U-Turn infinity User manual

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INFINITY
Owner’s Manual
INFINITY
Owner’s Manual

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Copyright ©
2002 by U-Turn GmbH, all rights preserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or deve-
loped further on in any way without written approval of the U-Turn GmbH
All technical details in this manual have been carefully checked by U-TURN. However we like to
mention that we dont take any liability for possible mistakes, neither in legal responsibility, nor in
liability cases that derive from mistakable details.
We preserve the right to change this manual in any way to achieve technical improvements.
Text and graphics: Ernst Strobl, As of: August 2003 Revision 0

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You’ ve got what it takes to fly!
The U-Turn crew congratulates you on buying a new U-Turn pa-
raglider. You made a supreme choice. We wish you long and
enjoiable flights and many happy landings with your U-Turn
INFINITY.
Please read this manual carefully before you operate your INFI-
NITY for the first time. We wrote this manual for your safety and
to enable you to easily opreate your your INFINITY.
To keep you posted about the latest technical improvements and
innovations about U-Turn products, we ask you to fill in the que-
stionaire and send it back to:
U-TURN GmbH iG
Paragliders and Kites
Esslinger Straße 23, D-78054 Villingen-Schwennigen
Tel. [phone] / Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.u-turn.de / E-mail: [email protected]
U-Turn – Enjoy the best!
Please read this operating manual carefully, understand the information given
and follow the instructions before you launch your new U-Turn Infinity. This ma-
nual will provide you with all necessary safety information and help getting star-
ted. There is detailed infomation for you to get the best from your new Infinity.

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Reply Page
Please fill out and send it to U-Turn!
Surname:
Forename:
Address:
Phone:
E-Mail:
U-Turn INFINITY serial nr:
Date of purchase:
Dealer:
My INFINITY was test flown by:
My former flying experience in hours:
Paragliding pilot since:

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Contents
Introduction 51
General Description 53
Material Specifications 55
Technical Specifications 56
Line System 58
Risers 59
Suitable Harness 60
Suitable Rescue System 60
Speed System 60
Operation 61
Field of Operation 62
Aerobatics 62
Motorised Paragliding 62
Pre-Flight Check 63
Takeoff 64
Turning 64
Thermals and Turbulences 65
Landing 66
Winching 66

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Advanced Handling 67
Wingover 68
Front Stall 69
Stall 69
Full Stall 69
Emergency Piloting 70
Negative Turn / Spin 70
Collaps 70
Rapid Descent 73
Spiral Dive 74
B-Stall 75
Big Ears 75
Maintenance And Repairs 76
Safety Advices and Liability 77
Appendix 123
✂

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Introduction:
Paragliders made by U-Turn are a class of its own. U-Turn stands
for uncompromising safety, best components and outperforming
flight-characteristics. Fly it and be happy, as U-Turn is the brand
for those who appreciate the difference. The limits of physics are
unbribable. To do the most practicable within this given frame is
our goal. We concede: This is an ambitious and somehow immo-
dest demand, but you’ll find U-Turn always at the cutting edge of
technology. Oscar Wilde once said in his very british understate-
ment his taste is just basic: Only the best is always good enough.
The U-Turn team agrees with this attitude: We always want to de-
liver the best possible glider. Not more, but certainly not less.
Customer’s wishes are key for the U-Turn stuff, so we appreciate
any comments. Please feel free to contact your competence cen-
ter or U-Turn directly when you’re in need for a good piece of ad-
vice. To keep you in the loop of information we ask you to fill the
registery card and send it to:
U-TURN GmbH iG
Paragliders and Kites
Esslinger Straße 23, D-78054 Villingen-Schwennigen
Tel. [phone] / Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.u-turn.de / E-mail: [email protected]

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53
General Description
Material Specifications 55
Technical Specifications 56
Line System 58
Risers 59
Suitable Harness 60
Suitable Rescue System 60
Speed System 60

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General Description
The INFINITY has been developed as a fast and safe intermedia-
te paraglider with excellent takeoff- and landing characteristics.
Its dominant features are superb aerodynamic stability with a
high lift coefficient and a wide speedrange. Intensive and com-
plicated test procedures made it possible to design a paraglider
for a large group of pilots. Easy handling, high performance and
a high safety potential provide the base for successful and en-
joiable flights. Not only the majority of average pilots, who will
be used to the INFINITY quickly, also experienced crosscountry
and competition pilots will have a lot of fun with this highperfor-
mance intermediate.
We suggest to fly the INFINITY in the upper third of the maximum
takeoff weight, to make full use of its performance- and safety po-
tential.
WARNING: even a high experience level does not relieve you
from the neccessity to get used to your paraglider before the first
flight. Read this manual carefully and if needed contact your
flight school or U-Turn directly.
Please remember that every kind of aerosport is potentially dan-
gerous and that you after all are responsible for your own safety.
We strongly recommend that you fly carefully. Watch out for flying
conditions, think about the manoeuvers you make and always
have a safety margin built in!

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Material Specifications
The sailmaterial of the U-Turn INFINITY consists of high strength,
stretch resistant NYLON with a special anti-UV coating.
Materials usage Producer Identification Material
Top Porcher Marine, NCV, 9017 - E77A Water-repellent PA 6.6 High Tenacity
Bottom France 9017 - E38A Gewicht 40 g/m_
Profile 9017 - E29A : Firm
V-Tape 9017 - E38A
Reinforcement Porcher Marine P260 Polyester
Mylar in air intake Dimension-Polyant W420 Gewicht 182 g/m_
Lines Teijin Limited, Japan 1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 / 1.9 /2.3mm Technora
Riser Techni Sangles, France 22mm / 1100kg BS / 25g/m High Tanacity Poliester Yarn

Technical Specifications
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Size XS S M L Take off weight 50 - 80 kg 60 - 90 kg 80 - 115 kg 95 – 130 kg Wing area flat 24,0 m_ 26,5 m_ 29,0 m_ 31,5 m_ Wing area project 22,1 m_ 24,3 m_ 26,6 m_ 28,9 m_ Wing span flat 11,19 m 11,76 m 12,30 m 12,82 m Aspect ratio flat 5,21 5,21 5,21 5,21 Numbers of Cell 44 44 44 44 V-Trimm 37 Km/h 37 Km/h 37 Km/h 37 Km/h V-Min 22 Km/h 21 Km/h 20 Km/h 20 Km/h V-Max 52 Km/h 52 Km/h 53 Km/h 53 Km/h Feature V-Tapes V-Tapes V-Tapes V-Tapes
stabilization strap stabilization strap stabilization strap stabilization strap
separate A-Riser separate A-Riser separate A-Riser separate A-Riser
Numbers of riser 5 5 5 5 Numbers of lines storey 2 2 2 2 Accelerator / Trimmer Accelerator Accelerator Accelerator Accelerator Sewing Top / Bottom inside inside inside inside Glider weight 5,3 kg 5,8 kg 6,3 kg 6,7 kg Certification DHV DHV 2 (Trimm) DHV 1 (Trimm) DHV 1 (Trimm) DHV 1 (Trimm)
DHV 2 (Accelerated) DHV 1-2 (Accelerated) DHV 1-2 (Accelerated) DHV 1-2 (Accelerated)

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Further details concerning measurements (incl. line data) of the
U-TURN INFINITY are posted in the "Typenkennblat" or in the
"Luftsportgerätekennblatt §4 Luftverkehrszulassungsordnung"
(see appendix). Possible technical changes are published in the
according appendixes to this manual. Every change to the con-
struction, exceeding the approved adjustments is a potential
danger to your life and results in deletion of the official approval.
The operation of this paraglider is at your own risk. There will be
no liability from the manufacturer or the dealer.

Line System / illustration see p. 57
We use 1,1 / 1,3 / 1,5 / 1,8 / 2,1 and 2,7mm Technora by TAE-GU
Lines Weaving Inc. with a special weaved aramid core. They have
a high tear strength and are unlikely to bend. This stretch resi-
stance denies changes in flight characteristics caused by diffe-
rent stretching after a short time of usage. An optimum of safety
and strength in relation to drag is achieved by the use of different
line diameters. The whole line system consists of single elements
that are sewed and looped on both ends. All suspension and
brake lines are forked in the upper part. The different colour of
the lines guarantee easy handling and control. All suspension
lines are looped seperately in rapidlinks and conected to the
risers. The rapidlinks have collectorclips built in to prevent slip-
ping of the lines. The main brakeline is looped through a reel at the
D-riser with a colourmarking where a brakegriphas to be tied on.
The manufacturer setting is 0 travel plus 5cm. Shortening more
than 5cm is not allowed and results in a "brake" condition in
flight which is extremely dangerous for takeoff, flight and lan-
ding. The basic setting provides sufficient braking action at lan-
ding and in extreme flight conditions besides a comfortable ar-
mposition in trimmed flight. Never change the basic setting of the
lines before you have operated the paraglider in the originally de-
livered version.
Please note that with the height of the harness mounting also the
relative brakedistance changes. When adjusting the setting, both
sides have to be symmetrically and a permanent knot has to be
used. Optimum solution is the "Spierenstich" knot with its high
slide resistance and its little effect on the lines.
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Risers
The A- and B- risers have a different colour to ensure positive
identification at takeoff and during a B-stall descent. The lenght
of all risers has been choosen in a way to get easy acsess to all
lines and lineshackles inflight for special manoeuvers.
Made of rigid and stretch resistant Poyster-belts, the INFINITY ri-
sers guarantee a long-term, stable trim.

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Suitable Harness
All officially approved harnessystems with mounting about the
breast height are suitable for the INFINITY (they have to be DHV-
rated GH). The lower the mounting, the better is the the steering
by shifting of the bodyweight.
The positioning of the mounting also changes the relative brake-
distance. If you have any questions about the usage of your harn-
ess with the INFINITY, ask your U-TURN dealer or directly contact
U-TURN. We assist you in any possible way.
Suitable Rescue System
It is required by the law and absolutely neccessary for safe
operation of your paraglider that you always carry a rescue
system with you. When choosing a rescuesystem, watch out that
it is approved and suitable for the intended takeoff weight.
Speed System
The INFINITY is equipped with a very effective leg-actuated
speedsystem that increases the speed btw. 8 and 15 km/h de-
pending on model and pilots weight.
During extreme manoeuvers the speedsystem should not be ac-
tivated, when entering an extreme manoeuver it should be im-
mideately deactivated. All extreme manoeuvers (i.e. stalls...) get
more dynamically at higher speed.

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Operation
Field of Operation 62
Aerobatics 62
Motorised Paragliding 62
Pre-Flight Check 63
Takeoff 64
Turning 64
Flying thermals and turbulences 65
Landing 66
Winching 66

Operation
This instruction manual only pays attention to those points of fly-
ing technique which are important for the INFINITY. It is not me-
ant to substitute a basic flying education in an approved flying
school! If a flying education and the appropriate experience is
missing, paragliding is dangerous to life.
Field of Operation
The INFINITY has been developed and tested for ordinary ta-
keoffs, winching, and is also well suitable for motorized opera-
tions. An unauthorized or unapproved use of the INFINITY, or
operation out of its operational limits is improper and dangerous.
Aerobatics
Aerobatics are illegal and dangerous. There is a danger of un-
predictable flight conditions that could result in overstressing
material and pilot.
Motorised Paragliding
The INFINITY is well suitable for motorized operation due to ist
outstanding takeoff performance, its wide weight range and its
easy handling.
Please note that a separate approval is neccessary for the glider
/ motor-combination. If you intend to operate the INFINITY mo-
torized, please contact the motor manufacturer, U-Turn and the
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DULV (Deutscher Ultraleichtflug Verband) for official approval.
Use only approved motor / glider combinations and adhere to the
aeronautical regulations as well as the training requirements.
The according rules and regulations for the country of operation
apply.
Pre-Flight Check
A careful preflight-check is absolutely mandatory. Double-check
everthing when you don´t fly yourself and make sure the person
flying your INFINITY does the same. Also ensure that the pilot fly-
ing your INFINITY, knows its operational limits and has the re-
quired license.
All lines, risers and the canopy have to be carefully checked for
damage before every takeoff. Even in case of minor damages ta-
keoff is not an option.
After the glider is unpacked and layed on the ground in a half-
circle-shape, check following items:
• Lay down the canopy to draw on the middle line before the
outer lines, when pulling up the glider with the A-risers, to get
an easy and stable takeoff.
• Set yourself up into the wind to get a symmetrical load on
both sides when pulling up the canopy.
• The risers may not be twisted to enable smooth looping of the
brakelines.
• Make sure no lines are under the canopy to avoid a dange-
rous situation on takeoff.
• Preflight all other equippment after the check of the glider
carefully.

Takeoff
Hold on to the A-risers and the brakegrips. Recheck the glider on-
ce more visually. Take the U-Turn sign in the middle of the cano-
py as device to get a centered takeoff run into the wind.
Rise the canopy with a firm, steady and even pull. Reach forward
with your arms to prolong the A-lines. When the force lightens,
the canopy is now over the pilot, look up to ensure that it is fully
open above you. The INFINITY has a light tendency to overshoot
a little, but braking is not required during the takeoff phase.
Even with little or no wind you don´t need an aggressive takoff,
or to run into the glider with momentum. An even, smooth pull is
the easiest and safest way to get the INFINITY airborne.
Directional inputs with the brakes should not be done before the
canopy is fully errected over the pilot, because the canopy could
fall backwards when the braking action is too strong.
Now is the right time to make the final decision for takeoff. A cou-
ple of quick steps forward and a slight release on the brakes for
acceleration will get you airborne.
Turning
The INFINITY has a normal agility and reacts directly and instantly
to steering inputs. You can fly flat turns with little altitude loss by
shifting of bodyweight. A combination of appropriate pull on the
inner brakeline and shift of bodyweigth is the best way for a co
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