SKY PARAGLIDERS METIS 2 Series User manual

Česky
English
2008

1
Index
General information ............................................................................................................................... 5
Pilot´s profile ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Dimensions, diagrams and characteristics ......................................................................................... 7
Flying techniques ................................................................................................................................. 13
Comments on the testing procedures ................................................................................................ 24
Harness adjustments ............................................................................................................................ 24
Maintenance & checks ......................................................................................................................... 25
Guarantee ............................................................................................................................................... 27

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Thank you for flying SKY PARAGLIDERS products
Thank you for buying the METIS 2 glider.
We hope it will work fine for you and we wish a lot of awesome flights.
Before the first flight it is strongly recommended to have a close look at the manual.
It might help to familiarize with the product faster.
Team Sky Paragliders

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Sky Paragliders, manufacturer of gliders and paragliding equipment
Sky Paragliders is a Czech company with a long tradition in the production and development
of wide range of paragliding products; wings, harnesses and rescue systems included.
All the products are manufactured in the Czech Republic using the latest technologies available.
The whole production is quality oriented and the production quality is well reflected in the
fact the company holds ISO 9001:2000 and DHV Certified Manufacturer Plant certificates.
But in fact, it is mainly the trust in our products that provides us with the best and most
valuable certificate; and not only that – your trust is the challenge for our future work.

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User manual for METIS 2 Paraglider
(This guide conforms to requirements as set out in Regulation EN 926-2/2005.)

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A. General information
1. Model name:
METIS 2
2. Name & address of manufacturer:
Sky Paragliders a.s.
Okružní 39
739 11 Frýdlant nad Ostravicí
Česká republika
www.sky-cz.com; [email protected]
3. Total minimum & maximum weights in flight:
see the technical data
4. Maximum brake range at maximum take-off load!
according to EN 926-2/2005

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5. METIS 2 is EN B certified tandem wing aimed at pilots with adequate licences,
experience, skills and build up pair time.
6. METIS 2 is EN B certified, which describes the skills needed as follows: “Paragliders
with good passive safety and forgiving flying characteristics. Gliders with some
resistance to departures from normal flight.“ But as we speak about the tandem glider,
it is highly recommended to be familiar and well trained to react for any unusual
behaviour at flight as the pilot is responsible for the passenger.
7. This user manual version dated 1 Jule 2008.
B. Pilot profile
METIS 2 is a tandem glider and therefore requires a pilot who is not only well technically
trained for flying EN B gliders, but is also experienced enough to handle the unexpected
behaviour of the passanger at the take off and landing.

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C. Dimensions, diagrams and characteristics
1a. Cross-section of METIS 2
• A lines – red
• B lines – blue
• C lines – purple
• D lines – green
• Brake lines - yellow

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1b. Line plan

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1c. Riser diagram
Trimmers on (pulled down) - All risers at the same length
• A 35,0 cm
• B 35,0 cm
• C 35,0 cm
• D 35,0 cm
Trimmers off - C & D risers longer than A & B risers
• A 35,0 cm
• B 35,0 cm
• C 37,25 cm
• D 39,5 cm
Tolerance: +/- 0,5 cm
ABCD

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2. Flat span:
see technical data
3. Projected surface area:
see technical data
4. Number of cells:
see technical data
5. Number of cells:
see technical data
6. There is no test sticker on our certified gliders.
7. n/a

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8. The brake lines are adjusted to the correct length but can, if necessary,
be shortened by 2cm or lengthened by 5cm.
9. Side views of risers: refer to line plan on page 9 and to the line lists in Supplement 1
10. n/a
11. n/a
12. Side view of risers:
refer to diagram of risers above

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13. Technical data
METIS 2
Layout surface (m2)
Layout span (m)
Projected surface (m2)
Projected span (m)
Projected aspect ratio
Number of cells
Weight of the glider (kg)
Certified take-off weight (kg)
Trim speed (km/h)
Min. speed (km/h)
Max. speed (km/h)
Max. gliding ratio
Min. sink rate (m/s)
Certification
Layout aspect ratio
40.24
14.33
34.98
34.98
3.87
56
7.7
120-220
39
26
45
> 8.5
< 1.2
EN B
5.1

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D. Flying techniques
The METIS 2 is flown conventionally however there are several points listed below which
should allow you to familiarise yourself with your new paraglider more quickly.
1. Checking the paraglider before take off
• Check the wing: Check it is not torn and that the internal structure (ribbing) is not damaged.
• Check the lines: Check they are not damaged or tangled.
• Check the quick links: Check that the quick links which link the lines to the risers,
are correctly tightened and undamaged.
Check the risers:
• Check they are not damaged or twisted.
• Check the speed system works freely and that the lines are long enough to ensure
that the accelerator system is not permanently on.
• Lastly, check that the brake handles are correctly attached and that each brake line runs
freely in its pulley.

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2. Take off
Lay your paraglider out with the leading edge in a horseshoe shape.
Hold the A risers near the quick links and move forward until the slack has been taken out of
the lines. You should now be perfectly centred with your wing.
With no, or light, head wind and the lines tensioned, the METIS 2 inflates rapidly. It is important
that you keep the risers correctly oriented to your body, if too far forward or back you are
unlikely to have a clean inflation.
A controlled inflation allows you to check the wing and lines during the last phase as it comes
up, and thus avoids the need to brake. Depending on the wind conditions or the slope a bit of
brake can allow you to take off more quickly.
Caution: Be sure, the passenger is well instructed and can handle easily the take off manoeuvre.
The pilot also should be well aware of any troubles due to the misbehaviour of the passenger.

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3. Landing
Because of the exceptional glide, care must be taken during approach and landing.
The METIS 2 is an agile glider and is sensitive to small inputs - over-braking can result in
significant responses. We therefore recommend that you have your first flights at a site you
know well, in easy conditions.
With negative steering you will have more time to carry out manoeuvres calmly and therefore
you will reduce pendulum movements of your paraglider.
Reminder: negative steering involves applying your brakes symmetrically by about 30% of your
maximum range to slow the paraglider, then carrying out turns by releasing the outside brake.
Speeding up just prior to landing allows a more effective flare and therefore a gentler landing.
Caution: Be sure, the passenger is well instructed and can handle easily the landing. Make
sure the passenger can move easily and is ready to react when s/he touches the land.
The pilot also should be well aware of any troubles due to the misbehaviour of the passenger.

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4. Turning
The METIS 2 was designed to perform well in turns and will centre easily.
Negative steering (see above) on the one hand slows the paraglider in certain phases of flight
and, on the other hand, reduces excessive rolling during turn reversals. It is not only designed
to turn (with approx 30% brake) but also to fly slowly to help to identify areas of lift and to
keep the paraglider flatter to maximise the sink rate in a turn (with 15% brake).
5. Rapid descent techniques
To descend you generally move away from areas of lift, however if, for whatever reason, you
are having problems coming down then you can use the following techniques to increase your
sink rate.

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A. Big Ears
Pull down on the outside A lines until the wingtips fold back on themselves. We recommend
that you fold each wingtip separately and not at the same time. Keep the lines taut to stop
the wingtips from re-opening. Depending on the size of the big ears, the sink rate can
increase to 3-4m/s.
As soon as you release the lines the paraglider should spontaneously reopen. You can speed it
up by pumping the brakes with a positive input. If you pump the brakes then we recommend
that you open one side then the other. Pulling down on both brakes simultaneously can result
in a stall.
B. Spiral
The METIS 2 is a manoeuvrable wing that responds easily to input. To enter a spiral, apply
one brake progressively to about 35% and hold it in this position. The speed of rotation will
increase progressively, as will the pressure on the brake and the centripetal force that you
experience. You can decrease or increase the angle or speed of rotation by releasing, or pulling
down on the brake by several centimetres.
Once mastered the spiral allows you to descend by more than 10m/s. Movements which are
too abrupt or badly synchronised, or entering into a spiral too quickly can result in a spin.

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Attention! The spiral is not a simple manoeuvre.
The kinetic energy built up must be controlled so as to allow a controlled exit from the spiral.
C. B-line stall
Grasp the B risers at the quick links and pull them down symmetrically. The paraglider stalls
and drops backwards before stabilising overhead. The descent rate increases to 6-8m/s.
To exit the B-line stall raise both hands together with a single, quick, movement. As soon
as you release the B-risers the METIS 2 should return to normal flight. If the B-line stall is
exited incorrectly it may go into a parachute (deep) stall.
Application of the speed bar will effect a recovery. If there is no speed bar then by pulling
down on the A-risers by 4-5cm you should achieve the same result.
Caution: unlike big ears & the spiral, in the B-line stall the glider is in a stalled state.
All the above described manoeuvres might be difficult to make as we speak about a 40 square
metres wing. The pilot should be well aware of the fact and should be well trained to handle
those manoeuvres even if flying with the maximum take off of 220 kilograms.

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6. Performance & use of brakes
The METIS 2 has its best glide at trim speed (no brakes) - about 38km/h. The minimum sink
rate is achieved by applying approx 15% brake..
Beyond 30% brake, the aerodynamics and performance of the glider deteriorates and the effort
required to manoeuvre increases quickly..
The very heavy brake pressure warns of an impending stall, this occurs at full brake travel
(100% brakes).
In normal flying conditions the optimum position for the brakes, in terms of performance and
safety, lies in the top third of the braking range.