In training programs one and two, you have laid the foundations for the third day. The steep spiral is the maneuver with the highest sink rates and at the same time the highest G-forces.
Key points: 20 m ⁄ s sink and a load of up to four times body weight are possible. The glider tilts from a rotational movement onto its nose and spirals downwards. From a certain flight speed, most gliders remain stable in the spiral rotation.
Conditional Due to the high G-forces, there is a risk of fainting during this maneuver, which can lead to an uncontrolled crash. Due to the high sink rate, you lose altitude very quickly. Hitting the ground from a spiral is usually fatal or results in serious injuries!
The spiral can be used as a rapid descent but is very demanding and must be practiced again and again. Not all pilots can withstand the forces in a spiral for a long time. Paragliders can go into extreme spirals as a result of a collapse or a tangle. Therefore, in our opinion, it is absolutely mandatory for every pilot to master the spiral, or its quick and active recovery. Control over these speeds and G-forces must be learned slowly and, above all, safely.
The spiral training is structured step by step to get you used to the high forces and to give you the opportunity to be able to actively recover from the spiral at any time.
Short facts about the spiral
High sink rate, fast trajectory speed.
High G forces, risk of fainting. Breathe with your lips pressed together, exhale through your mouth, practice this forced breathing "dry" on the ground.
High strain on the body. Body tension is important, tense all your muscles as much as possible. Practice this again and again when flying normally.
Increased wing loading, shortened control paths, you have to make precise movements.
1. Fast circles, focus active exit
Exercise for the active termination of rotational movements. At first glance, a simple maneuver with a lot of potential. Correct initiation, stabilization of speed and active termination make the flying figure a complex interplay of precise braking impulses and weight shifting.
You will learn to fly precisely and to actively and precisely stop rotations. Modern paragliders usually stand up again automatically after the brakes are released and return to normal flight. Nevertheless, you should always be able to recover quickly and efficiently from a rapid rotation, such as after an asymmetric collapse or a spiral.
ENTRY: First, look to the right and down to see if the airspace is clear, shift your weight slightly to the right and pull firmly on one of the brake lines so that the wing assumes a clear bank in the first quarter to half turn. Then, until the wing picks up the desired speed, stabilize the speed with the outside brake and hold it for a few turns.
EXIT: Slow down the turning movement by gently tapping the outside of the curve. When the speed decreases, release both the outside and inside brakes at the same time. As soon as the glider wants to stand up, pull the inside brake another ¼ - ½ turn to exit the curve in a flowing manner.
BENEFITS: Precise flying style, active execution of fast turning movements and training of orientation skills in turns.
IMPORTANT: All faster turning movements require a high degree of coordination. Inside and outside braking and weight shifting have an influence on the maneuver. The right timing is important and must be practiced. Stick with this exercise until you have it completely under control!
2. SPIRAL APPROACH, FOCUS ON ACTIVE EXIT
Exercise to get used to speed and G-forces. Build confidence.
ENTRY: Like normal fast circles. As soon as the wing begins to bank, the speed can be increased by pulling the inside brake. As soon as the wing tips onto its nose, the speed and G-forces increase significantly. At this moment, the maneuver is actively carried out using the outside brake.
EXIT: During the turn, gently brake the wing with the outside brake (without releasing the inside brake) and immediately notice how the speed decreases. When the speed decreases, release both the outside and inside brakes at the same time. As soon as the wing wants to stand up, pull the inside brake again for about ¼ - ½ a turn to exit the curve in a flowing manner.
DANGERS: You accelerate the wing too much into the spiral and lose control.
RECOMMENDATION: Always remember to use the outside brake, you can use this to slow the glider down at any time. Approach this maneuver slowly. Approach this maneuver slowly. If you have never flown this maneuver before, come to our flight school to practice.
3. Spiral - the world revolves around you
Practice controlling spiral movements. Can be used as a quick descent, must be mastered by every pilot in order to be able to exit an unwanted spiral quickly and safely.
ENTRY: Like spiral approach. As soon as the glider is in the spiral, you make contact with the wing with the outside brake. With the outside brake you control the speed in the spiral and monitor the recovery.
EXIT: First slow down the speed of the rotation with the outside brake, then exit actively as with fast circles and spiral approaches. With fast spirals, the speed must be reduced over several revolutions.
BENEFITS: Rapid descent maneuvers with very high sink rates.
DANGERS: The G-forces can cause you to faint. The wing can remain in a stable spiral and no longer be able to recover on its own.
RECOMMENDATION: Always remember to use the outside brake, you can use this to slow the glider down at any time. Approach this maneuver slowly. If you have never flown this maneuver before, come to our flight school to practice.
