Swing Stratus 8 User manual

PArAglider
Version 1.0
Date: 04.11.2010
StrAtus 8
Manual (E)

IMPORTANT
Swing Flugsportgeräte GmbH reserves the right to alter or add to the contents of this
Manual at any time. You should therefore regularly visit our website :
www.swing.de
where you will find additional information relating to your paraglider and any changes to
the Manual. There is further information about the Swing website in the section “Swing
on the World Wide Web”.
The date and version number of the Manual are given on the first page.
Express written consent from Swing Flugsportgeräte GmbH is required for any duplication of this
Manual, in whole or in part (with the exception of short quotations in specialist articles), and in any
form or by any means, whether it be electronic or mechanical.
No claim arises to the product descriptions, common or trade names or other intellectual property by
virtue of the fact that this Manual has been made available.

Dear SWING Customer
THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING A SWING PRODUCT!
We hope that flying a Swing glider will bring you many years of enjoyment. The innovative
design, first-rate materials and high quality workmanship of your paraglider set it apart
from others. Your Swing paraglider was developed to comply with all of the current safety
and certification requirements in Germany.
To enhance your flying enjoyment further, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with
the information and instructions contained in this Manual regarding safety, equipment and
service.
If you have any questions which are not answered in this Manual, please do not hesitate to
contact Swing directly or your Swing dealer. Our contact details are in the Appendix.
The Swing Team

Contents
01 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................7
MANUAL ....................................................................................................................7
SWING FLUGSPORTGERÄTE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.......................................................8
Respect for nature and the environment ..................................................8
Environmentally-friendly recycling ..............................................................8
02 SAFETY...............................................................................................................9
SAFETY ADVICE ...........................................................................................................9
SAFETY NOTICES ........................................................................................................10
DISCLAIMER AND EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY ...................................................................10
GLIDER CATEGORIES AND GUIDELINES ........................................................................11
EN/LTF certification......................................................................................11
Description of flight characteristics...........................................................11
Target group and recommended flying experience.............................11
Description of pilot skills required...............................................................11
Suitability for training...................................................................................11
03 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION..............................................................................12
GENERAL LAYOUT ILLUSTRATION..................................................................................12
STRATUS 8 – PURE PERFECTION...................................................................................12
LINE SYSTEM ..............................................................................................................13
RISERS.......................................................................................................................13
TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND MATERIALS..................................................................14
04 SETTING UP THE STRATUS 8 AND TEST-FLYING...............................................15
BEFORE THE FIRST FLIGHT.............................................................................................15
Adjusting the main brake lines...................................................................15
Adjusting the brake handle .......................................................................17
Speed system...............................................................................................18
Harnesses......................................................................................................19
Reserve.........................................................................................................19
RECOMMENDED WEIGHT RANGE................................................................................19
FIRST FLIGHT ..............................................................................................................20

05 FLYING THE STRATUS 8....................................................................................21
LAYING OUT THE PARAGLIDER AND PRE-FLIGHT CHECK.................................................21
5-POINT CHECK.........................................................................................................21
LAUNCH ...................................................................................................................22
LEVEL FLIGHT.............................................................................................................22
TURNS.......................................................................................................................22
RAPID DESCENT METHODS..........................................................................................23
Spiral dives....................................................................................................23
B-stall.............................................................................................................24
Big Ears..........................................................................................................24
LANDING..................................................................................................................25
06 TYPES OF USE...................................................................................................26
WINCH LAUNCH........................................................................................................26
Attaching the towline release system.......................................................26
MOTORISED FLIGHT....................................................................................................27
TANDEM PARAGLIDING..............................................................................................27
AEROBATICS .............................................................................................................27
07 DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND EXTREME FLYING........................................28
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS............................................................................................28
COLLAPSING THE PARAGLIDER...................................................................................28
Asymmetric collapse...................................................................................28
Front stall.......................................................................................................29
TYPES OF STALL..........................................................................................................29
Deep stall......................................................................................................29
Full stall..........................................................................................................30
Spin................................................................................................................30
Emergency steering....................................................................................30
OTHER TIPS FOR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ....................................................................30
Stalling in rain...............................................................................................30
Advertising and adhesives.........................................................................31
Overloading.................................................................................................31
Sand and salt air..........................................................................................32
Temperature range.....................................................................................32
08 STORING AND LOOKING AFTER THE PARAGLIDER.......................................33
STORING THE PARAGLIDER..........................................................................................33
Packing the paraglider...............................................................................33

Storing and transporting the glider ...........................................................34
LOOKING AFTER THE PARAGLIDER...............................................................................34
Fabric............................................................................................................34
Lines...............................................................................................................35
Cleaning.......................................................................................................35
09 REPAIRS, INSPECTIONS AND WARRANTY......................................................36
TYPE DESIGNATION ....................................................................................................36
REPAIRS....................................................................................................................36
Swing workshops..........................................................................................36
Small repairs to the glider...........................................................................36
REGULAR INSPECTIONS ..............................................................................................36
Lines...............................................................................................................36
INSPECTION...............................................................................................................37
General.........................................................................................................37
Inspection periods.......................................................................................37
Validity of inspection...................................................................................37
Inspection by the pilot................................................................................38
WARRANTY...............................................................................................................38
10 SWING ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB................................................................39
SWING WEBSITE .........................................................................................................39
PRODUCT REGISTRATION............................................................................................39
SWING-ONLINE SHOP................................................................................................39
FACEBOOK, TWITTER &YOUTUBE ................................................................................39
Paragliding...................................................................................................39
Speedgliding................................................................................................39
Swing TV........................................................................................................39
10 APPENDIX........................................................................................................41
ADDRESSES...............................................................................................................41
VERSIONS .................................................................................................................41
Version 1.0 ....................................................................................................41

Introduction
Section 1
7
01 Introduction
Manual
We recommend that you familiarise yourself
with your new paraglider 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 paraglider in
various situations, and explain how to get
the best out of your paraglider.
Information in this Manual on design of the
paraglider, technical data and illustrations
are subject to change. We reserve the right
to make changes without prior notification.
The Manual complies with the airworthiness
requirements in LTF NFL II 91/09.
© Swing Flugsportgeräte GmbH
Special text
WARNING
Sections of text headed ‘Warning’
indicate that there is a risk of injury.
IMPORTANT
Sections of text headed ‘Important’
indicate that there is a risk of material
damage.
i
TIP
Sections of text headed ‘Tip’ give
advice or tips which will make it easier
to use your paraglider.
Series of instructions
In this Manual, instructions which must be
followed in a certain order are numbered
consecutively.
<Where there is a series of pictures with
step-by-step instructions, each step has
the same number as the corresponding
picture.
dLetters are used where there is a series
of pictures in which a particular order
need not be followed.
Lists of parts
¶Numbers circled in red refer to various
parts of the item pictured. A list of the
numbers and the part they are used to
label follows the picture.
Bullet points
Bullet points are used in the Manual for lists.
Example:
•risers
•lines
Paraglider Manual on the Internet
Additional information about your paraglider
and any updates to the Manual can be
found on our website at www.swing.de.
This Manual was current at the time of going
to print. This Manual can be downloaded
from Swing’s website prior to print.

8
Section 1
Introduction
Swing Flugsportgeräte and the
environment
Protection of the environment, safety and
quality are the three basic values of Swing
Flugsportgeräte GmbH 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!
Paragliding is, of course, an outdoor sport –
protect and preserve our planet’s resources.
Environmentally-friendly recycling
Swing gives consideration to the entire life
cycle of its paragliders, the last stage of
which is recycling in an environmentally-
friendly manner. The synthetic materials
used in a paraglider must be disposed of
properly. If you are not able to arrange
appropriate disposal, Swing will be happy to
recycle the paraglider for you. Send the
glider with a short note to this effect to the
address given in the Appendix.

Safety
Section 2
9
02 Safety
WARNING
The safety advice given below must be
followed in all circumstances. Failure to
do so shall render invalid the
certification and/or result in loss of
insurance cover, and could lead to
serious injuries or even death.
Safety advice
All forms of aerial sport involve certain risks.
When compared with other types of aerial
sport, paragliding has the lowest number of
fatal accidents measured according to the
number of licensed pilots.
However, few other sports demand such a
high level of individual responsibility as
paragliding. 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.
Paragliders are not designed to be flown in
turbulent weather. Most serious accidents
with paragliders are caused by pilots
misjudging the weather for flying.
Paragliders themselves are extremely safe.
In the type certification tests, all component
parts of a paraglider must withstand eight
times the load of normal flight. There is a
three-fold safety margin compared to the
maximum extreme load occurring in flight.
This is higher than the two-fold margin usual
in aviation. Accidents caused by material
failure are therefore practically unheard of in
paragliding.
In Germany, paragliders are subject to the
guidelines for air sports equipment and must
not under any circumstances be flown
without a valid certification. Independent
experimentation is strictly prohibited. This
Manual does not replace the need to attend
training at a paragliding school.
A specialist must test-fly and inspect the
paraglider before your first flight. The test-
flight must be recorded on the paraglider
information label.
Carry out your first flight with the paraglider
on a training slope. For this flight and for all
other flights, you must wear an approved
helmet, gloves, firm shoes with ankle-
support and suitable clothing. Only fly if the
wind direction, wind speed and current and
forecasted weather conditions guarantee a
safe flight.
The Manual must be passed on to any new
owner if the paraglider is sold. It is part of
the certification and belongs with the
paraglider.
The Stratus 8 was developed and tested
solely for use as a paraglider for foot-launch
and winch-towing. Any use other than as
intended is not permitted. Do not under any
circumstances use the paraglider as a
parachute. Acrobatics are not permitted.
Observe the other specific safety advice in
the various sections of this Manual.

10
Section 2
Safety
Safety notices
Safety notices are issued when defects
arise during use of a paraglider 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.
Swing publishes on its website any technical
safety notices and airworthiness instructions
which are issued in respect of Swing
products. We will also send you safety
notices directly by email if you have
registered your product (refer to “Product
Registration” in the section “Swing on the
World Wide Web”).
WARNING
The paraglider 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 paragliding (refer to
Appendix for addresses).
Services such as RSS are also
available which allow internet
users to follow various websites
and changes to them without
having to access them
individually. This allows much more
information to be followed than was
previously the case.
Disclaimer and exclusion of
liability
Use of the paraglider 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 Swing
paragliders. The certification and warranty
shall be rendered invalid if there are
changes of any kind (incl. paraglider 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 paraglider
is airworthy. In addition, when flying outside
of Germany, 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.
In terms of the warranty and guarantee
conditions, the paraglider may not be flown
if any of the following situations exists:
•the inspection period has expired, or the
inspection has been carried out by the
pilot him/herself or by an unauthorised
inspector
•the take-off weight is not within the
permissible weight range
•the glider is flown in rain or drizzle,
cloud, fog and / or snow
•there are turbulent weather conditions or
wind speeds on launch higher than 2/3
of the maximum flyable airspeed of the
glider (varies according to the total take-
off weight)

Safety
Section 2
11
•the glider is used for aerobatics/extreme
flying or flight manoeuvres at an angle
greater than 130°
•the pilot has insufficient experience or
training
•the pilot has incorrect or inadequate
equipment (reserve, protection, helmet
etc)
•the glider is used for winch-launching
with a winch which has not been
inspected or by non-licensed pilots
and/or winch operators
•there have been modifications to the
canopy, lines or risers which have not
been approved
Glider categories and
guidelines
The German Hanggliding and Paragliding
Association (DHV) and its safety division
have developed guidelines which are based
on many years of analysing paraglider
accidents and on the experience of flying
schools, flying instructors and safety
officers. These guidelines should help pilots
to select the appropriate glider classification
for their particular level of flying ability. The
information below relates to the
classification in EN/LTF-certification. There
is also further information on the website of
the relevant licensing body.
EN/LTF certification
The Stratus 8 received EN-D classification
in the final classification by the licensing
body.
Description of flight characteristics
Paragliders with demanding flying
characteristics and potentially violent
reactions to turbulence and pilot errors.
Recovery to normal flight requires precise
pilot input.
Target group and recommended
flying experience
Performance pilots with extensive flying
experience of at least approx. 75 hours
airtime per year, who wish to fly at a top
performance level in, e.g. cross-country
flying.
Description of pilot skills required
Designed for pilots well-practised in
recovery techniques, who fly very actively,
have significant experience of flying in
turbulent conditions, and who accept the
implications of flying such a wing.
Suitability for training
The Stratus 8 is generally not suitable for
use as a training glider.

12
Section 3
Technical Description
03 Technical Description
General layout illustration
Stratus 8 – Pure perfection
The Stratus 8 is a highlight of the high-
performance class - dynamic, timeless and
with an even more sporty appearance. The
Stratus has always been a design icon. This
is equally true for the original Stratus as for
its replacements. Swing’s development
team gave the Stratus 8 an even more
sporty appearance. Its main strengths are
the aspect ratio of 7.4, the High Arc
Technology and a lime green design from
competition paragliding.
But the Stratus 8 is not just an
amalgamation of design elements. Its
development broke new ground and
achieved a new high-tech concept. The
High Arc Technology increases
performance and speed whilst maintaining
high stability. The Stratus 8 reaches a level
of performance which was previously the
domain of only pure competition gliders,
thanks to the 12mm competition risers and a
special speed system.
After your first encounter with the Stratus 8,
you will be keen to experience more. The
playful handling is exceptional and the
performance display no less so. This
combination and the impressive agility
stemming from the completely new brake-
line attachment make the Stratus 8 a
Fig. 1: CAD drawing of Stratus 8

Technical Description
Section 3
13
promising XC-star for the future. On top of
that, the line drag was reduced and the
maximum speed was increased, which a
top-performing pilot would naturally expect
of a high-tech glider. What will constantly
amaze pilots, however, is the fact that flying
enjoyment reaches a completely new level
as a result.
Pilots choosing a Stratus 8 get a
comfortable advantage when it comes to
sportiness, dynamics and performance.
Line system
The Stratus 8 has A, B and C line levels,
which fork twice from the bottom (riser) to
the top (canopy) and which are divided into
main, middle and top lines. The individual
line levels are connected with one another
using the “handshake knot” (special hoop
technology).
The Maintenance and Service book has a
detailed line connection plan, showing the
individual levels, connections and
descriptions of the lines.
With the brake lines, the individual levels
are bundled at the end with the main brake
line. This runs through the brake pulley
attached to the riser and is knotted at the
brake swivel of the control handle. There is
a mark on the main brake line which allows
the control handle to be correctly positioned.
The main lines are all attached to Maillon
quick links. They are fed through special
elastic rings and attached to prevent the
lines from slipping and to ensure that they
sit in the correct position.
IMPORTANT
The paraglider is delivered ex factory
with the Maillon quick links secured
using a strong thread-locking
compound Loctiteto prevent
unintentional opening. After service
work, quick links which have been
opened must be secured again against
unintentional opening.
WARNING
The service intervals for the lines given
in the Maintenance and Service book
must be observed under all
circumstances.
The Stratus 8 has sheathed lines with
diameters of less than 1mm. There is a
risk of the lines breaking if there is
improper use or if service intervals are
not observed.
WARNING
High-performance gliders with
extremely thin line diameters are under
no circumstances suitable for acro
flying or radical extreme flight
manoeuvres.
Risers
The 12mm wide risers specially developed
for the Stratus 8 with Kevlar reinforcement
allow the pilot to use a pulley system to
adjust the speed of the Stratus 8 to suit
individual preference. There is more
information on use of the speed system in
the section “Flying the Stratus 8”.

14
Section 3
Technical Description
Technical information and
materials
The Maintenance and Service book has
detailed technical information, including
take-off weight, design information and
speed range. It also includes extensive
information about the canopy and line
material used.

Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
Section 4
15
04 Setting up the Stratus 8
and test-flying
Before the first flight
WARNING
A specialist must test-fly and inspect
the paraglider before your first flight.
The test-flight must be recorded on the
paraglider information label.
During production, the Stratus 8 goes
through several quality control checks
before finally undergoing an exact type
certification test. Conformity with the
reference specimen is checked and certified
before the glider is delivered to the
customer. Extreme care is taken in the
manufacture of all patterns, lines and riser
lengths. They show a high level of precision
and should not be altered under any
circumstances.
WARNING
Any changes or improper repairs to this
paraglider shall render invalid the
certification and warranty.
Adjusting the main brake lines
The Stratus 8 is delivered ex factory with a
brake adjustment marked which complies
with the test sample and which should not
be altered. This adjustment will allow you to
steer and land the paraglider almost without
delay.
The main brake lines must be checked by
an expert before the test flight, and must be
fastened so that the mark is visible approx.
5mm above the knot.
Factory setting
Correctly installed brake lines have about
10cm of feed. This is how far you must pull
down the brakes before the trailing edge of
the paraglider starts to move downwards
and begins to brake. Note that the brake
cascades already cause drag by their
aerodynamic resistance.
Modern gliders such as the Stratus 8 have
less tolerance with regard to adjustment of
the brake lines. It is therefore normally not
necessary to alter the length.
If you do nevertheless adjust the brakes,
under no circumstances should you go
above or below the tolerance levels given in
the Maintenance and Service book.
Incorrect adjustment
If the brake lines are too long, the paraglider
reacts slowly and is difficult to land. The
brake lines can be adjusted during flight by
wrapping them around your hands which will
improve the flight characteristics. Adjust the
brake lines to the correct length after you
have landed. Changes to the braking
distance should always be made in small
increments of no more than 2 to 3cm and
must be tested on a training slope. The left
and right brakes must be adjusted
symmetrically.
If the brakes are shortened, care must be
taken that the paraglider is not slowed down
in trim and accelerated flight because of the
brake lines being too short. Safety issues
may arise and performance and launch
behaviour may deteriorate if the brake lines
are shortened too much.

16
Section 4
Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
WARNING
If the brake lines are too short, the
following risks could arise:
•there could be an early stall
•the paraglider does not launch
well and there is a risk of deep
stall
•the paraglider exhibits dangerous
behaviour in extreme flying
•the trailing edge of the paraglider
is braked in accelerated flight
which, in an extreme case, could
cause a frontal collapse
Brake knots
The overhand knot and bowline knot shown
below are the most suitable for connecting
the brake line to the brake handle.
Fig. 2: Overhand knot
Fig. 3: Bowline knot
WARNING
Loose, unsuitable or incorrectly tied
brakeline knots can cause the main
brake line to loosen and then lead to
loss of control of the glider.
Ensure that only overhand or bowline
knots are used and that they are tied
correctly.

Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
Section 4
17
Adjusting the brake handle
The Stratus 8 is fitted with Swing’s Multigrip
brake handles, which allows the stiffness of
the grip area to be adjusted. The various
options for stiffening the brake handles
allow them to be adjusted to suit the pilot’s
particular preferences. There are 4 levels of
stiffness possible using various
combinations of the stiffening options. The
pilot is able to choose the appropriate
degree of stiffness by simply taking out or
inserting the various parts.
Fig. 4: How to insert and remove the stiffeners
into Swing’s Multigrip brake handle
Multigrip brake handle on delivery with both
stiffeners
To remove the stiffeners, turn the Multigrip brake
handle inside out and push the two small rods out
through the opening
Multigrip brake handles after removing both
stiffening rods. These are the various parts:
Firm stiffening (bar)
Soft stiffening (tube)
Multigrip brake handle without stiffening
Brake swivel
Main brake line
The procedure is the same to insert the stiffeners:
turn the Multigrip brake handle inside out and
push the two small rods into the handle again
through the opening.
There is also a swivel where the brake
lines/brake handles connect to prevent the
brake lines from twisting.

18
Section 4
Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
Speed system
The Stratus 8 already has a high basic trim
speed, but this can be increased
considerably by using the additional speed
system. It is particularly useful if there is a
strong headwind, for valley crossings or to
leave a dangerous area quickly.
The A- and B-risers can be shortened using
the speed bar. This decreases the canopy’s
original angle of attack and the speed of the
glider increases.
The speed system must be correctly fitted
and adjusted to ensure it operates smoothly
during flight. Before first launch, the length
should be adjusted to suit the pilot and the
speed system should be checked.
The speed bar and the riser are connected
by special Brummel hooks. Adjust the length
to the speed system so that your legs are
fully stretched when at maximum
accelerated flight (the two riser pulleys next
to each other), otherwise you may
experience symptoms of fatigue in long
flights. You should still be in a comfortable
flight position even when the speed system
is used to its full extent.
You will not be able to use the paraglider’s
full potential if the speed system is too long.
Fig. 5: How the Stratus 8 speed system works

Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
Section 4
19
WARNING
Do not make the speed system too
short. The glider must under no
circumstances be pre-accelerated as a
result of the adjustment being too short.
Problems (such as collapses or tucks)
have a more drastic effect with
increased speed than in unaccelerated
flight. It is generally strongly
recommended that you do not use the
speed system in turbulent areas and
when flying close to the ground,
because of the increased risk of
collapse.
Fasten the speed bar to the harness before
launch to avoid tripping over it when
preparing to launch or taking off.
Harnesses
The Stratus 8 can be used with any harness
which has “GH” classification. There is more
information about this on the licensing body
websites (refer to Appendix).
Be aware when choosing a harness that the
height of the attachment point affects flight
behaviour. The lower the attachment point,
the more agile the paraglider. The harness
should also ensure that you can apply the
maximum acceleration distance using the
pulleys.
Be aware too that the relative braking
distance can also alter with the height of the
attachment point. Please contact Swing or
your Swing dealer if you have any questions
about using your harness with the Stratus 8.
Reserve
It is a mandatory requirement to carry an
approved reserve for use in emergency
situations where the paraglider fails and
recovery is not possible, for example after
colliding with another aerial sports craft.
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.
Recommended weight range
The Stratus 8 must be flown within the
permitted weight range, which is given in the
Maintenance and Service book. The weight
refers to take-off weight: pilot, incl. clothing,
glider, harness and equipment. Determine
your take-off weight by weighing yourself
with all of your equipment and your
backpack.
Swing offers the Stratus 8 in various sizes. If
you are choosing between two sizes, your
personal flying preferences will determine
which glider to choose.
If you prefer very dynamic flight behaviour
with fast reactions and without hesitation,
you should choose a high wing-loading, i.e.
the smaller model.
The dynamics reduce in the medium and
lower weight range. Flight behaviour
becomes more straightforward and many
pilots select this weight range because they
find it easier to centre in thermals. If these
features appeal to you, you should fly with
less wing-loading and choose the larger
model.
The Stratus 8 reacts to weight changes only
by slightly increasing or reducing trim
speed, with little noticeable influence on
glide performance. You can therefore
choose the size completely according to
your own flying style.

20
Section 4
Setting up the Stratus 8 and test-flying
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
glider without stress.
WARNING
Do not overestimate your own abilities.
Do not allow the paraglider’s
classification or the behaviour of other
pilots to make you careless.