We recommend that you make your first flights with your new glider in quiet conditions, in a familiar flying area. A few pull-ups at an easy site will give you confidence in the ALPHA DLS’s handling qualities, from the very beginning.
Takeoff
The ALPHA DLS takeoff behaviour is very smooth and easy for both forward and reverse takeoffs. The canopy inflates quickly and rises progressively, without hanging back.
The ALPHA DLS big ear lines have their own attachments. ALPHA DLS takeoff is achieved using the inner A-riser. The canopy fills reliably from the middle, and rises exceptionally straight with little effort.
The ALPHA DLS rises exceptionally easily, so it is very important that you match your pull-up technique to the weather conditions and the steepness of the slope. This means:
- In a lot of wind and/or on steep ground the ALPHA DLS needs little or almost no initial tug ( just lead it up ).
- In zero wind and/or on flat ground a more reasonable impulse would be sensible.
Connecting the Risers
The risers of your paraglider have the "Easy Connect System" compatible with ADVANCE harnesses, which helps you to connect the risers. Each riser has coloured sewing running up the back of the riser, red for left and blue for right, in the direction of flight. The coloured sewing facing the pilot, and the riser running cleanly upward to the lines confirm that the riser has not been connected with an 180 degree twist.
The “Easy Connect System“ also enables you to clip in while facing the wing, This can be helpful for a reverse takeoff in windy weather.
Takeoff preparation and checks
Before every takeoff carry out the following pre-takeoff checks:
- Harness and helmet buckled, reserve OK?
- Lines free?
- Canopy open?
- Wind direction and strength assessed?
- Airspace and field-of-view clear?
Takeoff in light wind (forward takeoff)
The ALPHA DLS only needs a moderate pull-up impulse even in a light wind. It is not necessary to step back and ‘run into the lines’. Guide the glider up with pronounced leaning forward, but without too much of a pull on the inner A-riser, until the canopy is overhead. During the pull-up phase any directional correcting should only be done by decisively moving under the wing, without using the brakes. After any necessary corrections and a satisfactory visual check a few determined steps with a good lean forward will achieve lift-off, even in little wind. Careful braking can shorten the takeoff run.
Takeoff in stronger wind (reverse takeoff)
The reverse takeoff is mainly recommended for stronger winds. During the pull-up you should walk towards the ALPHA DLS as necessary to control its rising rate. Turning round and taking off with the ALPHA DLS will then prove to be easy.
Normal flight
In calm air the ALPHA DLS's best glide is achieved with fully released brakes. Light braking brings the glider to its minimum sink condition. When flying into a headwind, through descending air, or when proceeding to the next thermal, glide performance will be distinctly improved by appropriate use of the speed system.
Despite the wing’s high stability an active flying style is recommended – collapses can be almost completely avoided. This means keeping the lightly-braked glider directly above you; in other words, countering roll and pitch disturbances.
- When the angle of attack increases (e.g. wing swings back when entering a thermal) the brake lines should be briefly released fully, until the glider returns to its overhead position.
- When the angle of attack reduces ( e.g. glider shoots forwards ) the wing should be briefly and strongly braked.
Be careful not to get below minimum speed, and don’t overreact with the brakes.
Turning flight
The ALPHA DLS has short and precise brake travel when steering. It responds very directly and progressively to increasing steering inputs, as soon as the free travel in the brake lines has been taken up. Active weight shift effectively assists steering. Angle of bank can always be increased, stabilised or reduced by brake line load.
When thermalling, choose the desired angle of bank and corresponding radius, and try to let the glider turn steadily at this attitude. Outside brake should be used to steady the wing tip and, in particular, control the rate of turn. Anything stronger will slow the wingtip down and lose the glider’s good steering qualities.
Accelerated flight
The ALPHA DLS remains extremely stable even in accelerated flight. However, paragliders operate at a lower angle of attack while flying at their higher speeds, and the degree of stability is generally reduced. The higher aerodynamic forces involved at higher airspeeds mean that a collapse can be more dynamic (see also section “Collapses“).
When encountering severe turbulence while flying accelerated, release the speed bar fully before applying the necessary stabilising brake. The ALPHA DLS’s high degree of structural stability allows it to be flown in normally turbulent air while accelerated. Active speed bar should be employed for adjusting angle of attack under these conditions, instead of brake. Pitch attitude disturbances can be minimised in this way, and optimal glide performance can be maintained. See also section “Speed system”.
When the angle of attack increases (e.g. wing pitches back when entering lift), briefly press the speed bar harder; when the angle of attack decreases (e.g. wing pitches forward), release the speed bar.
Collapses
Asymmetric collapse
The ALPHA DLS has a very stiff and stable canopy. With an active flying technique collapses can be almost completely prevented in normal flying conditions.
If the glider does, however, suffer a side collapse at trim speed, it will respond to a collapse of more than 50% of the whole wing with moderate turning, allowing heading to be easily held with light counter-steering. Normally, the wing will reopen without pilot action.
Due to higher aerodynamic forces during accelerated flight the glider will respond to a side collapse with more energy. But the turning tendency in fully accelerated flight is unspectacular and slow.
If a collapse is slow to reopen, a deep, fast but brief pull on the folded side brake will help. Here it is important to completely release the brake again to let the glider keep its flying speed. Be careful with the brake on the open side, and only apply enough to keep straight – so as not to stall the wing. This side is providing the lift necessary to keep the glider flying under control.
Poorly flown wingovers can cause a wingtip to fold inwards from the side, causing it to catch in the lines and create a cravat. Due to the high drag they produce cravats can lead to strong rotation (spiralling). Stop an increase in rotation rate by just the necessary amount of outside brake. Then open the cravated wingtip by pulling the orange stabilo line. Clearing a cravat can be also done more quickly by ‘pumping’. The appropriate brake should be applied to 75 % brake travel within a maximum of two seconds, and then released immediately.
Symmetric collapse (front collapse)
After a spontaneous or A-riser provoked collapse the airflow breaks away from the profile and the canopy will pitch back. The pilot swings back underneath after a short delay. Wait, without applying brake, until the wing is again above you and returns to normal flight. After a big collapse reopening may be delayed, but do not forcibly encourage reopening by the use of excessive brake, because of the risk of a full stall.
Rapid descents
For quick and efficient ways of getting down the ADVANCE test team recommend big ears (with or without speed bar) or the spiral dive – the choice depends on the situation.
Symmetrical collapsing of the wingtips (big ears)
The ALPHA DLS big ear lines have their own attachments. To apply, pull the outer A-lines briskly downwards at the same time. The wingtips will fold, and can be easily held in this position. Sink speed can be increased by using the speed system while big ears are applied. Depending on the situation the glider can be steered using weight shift. To reopen, release both A-lines at the same time. Opening can be speeded up by a light pull (pump) on the brake. Open the ears one at a time.
Spiral dive
For the most comfortable way of doing this we recommend a neutral sitting position without active weight shift, and a shoulder-width carabiner distance (approx 45 cm).
Enter the spiral by progressively pulling one brake. Your head and field of view should be directed in the turn direction. As the angle of bank increases so will the rate of turn, airspeed and centrifugal force, which makes the pilot feel heavier.
The behaviour of the spiralling paraglider can be separated into two phases: in the beginning the glider makes a normal turn which progressively tightens, with increasing angle of bank. In the second phase the paraglider engages its spiral mode. This means that the wing dives forward and assumes a more vertical flightpath. During this phase of the manoeuvre try to keep a neutral sitting position and give way to the centrifugal force – your body will be pulled to the outside of the turn.
To recover keep the neutral sitting position and progressively release the inside brake. Your body weight will be somewhat tipped to the outside. While coming out of a spiral dive of high vertical and rotational speeds some assistance with outside brake is essential. Careful releasing of the inside brake will prevent the wing from recovering too quickly, thus pitching back excessively before diving in front if the turn stops with too much speed remaining. Make sure that you start the recovery with plenty of height above the ground. Generally speaking you should allow the same amount of time to recover as it took to enter the manoeuvre, but remember that the vertical speed will be higher, and much more height will be used!
B-Stall
The whole paraglider structure and its profile shape would be severely strained by a B-stall. We recommend that you do not carry out B-stalls on a regular basis. If you do fly a B-stall the recovery requires that the B-lines are completely released without hesitation, so that normal flight is resumed within 2 seconds. B-stall is difficult for light pilots because of the high force required.
Stalling
One-sided stall (spin)
When circling tightly in a thermal the ALPHA DLS indicates clearly, by strongly increasing brake load, the risk of a stall. Even so, if a wing does stall you will feel a marked reduction of brake load on the inside of the turn. If this happens you must immediately release both brake lines, so that the ALPHA DLS can return to normal flight by itself.
If a wing stalls completely the paraglider will go into a spin / negative rotation. The ALPHA DLS will react dynamically, but will still be manageable by the less experienced pilot. Even so – depending on the situation from which the paraglider is allowed to fly again – the reaction can be quite vigorous (shooting forward with a raised risk of collapse). The canopy can be arrested while shooting forward by well-judged braking. Normal flight can then be resumed without a further collapse.
Full stall
Although the ALPHA DLS responds early to brake input it has very long brake travel, and very high brake load at the stall point. This means a large safety margin for the pilot.
Entry into a full stall is achieved by progressively and symmetrically pulling down both brake lines. Forward speed reduces. Airflow and wind noise reduce.
After reaching minimum speed the paraglider first goes into a brief phase of parachutal stall. Then further brake will cause complete airflow breakaway, and the wing will fall back in full stall. The ALPHA DLS has a strong desire to fly again, but is easy to hold in the stall. A half wrap of the brakes is recommended to fly full stalls.
To recover, the canopy has to be pre-inflated. To do this the brakes should, at first, be released slowly and symmetrically, and only fully released when pre-inflation is complete. The ALPHA DLS then flies away relatively cleanly, without shooting forward too much.
Deep stall
Stable parachutal stall cannot be established, whether attempted by brake or B-stall.
In rain, or if the canopy is wet, the ALPHA DLS like all paragliders, is more vulnerable to parachutal stall. If the wet glider were to go into parachutal stall you should recover only by accelerating using the speed bar. See also the section “Flying with a wet paraglider”.
Landing
Always make a proper landing circuit with a clearly defined final approach. As the ground approaches progressively increase brake to level the flight-path, before applying full brake to completely arrest the forward speed.