WINDTECH ZENITH User manual

ZENITH
manual

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Windtech
w w w . w i n d t e c h . e s
Z E N I T H
XS-S-sM-ML-L
flight manual

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> index
> congratulations ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 5
> warning &liability ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 6
> construction &materials ––––––––––––––––––––––– 6
> certification –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 7
> best glide –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 7
> flight ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 8
-- launch ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 9
-- strong wind –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 9
> thermal flying –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 9
> flying in turbulence –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 9
-- asymmetric tuck ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10
-- frontal tuck –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 10
-- asymmetric stall (spin)–––––––––––––––––––––––––– 11
-- landing –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 11
> weather to fly ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 12
> emergency procedures &uick descent techni ues –12
-- big ears ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 12
-- spiral drive ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 12
-- b stall ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 13
> maintenance –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 14
> warranty ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 14
> technical specifications–––––––––––––––––––––––––15
> line measurements ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––17
> flight log ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 19

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> congratulations
Congratulations on the purchase of your new paraglider
The ZENITH is a very versatile wing and has been designed for all types of recreational
flying, from long cross country and competition flying, to relaxing smooth evening and
morning soaring flights.
We strongly recommend that before you even unfold the ZENITH you read this manu-
al carefully in order to be aware of any general limitations, performance characteristics,
take off and flight characteristics, landing procedures, dealing with emergency situations
and general maintenance.
We appreciate your feedback, so please send us your comments, positive or negative, in
regard to the Windtech range.
You are the best feedback and support for future products, and please remember that we
are always happy to give you any help &advice.
best winds
>Windtech team

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> warning &liability
This manual has been created to give the pilot help and hints to help with the correct
operation of this wing. By no means is this a substitute of a training course, or appro-
priate experience gained with years and hours of airtime, nor is this manual intended to
give pilots knowledge regarding flight safety.
Windtech assumes that the purchasing pilot has the appropriate pilot's licence, has
taken a training course, and has the suitable ability and enough experience to safely fly
the ZENITH.
This manual cannot be used for operational purposes. The flight log &registration card
must be filled and stamped by the dealer &returned to Windtech in order to claim on
the guarantee.
The use of this paraglider is entirely at the user's own risk. As with any adventure sport
paragliding is a high risk activity-especially without taking the appropriate precautions
- therefore it must be absolutely understood that Windtech &the dealer do not accept
any responsibility for accidents, losses, injuries, direct or indirect damage following the
use or misuse of this product
> desing materials
The ZENITH is a EN B glider that offers total security, along with beautiful handling &
incredible performance. The performance is very high due to a well-defined structure
with 61 cells, with an internal structure comprised of diagonals of different types,
depending on the width of the cell and an optimized line layout to reduce the overall
number of lines.

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-- clot
The upper and lower panels are made with 45 gr. Porcher Marine Skytex nylon. The ribs
are made with stronger (slighly heavier grade) nylon of to prevent aerofoil deformation,
even after several years of intensive use. Rib (cell wall) reinforcements are made of
Dacron 310-180 gr. Line attachment points are made of polyester.
-- lines
The lines are made of Superaramid kevlar covered with a polyester sheath for protection
against wear, UV and abrasion. The riser karabiners, also called "Maillons Rapide", are
made with stainless steel of. Risers are made of pre-stretched polyester.
> certification
The ZENITH is a paraglider of a intermediate level that has passed the tests of the EN
evel Bwith great success. This glider has successfully passed the DHV shock test with a
weight equal to the maximum total (all up) take-off weight. This means that the
paraglider is certified to resist to a load of 8 (eight) times the gravitational acceleration
(8 s).
As regards the weight range of the glider, ALWAYS be
certain that you are within the correct weight range of
the glider. To fly under-weight or over-weight can
adversely affect the stability of the ZENITH &flown as
such it will no longer be certified.
> best glide &the speed system
Best glide in nil wind, and still air, is obtained at “trim”
speed- that is brakes fully released and no accelerator
(speed bar) applied. It is always best to fly with a light
pressure on the brakes, keeping a “feel” on the wing in
case of unexpected turbulence.
When flying into (against the) wind a better glide can
be obtained by using the speed system. The following is
rough guide line as to how much speed system to apply:
- With around 10 km/h of head wind, best glide is
obtained with 25% accelerator.
- With around 15-25 km/h of head wind, best glide is
obtained with 50%accelerator.

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- With around +25 km/h of head wind, best glide is obtained with 75-100% accelerator.
When flying downwind (wind from behind) the best glide is obtained between 0% brake
and 10% of brake.
The ZENITH is a EN Baccelerated but using the accelerator system close to the ground
is not advisable &it should be released as soon as turbulent air is encountered.
Note that the glide angle is not affected by the wing loading, but that the security is.
Always fly a glider that is the correct size for you, and remember that if your flying
weight is below the stated minimum, the speed range will diminish and inflation prob-
lems may appear. Also the handling will degrade in turbulent conditions, and it will be
easier to sustain collapses. If your flying weight is above the stipulated weight range, this
will result in a higher minimum speed and faster landing speed and the stall speed of the
glider will also be higher.
The ZENITH has a brake of medium weight resistance (from 1.5 to 3 kg of force) for the
majority of manoeuvres. To reach the stall (never recommended on any type of paraglid-
er), requires more than 9kg.
> flight
Each and every glider has a checklist
note passed though our strict quality
control in the factory. This included line
measurement, ground inflation and
flight testing. Contact your distributor
for more information about this, and if
your glider has not been pre-inflated
ask him to do so for you. Every glider
should be test flow before it is sold.
Note that each glider has a unique
sticker attached to the centre airfoil
with the serial number, type of glider,
size and weight range.
We recommend that your first flight on
your new glider be on a gentle slope in
calm conditions before making your any further higher flights, just to check the glider
and for you to get used to flying it. We also recommended that you use a harness that
has an ABS cross strap system.
For you own safety, we strongly recommend the use of back protection, helmet and
Wind-SOS reserve.

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-- launch
Choose an open space free of any obstacles, especially trees and power lines.
Open your glider in a slight horseshoe arc (semi-circle) &thoroughly check that you have
no knots or line twists. Make sure your helmet is securely fastened &clip into your har-
ness making sure all straps are securely fastened.
Connect risers to your harness making certain that your karabiners are fully closed &you
have no twists in the risers.
-- strong wind
We recommended that the reverse launch is the best technique when the wind is strong
at take off.
There are many reverse launch methods/techniques which the pilot can learn. To progress
well with your flying, and to be a good pilot, it is necessary to master at least one of the
techniques. If you can achieve 100% control your glider on the ground then you will be
a better, safer pilot in the air &this will also help you to understand the dynamics of a
paraglider in flight.
-- thermal flying
The ZENITH is truly a pleasure to thermal with.
To achieve the best sink rate the pilot should
use around 35% of inside brake (on the turn-
ing side) and 25% of outside brake whilst
using weight shift to help maximise the effi-
ciency or turn.
Easing off on the outside brake can change the
steepness of the turn, and help with the your
efficiency in the thermal. This is a more
advanced technique &should be practised
with an instructor and/or experienced pilot to
perfect it.
With the harness chest strap pulled tight weight shift is less effective but the security
will be increased and the wing feel more “solid”, &vice versa.
> flying in turbulence
Most pilots want to enjoy the pleasures of thermal and coss-country flight.
One thing to always consider is that normally these flying conditions are rougher,
stronger and sometimes unpredictable and more difficult to handle which can lead to

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unstable situations such as collapses. There will always be some level of turbulence asso-
ciated with thermals.
If you progress at a nice steady rate, and keep safe, you will find thermal flying will
become a pleasure. With qualified instruction you will actually learn faster, learning how
to optimise your thermal skills. A safety (SIV) course is something to consider, as these
teach you how to deal correctly with unstable situations such as collapses, rapid descent
manoeuvres, stalls ands spins, and so you will get far more from your flying.
With the correct technique &qualified instruction the pilot can learn to help stop col-
lapses by flying “actively” &recover the wing more quickly, by the giving the correct
input, when collapses occur. Remember, the glider is tested to recover and so it is always
better to under-react than to over-react. Over reacting to a situation can prevent the
glider from self-recovering, and recovering air speed, and cause it to enter further unsta-
ble situations.
-- asymmetrical tuck/collaps
An asymmetric tuck / collapse is when part (one side) of the wing ( say 20% or even any-
thing up to 90% of the span) tucks or collapses, usually induced by turbulence but some-
times also though poor pilot control in turns and wing-overs.
The ZENITH is tested and certified to automatically recover without correction by the
pilot, but with the correct input the pilot can minimise any turning, and height lose, and
help the glider recover more quickly.
T ere are 3 basic steps to follow immediately if you ave a collapse:
1: Weight shift to the flying side of your glider (away from the collapsed side). This helps
stop the rotation &increases pressure in the wing in the inflated side.
2: If needed apply the correct amount of brake to the open (flying) side to slow any rota-
tion (spiral) induced by the collapse. Be very careful not to use too much brake as its pos-
sible to stall the flying side of the glider, and enter further unstable situations which may
be harder to recover from than the collapse itself.
3: Once the glider has straightened out, or the spiral has slowed, smoothly pull down the
brake on the collapsed side, with a long stroke/pump, &the deflated side of the glider
should re-inflate. As the glider re-opens release the brake immediately but progressively.
With instruction &experience the above will become a reflex action, and the correct
input to give will become second nature to the experienced pilot.
-- front/symmetrical tuck collapse
A front tuck /collapse is a symmetric tuck of the leading edge of the wing, starting from the
centre of the canopy to the wing tip. This can be either a tucking of just the central part of
the leading edge of the glider, which can sometimes cause a front 'horseshoe' or 'rosette-
ing' of the glider, or even a complete 'blow-out' of the whole canopy in extreme situations.