Paragliding
inducing a higher rate of descent.
Fast Descents
Big Ears, Rocky Point, NY.
Problems with etting down can occur when the lift situation is very good or when the weather changes unexpectedly. There are three possibilities of rapidly reducing altitude in such situations, each of which has benefits and issues to be aware of:
Big ears induces descent rates of 2m/s or so. It is the most controllable of the techniques, and the easiest for beginners to learn.
A B-line stall induces descent rates of 5m/s or so. It increases loading on parts of the wing (the pilot’s weight is mostly on the B-lines, instead of spread across all the lines). There is not a risk of the pilot becoming disoriented as a result of using this technique.
A spiral dive offers the fastest rate of descent, at 10-15m/sec. It places greater loads on the wing than other techniques do, and requires the highest level of skill from the pilot to execute safely.
Big Ears
By pulling on the outer A-lines the wing tips of the glider can be folded in. This method drastically deteriorates the glide angle with only a small decrease in forward speed. The effectiveness of this technique can be increased by using the speed system at the same time.
To reinflate on a low performance glider (e.g. DHV1 rated) it is simply necessary to release the lines. On higher performance gliders (e.g. DHV1/2 and above) it may be necessary to help the reinflation with brief, deep pumps of the brakes.
Whilst big ears are in use, the loading on the remaining flying surface of the glider is increased and it is therefore more stable and less prone to collapse. However there is an increased increase of stalling because ‘pulling the ears’ increases the angle of attack and reduces the speed of the wing. So while ‘ears’ and speed bar is a good combination, ‘ears’ and brake is not – it is best not to use the brakes when the ears are ‘in’.
B-Line stall
In a ‘B-line stall’, the second set of risers from the leading-edge/front (the B-lines) are pulled down independently of the other risers. This puts a crease in the upper surface of the wing, thereby destroying the laminar flow of air over the aerofoil. This dramatically reduces the lift produced by the canopy and thus induces a higher rate of descent.
The B-line stall should be initiated with the wing in normal flight (no speed bar; not accelerated). Grasp the B-lines on both sides above the line links and pull them down. There is no need to release the toggles while B-stalling. DHV 1/2 wings are very resistant to creasing; the pilot may have pull on the B-lines with sufficient force to almost lift themself out of the seat to get the wing to crease. Once the crease is in, it requires less effort to keep it in that it does to initiate it.
The sensation for the pilot when the B-line stall is induced is that the breeze is upwards rather than in your face. Pulling the B-lines even further down will not enhance the sink rate, but can lead to a more unstable flight position.
To recover from the B-line stall, release the B-risers so that the aerofoil shape of the wing is resumed. This will normally be sufficient to resume normal flight, but if the canopy remains in a stall push forward gently on the A-risers to lower the leading edge of the wing and reattach the laminar airflow to the upper surface of the wing.
Spiral Dive
The spiral dive is the most rapid form of controlled fast descent. With a little bit of practice you will achieve a sink rate of 15 m/s and more.
However, spiral dives put strong G-forces on the wing and glider and must be done carefully and skilfully. The G-forces involved can induce blackouts, and the rotation can produce disorientation. Spiral dives, as with all paragliding techniques, are best learned under expert supervision. Paragliding ‘SIV’ courses offer a chance to practice spiral dives over water with a rescue boat standing by.
The spiral dive is initiated by pulling the brake on one side and holding it down. Constant pulling on one brake narrows the radius of the turn and forms a spiral rotation in which high sink rates can be reached. As soon as the glider is in a spiral dive (clear increase of sink rate and turn bank), the outside wing should always be stabilised with the outside brake and the desired sink rate should be controlled with great delicacy.
Flying
Take off from a ramp, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany.
Launching
Paraglider reverse launch demonstration video
Reverse launch, Fiesch, Switzerland.
Paraglider towed launch, Mirosawice, Poland.
As with all aircraft, launching and landing are done into wind (though in mountain flying, it is possible to launch in nil wind and glide out to the first thermal).
Forward launch
In low winds, the wing is inflated with a orward launch, where the pilot runs forward so that the air pressure generated by