PAPILLON RAQOON User manual

MANUAL
English • Rev. 1.5 Effective: July 2017
Please read this manual
before you y your new Papillon RAQOON
for the rst time.
LTF/EN A

PAPILLON RAQOON: LIGHTWEIGHT,
SAFE, HIGH PERFORMANCE
Congratulations, you have chosen the new lightweight A-Class glider PAPILLON RAQOON. We
would like to thank you for your condence in Papillon and see this as conrmation to contin-
ue to pursue and further develop our uncompromising quality standards. We wish you many
enjoyable ights and great moments in the air.
If you are preparing for the launch with your Raqoon, you know that it doesn’t take much to
start, because this is what the Raqoon was designed for. With its hybrid properties, it starts
with 30% less wind and running. The control phase becomes easier. Its properties in the air also
help you: with its lighter canopy it wants to lead you into the thermals.
The dialogue is important to us because we are always trying to optimize the products in terms
of “from pilots for pilots”. The exchange of experience at Papillon is a high priority. Therefore,
we are looking forward to active contributions in the form of suggestions and criticism. If ques-
tions remain open, we will gladly help you at any time.
See you UP in the sky!
Your Papillon Paragliders Team
This manual is an important part of the glider.
Please read it carefully, because there is an OBLIGATION to deal with the glider
and its special features. The manual is supposed to make the handling with the
PAPILLON RAQOON as easy and safe as possible.
PAPILLON PARAGLIDERS
Wasserkuppe 46
D-36129 GERSFELD
Fax: [phone]
Tel. [phone]
[email protected]
papillon-paragliders.com

CONTENTS
Welcome to the PAPILLON WORLD OF PARAGLIDING! 6
PAPILLON RAQOON: Lightweight, safe, high performance 7
RAQOON 8
- Usage 8
- Motorised Paragliding 8
- Winching 9
- Base- and brakeline adjustment 9
- Safety precautions 10
Equipment Description 11
- Short description 11
- Risers 12
- Speed system 13
The Flight 14
- The Launch 14
- Reverse Launch 16
- Turning 16
- Active Flying 16
- Landing 17
- Strong Wind Landings 18
- Landing on Slopes 18
- Top Landings 18
Rapid descent 19
- „Big Ears“ 19
- B-Stall 19
Advanced Handling 21
- Spiral Dive 21
- Wingover 22
- Full Frontal 22
- Collapses 22
- How to avoid collapses 22
- Deep Stall 23
- Fullstall 24
- Partial Stall 24
- Negative Turn 24
- Emergency Piloting 25
- Transport and storage 25
- Repairs 25
Maintenance and Care 26
- Maintenance and care 26
- Nature and environment-friendly behaviour 26

Flying Accessories 27
- Harness 27
- Suitable Rescue Systems 27
Presumption of risk 28
- Liability claim and renouncement of exclution 28
- Safety Advice and Liability 28
Release of liability, renouncement of entitlement 29
Technical data Papillon RAQOON 30
Color-Info Papillon RAQOON 31
Line Code RAQOON 32
Line Plan RAQOON 33
Requirement for LTF/EN A-Certication 39
Instruction leaet for repairs & 2-yearly-check 40
Line order form 41
Reply card 42
MAINTANANCE MANUAL 43
Topic of the inspection and reinspection intervals 44
- Who may inspect/test? 44
- Individual personal prerequisites for the inspections 44
- Necessary equipment and documentation 45
During the inspection the following steps are to be taken in: 45
- Positive identication of the device: 45
- Inspection of the reserve parachute 45
- Testing of the topsail, undersail, seams, reserve parachute of 45
- Holes and tears 45
- Abrasion and deformities 46
- Testing of the ribs 46
- Check of the tear resistance 46
- Porosity check of the canopy 46
- Connection parts 47
- Lines 47
- Check of the line length and line attachments 47
- Measuring the line lengths: 48
- Occasional check of trim and adjustment 48
- Description of the materials and technical data 48
- Miscellaneous 48
Completed check very important! 49

WELCOME
TO THE PAPILLON WORLD OF PARAGLIDING!

MANUAL | PAPILLON PARAGLIDERS | RAQOON 6 | 7
PAPILLON RAQOON
LIGHTWEIGHT, SAFE, HIGH PERFORMANCE
The RAQOON combines safety, low weight, performance and a direct sporty handling. This
makes it a perfect all-round glider. His forgiving behaviour not only ensures a good feeling for
beginners, but also for ambitious cross-country pilots and alpinists.
The RAQOON precisely applies control impulses and combines EN-A typical tolerance with
dynamics. The good-natured ight characteristics are additionally enhanced by the low canopy
weight. His reactions are correspondingly damped. Its excellent gliding and climbing ability
helps you to efciently convert even weak thermals into heights.
Its launch behaviour is extremely simple and good-natured. Even in zero wind, the lightweight
canopy reliably climbs above the pilot with little effort. In addition, the RAQOON’s excellent
low-speed ight characteristics allow a low take-off speed, allowing you to maintain a longer
control phase at take-off.
The RAQOON is based on the latest ndings of ow simulation. Complex calculations of the
High Pressure Crossport Design (HPCD) not only reduce weight, but also maximize cross-ven-
tilation of the Crossports. The efciency of the system is already evident in the lifting phase. It
provides a very fast pressure build-up and gives the wing a balanced internal pressure during
ight. The 3D-shaping and optimized wing prestressing ensure perfect airow, while the Preci-
sion Prole Nose System (PPN) ensures optimum airow to the prole. Miniribs and the Brake
Gathering System (BGS) help the prole achieve greater shape delity at the rear edge and
transfer control impulses precisely to the wing. A very straightforward line concept with just a
few main lines ensures easy handling and a good overview for ground handling. The risers are
equipped with the Pilot Assistant (PAS) - in addition to the colour markings, icons provide a
better orientation of the line levels.
Only high-quality durable materials were used for the material mix. When it comes to porosity,
the lightweight material with double coating is clearly superior to heavy materials. This is now
conrmed by long-term results and thus refute the myth that heavier materials should achieve
better check results.

Usage
The RAQOON is suitable as a training glider and not only aimed at beginners, who want to y
with a small pack size and little weight, the modern wing also guarantees sustainable fun for
ambitioned pilots. The RAQOON is only designed for solo usage.
The RAQOON is a light aircraft with a mass of less than 120 kg in the class of paragliders. All
sizes are certied according to LTF/EN-A.
The size XL is additionally approved for double-seat operation.
Motorised Paragliding
The HIMALAYA is not certied for paramotor usage.
RAQOON

MANUAL | PAPILLON PARAGLIDERS | RAQOON 8 | 9
Winching
Because of its excellent start characteristics and its high trimmed speed, the Papillon RAQOON
offers the best conditions for winching operations. Take the following points into account:
– Do not use a tow line tension over 100 kp with the Papillon RAQOON.
– If you are not operating at your usual winch, get aquainted with the local procedures. Every
visitor on unfamiliar ying grounds needs to get a good brieng by a local pilot.
– Never winch the Papillon RAQOON with loads outside the permitted weight range.
– All involved persons, machines and accessories need to have the appropriate licenses,
approvals or certication for winching. That applies to pilots, hoist operator, towing attach-
ment, attachment points as well as all further machines and accessories for wich a certi-
cate of competence is required.
Base- and brakeline adjustment
The factory brake-line setting corresponds to 0-free travel plus 5 cm. It is recommended to
adjust your brake line travel after the rst ight to your personal preferences. Be aware not
to adjust the brakes too short, otherwise the glider may y with a little, but continuous applied
brake pressure. This could be extremely dangerous during takeoff , ight and landing!
The afore mentioned factory brake setting allows for ample brake travel in extreme ight
situations as well as for landing. At the same time it enables during ight at trim-speed a
position of comfort for the pilots arms. In no case the setup A, B and C main lines should be
changed before the wing has been own in the original setup. Please also note that adjusting
the height of the suspension to the hangpoints on the harness, changes the relative braking
travel. When setting the adjustment it is to be made certain that both sides are symmetrical
and that a permanent knot is used. The bowline works particularly well because of the fact that
it weakens the lines the least with excellent slip resistance.
Pfahlstich
① ① ①
Markierung
Werkseinstellung

Safety precautions
– Before the rst ight, the canopy, lines, all connections and sutures, the shackles and brake
lines, as well as any twisted lines must be checked by appropriately trained personnel and
conrmed in the type plate.
– Make your maiden ight in a familiar ying site and calm conditons.
– Test your Papillon RAQOON only over water.
– In a „dynamic ight“ not only you are exposed to Hike loads but also the glider. Do not
underestimate this!
– Only y the RAQOON with at least one reserve parachute.
– Observe and abide to the local aviation laws which rule in the respective country in ques-
tion.
– Successful completion of appropriate training/schooling, having the needed knowledge as
well as the actual ight experience are a prerequisite to operate your Papillon RAQOON.
– The use of suitable, certied and in the respective country approved accessories (helmet,
harness, reserve) is a requirement for the use of the Papillon RAQOON.
– Before every take off execute a thorough inspection of your equipment (top sail, bottom
sail, ribs, especially the lines, carabiners, buckles, cloth speed system etc.) A ight with a tear
in a glider or lines can be life threatening.
– Always make sure that your ying gear is in good condition and all checks are done.
– Be aware that you as a pilot have to be in a physical and mental state to control each ight
unimpaired. You have to concentrate completely on ying, in order to avoid potential dis-
tressing ight conditions. Most accidents are caused by pilot error.
– Never y in close proximity to high voltage power lines, airports or motorways, over people
or with lightning! You cold endanger your life and the physcial well being of yourself as well
as third parties and at the same time act reckless and negligent. At no circumstance should
the minimum distance fall below 50m at any given time. At airports this minimum distance
to maintain is 5km.
– Inform yourself on the weather forecast and/or the predominating local weather conditions.
Use the Papillon RAQOON only in wind strengths, in which you are able to control the wing
to 100%. Do not use the Papillon RAQOON, in wind with a great gust factor. Never use the
glider with approaching thunderstorms or if probability of those of the development of
thunderstorms is high. If a thunderstorm is approaching land immediately!
– The ying of aerobatics is generally forbidden and is dangerous. Unforeseen ight orienta-
tions can occur, which can spill out of control, arising the danger of overload on pilot and
equipment.
ATTENTION: Ignoring one or several safety precautions can lead to a
leisurely fun ight turning into a fatal event!