advantage of splice loops to give maximum overall strength, durability and
the lowest possible drag.
The Avax XC5 is supplied with a special three-riser speed-system which gives great
acceleraon and maximum speed.
The main C-lines are connected to the karabiners with loops, allowing easier adjustment
when your glider is serviced by authorised Gradient service centre.
Length of the Avax XC5 risers (mm):
Size 24 A B C1 C2
Non-accelerated 480 480 480 480
Accelerated 322 365 420 480
Size 26 A B C1 C2
Non-accelerated 490 490 490 490
Accelerated 328 375 440 490
Size 28 A B C1 C2
Non-accelerated 500 500 500 500
Accelerated 335 385 460 500
Gradient has paid aenon to details too, including new low-drag
micro aachment points on the wing ps, special karabiners, new
rucksack, inner bag and riser bag.

Gradient s.r.o., Plzenska 221/130, 150 00 Praha 5, tel+fax [phone], www.gradient.cx, [e-mail].
2.2. Technical data
Avax XC5 24 26 28
Flat Area [m2] 21,4 23,5 25,7
Projected area [m2] 18,18 19,96 21,83
Span [m] 12,2 12,79 13,38
Projected span [m] 9,69 10,16 10,62
Aspect rao 6,96 6,96 6,96
Projected aspect rao 5,17 5,17 5,17
Max. chord [m] 2,14 2,25 2,35
Min. chord [m] 0,44 0,46 0,48
Number of cells 66 66 66
Line consumpon [m] 255 268 282
Weight of the glider [kg] 3,4*/3,7 4,2 4,6
Take-o weight range [kg] 70-85 82-97 95-118
Opmal take-o weight [kg] 72-82 85-95 105-115
Cercaon EN EN/LTF - D EN/LTF - D EN/LTF - D
* X-Alps version
Take-o weight is the weight of the pilot including equipment and paraglider (approx 22-27 kg)
2.3. Materials
Canopy
Upper sail-leading edge Porcher Marine 70000/70032 Skytex
Upper sail-rear part Porcher Marine 70000/70032 Skytex
Boom sail Porcher Marine 70000 Skytex
Ribs Porcher Marine 70000 Skytex
Reinforcements Scrimm F02 420
Reinforcements Dacron F06 391
Reinforcements Hahl Nylon 6, 2/1200
Aachment points 137 128 134AJK000000
Thread Synton 40
Suspension lines
Lines-top level Liros DC 040 Ø 0.5 mm
Lines-middle level Liros DC 040 Ø 0.5 mm
Lines-middle level Liros DC 060 Ø 0.6 mm
Lines-middle level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-070 Ø 0,70 mm
Lines-middle level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-120 Ø 0,90 mm
Lines-boom level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-120 Ø 0,90 mm
Lines-boom level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-190 Ø 1,1 mm
Lines-boom level Edelrid Aramid A-8000-090 Ø 0,8 mm
Brake lines
Lines-top level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-025 Ø 0,4 mm
Lines-top level Edelrid Aramid A-7000/U-045 Ø 0,45 mm
Lines-middle level Edelrid Aramid A-7000/U-045 Ø 0,45 mm
Lines-middle level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-050 Ø 0,60 mm
Lines-boom level Edelrid Aramid A-8000/U-120 Ø 0,90 mm
Lines-boom level Edelrid Aramid 7950-200-024
Risers
Webbing 366 043 015 912/01
Pulleys 16 mm Narrow
Rings Low frison ring
Karabiners MRSI03.5 S12 / MRDI03.0 S10
2.

3.
3. Cercaon
The Avax XC5 is EN D cered in all sizes.
The EN cercate for each Avax XC5 is on the rib in the middle of canopy. Cercaon is valid
for the use with all ABS harnesses. This type of harness allows a certain degree of adjustment
to be made to the length of the waist strap. Between 46 cm and 48 cm is the recommended
distance between the karabiners.
Equally with all other paragliders, when looser cross-bracing is used while ying the Avax
XC5, the pilot’s weight-shi control is greater. The glider is also more sensive to movement
in the surrounding air. When cross-bracing is ghter, the pilot feels subjecvely more stable,
however turning by weight-shi is less eecve.
WARNING: The Avax XC5 paraglider is only built for hill or tow launching. It is not built to
withstand jumping from a plane, balloon, building or for any jumps where there is a belated
opening of the canopy. Use of subsidiary motor (e.g. paramotoring) has not been tested by
the manufacturer or by any other tesng body.
4. Adjusng your glider
Before it reaches the customer, every Avax XC5 goes through a nal check and test-ight
to verify that its characteriscs and measurements correspond to the manufacturer’s
specicaons. You may only make adjustments to brake-line lengths or to the speed system
of your Avax XC5 by following recommendaons in this manual.
Other adjustments or changes to your Avax XC5 lead to a loss of guarantee, airworthiness
and validity of the cercaon. Do not endanger yourself and other pilots by amateur
modicaon. If you have any suggesons for improvements let us know and our test-pilots
will try out your ideas.
4.1. Brake-line adjustment
When you receive your new Avax XC5, the main brake lines are adjusted to the length set
during the cercaon test. This length should suit most pilots and is indicated on the main
control line. It is of course possible to adjust the brake-line length to suit each pilot’s physical
build, height of harness hang points, or style of ying. We recommend that you act wisely
when adjusng brake-line length and change the length in small, successive steps.
If you need to adjust brakes back to the basic posion and the marks on the main brake lines
are vague, use the following lengths for relevant size (main brake line consist of two lines -
01+02 refer the Avax XC5 - Line Map): XC5 24: 267 cm; XC5 26: 280 cm; XC5 28: 292 cm
Brake lines that are too short may:
1) Lead to fague from ying with your hands in an unnatural posion.
2) Impede recovery from certain unstable manoeuvres.
3) Certainly reduce speed range of your glider.
Brakes that are too long will:
a) Hamper pilot’s control during launch.
b) Reduce control in extreme ying situaons.
c) Make it dicult to execute a good are while landing.
Each brake line should be ed securely to its brake handle. Use knots which will ensure it
won’t get loose, for example, a Double Dragon.
4.2. Speed system
The Avax XC5 is equipped with a very eecve foot-operated speed system as standard.
Pressure on the foot srrup shortens the A and B risers and releases C1 riser and by this
reduces the angle of aack of the canopy. The working range of the speed system pulleys
are: XC5-28=16.5 cm, XC5-26=16.2 cm, XC5-24=15.8 cm. Make sure you can use the whole of
thiswhen you aach your speed bar.

Gradient s.r.o., Plzenska 221/130, 150 00 Praha 5, tel+fax [phone], www.gradient.cx, [e-mail].
4.
5. Operaon in ight
This manual is intended as a guide to the characterisc features of your new Avax XC5
paraglider. Under no circumstances should it be used as a ‘learn-to-y’ manual for paragliding
or as a substute for a paragliding pilot’s training course.
5.1. Standard ight
5.1.1. Pre-ight check
Pre-ight check is essenal part of geng ready to y and that’s why you should pay special
aenon to it. Check the canopy and lines for damage, clear the lines of any tangles, check
the riser maillons, speedbar connectors and don’t forget to check your harness and your
reserve parachute.
Before you launch spread the canopy out into a slight arc and check that:
• all cell openings are free
• no lines are looped around or under the canopy
• no lines are tangled or have a knot in them
• any twigs, grass or other objects are not entangled in the lines or in the canopy
• the risers are not twisted
• the brake lines run freely through the pulleys
• the knots on the brake handles are secure
• the karabiners on the risers are ghtened
5.1.2. Launching
Launching the Avax XC5 is straighorward, either by a forward launch or by reverse launch.
A dynamic pull of the front risers (A, coloured red) will bring the canopy simply and easily
above the pilot’s head. The canopy inates from the centre equally and smoothly. The Avax
XC5 has no tendency to outrun the pilot and quickly stabilises above the pilot. Once there,
visually check the canopy and the lines before taking o. Take o can be easier by a light pull
on the brakes.
5.1.3. Flight
The Avax XC5 is trimmed to y at best glide when the brakes are fully up. Best sink rate is
achieved when both brakes are bulled down equally to about 20-25% of their range.
Turbulent condions
When ying through severe turbulence, stabilise the canopy with simultaneously applying a
lile brake to both sides. Flying with a lile brake applied will also help to prevent deaons
and give you more feedback about what the air is doing and how the glider is reacng.
Responding correctly to the paraglider’s movement by means of the brakes and weight shi
is known as ‘acve ying’. A pilot demonstrang good acve-ying skills will signicantly
reduce both the number and severity of collapses he or she experiences.
Turning
The Avax XC5 is very comfortable and pleasant in turns. Handling characteriscs are responsive
and accurate and demand no special habits or non-standard procedures. When developing
the Avax XC5 special aenon was devoted to the brake pressure. The result is that brake
travel and pressure have been opmised. Brake pressure is reassuringly progressive. In ight,
brakes are rm but responsive and precise and allow for perfect communicaon with the
canopy. You will nd that a harness with fairly loose cross-bracing will help the glider turn.
In an emergency (e.g. a broken brake line) the glider can be steered with the rear risers or
by weight shi.
Using the speed system
Maximum speed is one of the strong points of Gradient paragliders and the Avax XC5 is
no excepon. Not only has the glider a very high maximum speed, but unlike some other

5.
paragliders the full speed range is useable. Don’t forget that any collapse at full speed will
be more severe than the same event experienced at normal trim speed.. Always keep both
hands on the controls when ying fast in turbulence and be ready to release the speed
system immediately at the rst sign of a collapse. Use the speed system very carefully, or not
at all at low altude.
5.1.4. Landing
Landing the Avax XC5 is very simple and shouldn’t cause any problem. On your rst ights
you may be surprised at how well it glides. Take account of this when making your landing
approach! Into wind, at about one metre above the ground pull the brakes down all the way.
In nil-wind condions, or if forced to make an emergency landing downwind, you may prefer
to take a wrap of each control line to enable a more dynamic are.
5.2. Fast descent
Sooner or later every pilot will need to descend quickly. It might be because of a sudden
and unexpected change in the weather, reaching cloudbase and not wishing to enter cloud,
or simply because you need to nish your ight quickly. Addionally, if landing is thermic, it
is oen very dicult to land without using a rapid-descent method. There are three main
methods for achieving a rapid descent and they are: Big Ears, B-Line Stall and Spiral Dive.
Pracse these manoeuvres under the supervision of an instructor and with a reserve
parachute. Never compromise your safety.
5.2.1. Big Ears
This is the easiest technique for a rapid descent. Depending on how much of the wing p you
deate, 3 m/s to 6 m/s sink rate can be achieved. While in Big Ears your sink rate and forward
speed can be further increased by using the speed system. The Avax XC5 can be steered
while Big Ears are in by means of weight shi.
Iniaon: Grab the outer A-lines on both sides as high as possible and pull them down
smoothly. Hold them rmly. The eecve area of the glider is reduced equally on both sides
of the wing. The size of the deated area depends on how deeply the lines are pulled down
(or on the number of lines pulled – one or two outer lines on both sides). Be sure to pull both
sides equally.
Recovery: Under normal circumstances the Avax XC5 will open when the A-lines are released.
Opening may be accelerated by pumping the brakes gently (repeated symmetrical braking
on both sides).
5.2.2. B-Line Stall
Depending on how much the B-risers are pulled down, the sink rate is between 5 and 8 m/s.
Iniaon: Grab the B-risers at the top and smoothly pull them down unl the canopy shows a
spanwise crease where the B-lines aach to the sail. Your sink rate will increase considerably
while your forward speed will decrease raccally to zero. Don’t be startled when the airow
over the top surface is interrupted and the canopy enters a parachutal stall without moving
forward. It will soon stabilise above your head.
Recovery: On releasing the B-risers the Avax XC5 automacally returns to normal ight
without staying in deep stall (sackug) or shoong in front of the pilot. Let go of the risers
smoothly and symmetrically.
Cauon: Do everything symmetrically and at the same me. If the B-risers are released
unevenly the canopy can enter a turn. If the risers are released slowly and very unevenly you
could enter a spin.

Gradient s.r.o., Plzenska 221/130, 150 00 Praha 5, tel+fax [phone], www.gradient.cx, [e-mail].
6.
5.2.3. Spiral Dive
The Spiral Dive is the most eecve way of making a fast descent. Every pilot should be able
to perform a spiral dive and one day you may need to. In a Spiral Dive always stay aware
of your altude, which decreases very rapidly. The sink rate reached in a Spiral Dive can be
more than 16-18 m/s. During the manoeuvre the pilot and the glider will experience strong
centrifugal forces. Forces greater than 3G are possible – a great strain on the pilot as well as
the glider.
Iniaon: Smoothly pull on one brake so that the glider goes from a normal 360-degree turn
into a steep turn and from there into a spiral dive. The transion into a spiral dive can be
made easier by weight shiing to the inner side of the turn. Keep an eye on the tension of
the brakes all the me: reduced tension signals an overload of the glider and danger of falling
into a negave spin.
Recovery: The Avax XC5 recovers from a Spiral Dive automacally as soon as the brakes are
released. Release them smoothly and always nish a Spiral Dive with safe altude!
Cauon: When exing the Spiral Dive make sure your posion in the harness is neutral.
Recovery from a Spiral Dive can be delayed if you are weight shiing to the inner side of the
turn.
5.3. SIV manoeuvres
No maer what category of canopy you y or what level of cercaon it has, in turbulence
or in strong thermals you may experience all kinds of collapses.
The Avax XC5 behaves comfortably in these situaons. Indeed not only does the glider deal
with extreme ight situaons automacally, but it also oers – for its category – an above-
average degree of safety. Even so, you must follow all safety rules when pracsing SIV.
Always pay aenon to your altude.
Before performing any SIV manoeuvre remember:
Pracse throwing your reserve on the ground, in a simulator, so that reserve deployment is
ecient and automac.
Rapid altude loss and considerable rotaonal forces may develop during unstable
manoeuvres. Take account of these factors when throwing your reserve.
5.3.1. Asymmetric Collapse – one side of the canopy collapses
Iniaon: Take hold of the outer A-lines (outer A-riser) on one side and pull them down
smoothly. The size of the ear depends on the depth to which the lines are pulled as well as
the number of lines pulled down. You can stop any turn tendency by applying the opposite
brake and by weight shiing onto the inated side of the canopy.
Recovery: Under normal condions the Avax XC5 will re-inate spontaneously when the
pulled lines are released. Inaon me and loss of altude can be reduced by suitable pilong.
To stop any tendency to turn o course pull the brake on the inated side (be careful not to
overreact and stall the inated side) and weight shi to that side. If the collapse remains then
re-inate the collapsed side by ‘pumping’ the brake on the collapsed side.
Cauon: XC5 has been cered with folding lines. Without using folding lines SIV
manoeuvres like Asymmetric collapse and Full Frontal Collapse might be very hard to
perform to a desired parameters specied by cercaon rules.
5.3.2. Full Frontal Collapse
Iniaon: Take hold of both A-risers at the top and pull them down unl the leading edge
collapses.
Recovery: Recovery me depends on how much of the canopy has collapsed. In normal

7.
condions the Avax XC5 will recover normal ight automacally as soon as the front risers
are released. Applying (pumping?)the brakes on both sides simultaneously can help re-open
the paraglider.
Cauon: XC5 has been cered with folding lines. Without using folding lines SIV
manoeuvres like Asymmetric collapse and Full Frontal Collapse might be very hard to
perform to a desired parameters specied by cercaon rules.
5.3.3. Deep Stall
Iniaon: Pull both brakes smoothly unl the sink rate increases markedly and the forward
speed reaches almost zero. The pull on the brakes should be controlled so that the canopy
stays inated and doesn’t fall back into a full stall.
Recovery: The Avax XC5 cannot stay in deep stall ight, so aer the brakes are released the
glider automacally returns to a normal ight. If you need to, you can accelerate recovery by
pulling hard on both brakes, followed by a fast release. Or you can pull lightly on the A-risers.
Cauon: If you pull too hard on the A-risers you may experience a full frontal collapse.
5.3.4 Full Stall
Iniaon: Wind the control lines once around your hands and pull both of them down
smoothly. Hold them down unl the canopy falls behind the pilot and deforms into a
characterisc crescent shape. Hold your hands rmly (press them underneath the seat) and
be careful that you do not release the brakes prematurely or asymmetrically.
Recovery: The Avax XC5 recovers from a full stall automacally once the brakes are smoothly
released. During correct recovery from a full stall the Avax XC5 shows no extreme tendencies
such as diving in front of the pilot. If the brakes are released prematurely or too quickly
there is a possible tendency for the glider to dive ahead of the pilot. This can be corrected by
adequate simultaneous braking on both-sides.
Cauon: When exing a Full Stall, if the brakes are released asymmetrically the glider may
suer a massive asymmetrical collapse followed by a tendency to enter a spin.
5.3.5 Negave Spin
Iniaon: Slow down by braking to nearly minimum speed. Then pull a brake on one side
all the way down while simultaneously releasing the brake on the other side. Because the
stalled side falls back, the canopy suers airow disrupon over one half of the wing which
results in a spin and a rapid loss of altude.
Recovery: Under normal circumstances the Avax XC5 is capable of recovering from a negave
spin automacally when the brakes are released.
Cauon: In general, when there is a very fast or a long-lasng rotaon and when the brakes
are released too quickly, the canopy may shoot in front of the pilot followed by a massive
asymmetrical collapse.
Warning: Whenever a paraglider is not in a normal ight and the airow is disrupted there is
always a rapid increase in sink rate and therefore a substanal loss of altude.
Remember: When pracsing SIV the wrong manoeuvre at the wrong me may change a
fairly easy situaon into a dangerous problem. You are also exposing your glider to forces
that may damage it. Pracse SIV manoeuvres only under the supervision of an instructor and
with a reserve parachute.

Gradient s.r.o., Plzenska 221/130, 150 00 Praha 5, tel+fax [phone], www.gradient.cx, [e-mail].
8.
6.Maintaining your glider
If you handle your glider with care and store it in a suitable place it can last a very long me.
On the other hand, neglecng maintenance, bad storage and the use of unsuitable cleaning
products can reduce the lifespan of your glider signicantly or may even make it dangerous.
You must observe these rules:
• Choose a suitable area for your launches. Lines caught on roots or rocks lead to unnecessary
strain on the aachment tabs during inaon. Snagging lines may rip the canopy ssue or
damage lines.
• When landing, never let the canopy fall on its leading edge in front of the pilot. The eect
of these forceful collisions and the sudden increase in pressure can severely damage the air-
resistant coang of the canopy as well as weaken the ribs and seams.
• Protect the canopy from unnecessary strain. Inconsiderate handling of your glider – pulling
it over grass, soil, sand or rocks – will signicantly reduce its lifeme.
• When preparing the paraglider for a launch or when ground handling, be sure not to step
on any of the lines or the canopy.
• Don’t e any unnecessary knots in the lines. Packing methods where special knots are
made in the lines as used on parachutes and reserve parachutes are not suitable for packing
the lines used on paragliders.
• Protect your canopy and lines from unnecessary exposure to sunlight. UV-rays can damage
many parts of a paraglider.
• Try not to pack your glider when wet. If it’s unavoidable then dry it as soon as possible
but away from direct sunlight. Be careful to avoid storing your canopy wet – this is the most
common reason for cloth degradaon, and is easily preventable.
• Don’t let your glider come into contact with seawater. If it does, rinse the lines, canopy and
risers with fresh water and dry before storing.
• Aer ight or when storing always use the inner protecon sack.
• When storing or during transport make sure your glider isn’t exposed to temperatures
higher than 50 degrees Celsius.
• Never let the paraglider come into contact with chemicals. Clean the glider with clean
lukewarm water only.
• When packing the glider we recommend concerna folding the reinforced leading edge to
avoid damaging the plasc reinforcements.
• For long-term storage don’t pack the glider too ghtly. Store it in a cold, dry and well-
venlated room.
• Aer tree or water landings always examine the glider carefully. If you suspect that the
ight features of your paraglider have changed, contact an authorised Gradient supplier as
soon as possible.
Aramid unsheeted lines have a working life of a maximum 130 ying hours. Aer 130 ying
hours all lines (except brake lines) must be replaced.
• Aer 130 ying hours or 24 months your Avax XC5 must be thoroughly checked and tested
by the manufacturer or by a Gradient authorised service centre.