Handle with Care
The THETA ULS is an ultralight paraglider. The life of this product is highly dependent on your care. Mechanical stresses such as deep spirals, acro manoeuvers, dragging on the ground etc. accelerate the ageing process and should be avoided. A lightweight product is much more sensitive to stress of all kinds.
SIV Overloads
We do not recommend using this lightweight product for SIV training. Excessive loading can cause non-safety-related damage to the product, which is not covered by the ADVANCE guarantee.
Piloting requirements
The THETA ULS has a EN/LTF B certification and is intended for pilots with several years of flying experience who fly regularly (40 hours or more per year) and already have sufficient thermal flying experience.
An active flying style using brakes, speed system and/or riser control (C-Handles) is required. As the pilot you must be able to recognise canopy disturbances at their onset, and be able to oppose them by means of adequate, appropriate and timely control response. In addition you must be fully familiar with the normal fast descent techniques and be capable of using them when required..
Suitable harnesses
ADVANCE paragliders are compatible with all ADVANCE harnesses, provided nothing to the contrary is explicitly stated in the paraglder manual. Basically, the THETA ULS may be flown with any harness that does NOT have rigid cross bracing.
During certification testing, harnesses with the following characteristics were used:
- All-up in-flight weight less than 80 kg: carabiner distance 40 ± 2 cm, height 40 ± 1 cm
- All-up in-flight weight 80 to 100 kg: carabiner distance 44 ± 2 cm, height 42 ± 1 cm
- All-up in-flight weight more than 100 kg: carabiner distance 48 ± 2 cm, height 44 ± 1 cm
Weight range
The THETA ULS comes in five sizes. The weight ranges for the different wing sizes are listed in the “Technical Data“ section. The figures given there refer to total take-off weight. This includes the pilot’s body weight including clothing, as well as the weight of all the equipment (paraglider, harness, instruments, etc. – everything that’s going to fly).
Seamless Weight Ranges
The THETA ULS was planned for Seamless (continuous) weight ranges, with no overlapping. These mean that any particular flying weight features in only one glider size. These THETA ULS Ideal Takeoff Weight ranges provide the best compromise between speed and climbing performance for all normal conditions, for each glider size.
Flying outside the Seamless Weight Ranges, in other words near the lower or upper certified weight limits, can alter a paraglider’s flying behavior and handling, but without affecting your safety. Glide performance remains the same over a complete weight range, but climb performance is altered.
If the THETA ULS is flown outside its Seamless Weight Range, in the upper part of its Certified Weight Range, the higher wing loading will raise its trim speed and produce more dynamic and agile flying characteristics.
Flying with a wet paraglider (risk of deep stall)
Flying with a wet glider creates a risk of deep stall. Deep stall is often the result of a combination of factors. The weight of the wet canopy goes up, and this increased weight increases the angle of attack, which always puts the glider nearer the deep stall limit. Added to this, water drops on the top surface have a detrimental effect on the laminar flow of the boundary layer near the leading edge, which distinctly reduces the maximum lift coefficient. If the wet glider is also being flown at its lower weight limit there is a further small effect of increasing the angle of attack, as well as there being a lower airspeed because of the reduced wing loading.
In order to avoid the risk of deep stall with a wet glider, the wing should be braked as little as possible, and big ears not used at all. As a further preventative measure apply moderate (25-40 %) speed bar. These actions have a small effect in reducing the angle of attack. If the wet glider does go into deep stall you should recover by using the speed bar only. See also section "Deep stall".
Winching
The THETA ULS is suitable for winch launching. When taking off in windless conditions, ensure that the paraglider is laid out in an arched or even wedge shape (to avoid risk of the glider rosetting).
Winch launch is only permitted if:
- The pilot has completed a tow training course (only Germany/DHV).
- The winch system is certified for use with paragliders.
- The winch operator has been fully trained in paraglider winching.
Acrobatics
We do not recommend flying acro manoeuvres with the THETA ULS.
Be aware that dynamic manoeuvres put greater loading on the structure and can shorten the glider’s life. This means that a regular check of the paraglider is essential for your safety. In addition there will be the special requirements of your country to be observed.
Tandem flying
The THETA ULS is not certified for tandem flying.
Paramotoring
The THETA ULS is not certified for paramotoring.