EN
11
10
Byapplyingthebrakes approximately30cm,theDelta3willachieveitsMinimum-Sinkrate;thisisthe
speedforbestclimbandisthespeedtouseforthermallingandridgesoaring.
Turning
TofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeDelta3yourrstturnsshouldbegradualandprogressive.Tomakeefcient
andcoordinatedturnswiththeDelta3rstlookinthedirectionyouwanttogo,thenleanintoit.Yourrst
inputfordirectionalchangeshouldbeweight-shift,followedbythesmoothapplicationofthebrakeuntil
thedesiredbankangleisachieved.Toregulatethespeedandradiusoftheturn,coordinateyourweight
shiftandusetheouterbrake.
Active Flying
Tominimizethelikelihoodofsufferingcollapsesinturbulentconditions,itisessentialtouseactiveying.
Theseareskillsthatarebestlearntbyplayingwiththegliderontheground.Flyingwithasmallamountof
brakeapplied(approx.20cm)willallowyoutofeelthefeedbackfromthewing.Inturbulentconditionsthe
internalpressureofthewingisconstantlychangingandonlybyusingasmallamountofbrakewillyoufeel
thesechanges.Theaimofactiveyingistomaintainaconstantpressurethroughthebrakes,Ifyoufeela
reductionorlossofpressureapplythebrakesuntilyoufeelnormalpressureagain.Onceyouhavenormal
pressure,raisethehandsquicklybacktotheoriginalposition.Avoidyingwithcontinuousamountsof
deepbrakeinroughairasyoucouldinadvertentlystallthewing.Alwaysconsideryourairspeed.These
movements canbe symmetric orasymmetric; you mayhave to applyboth brakes or just one. These
subtleadjustmentswillkeeptheglideryingsmoothlyanddirectlyaboveyouanddramaticallyreducethe
chancesofacollapse.Ifthegliderpitchesinfrontofyou,usethebrakestoslowitdown.Equally,ifthe
gliderdropsbehindyou,releasethebrakestoallowittospeedup.Thegoalistoalwayskeepthewing
directlyoverhead.
Nopilotandnogliderareimmunetocollapseshoweveractiveyingwillvirtuallyeliminateanytendencyto
collapse.Whentheconditionsareturbulent,bemoreactiveandanticipatethemovementsofyourwing.
Alwaysbeawareofyouraltitudeanddonotover-react.Westronglyadviseyoutoalwayskeepholdof
yourbrakes.Donotyinturbulentconditions.
IMPORTANT
Always keep hold of
your brakes. Do not y
in turbulent conditions
Landing
TheDelta3showsnounusuallandingcharacteristicsbutasareminder,herearesometips:
•Alwayssetupforyourlandingearly,giveyourselfplentyofoptionsandasafemarginforerror.
•Oncebelow30metresavoidturningtightlyasthegliderwillhavetodivetoacceleratebacktonormal
ight. If you are at low altitude, or if you hit sink, this could mean you hit the ground harder than
necessary.
•Leanforwardoutofyourharnessbeforetheactuallanding(especiallyifit’sturbulent),withyourweight
leaningforwardagainstthecheststrap,andmakesureyourlegsarereadyforthelandingandapossible
PLF(parachutelandingfall).
•Allowtheglidertoyathandsup(trim)speedforyournaldescentuntilyouarearound1metreabove
theground(inwindyorturbulentconditionsyoumustytheglideractivelyalltheway).Applythebrakes
slowlyandprogressivelytoslowthegliderdownuntilgroundspeedhasbeenreducedtoaminimumand
youareabletostepontotheground.
•Inlightwinds/zerowindyouneedastrong,longandprogressivearetobleedoffallyourexcessground
speed.Instrongwindsyourforwardspeedisalreadylowsoyouarearingonlytosoftenthelanding.A
strongaremayresultinthegliderclimbingupwardsandbackwardsquickly,leavingyouinavulnerable
position.
•Ifthegliderdoesbegintoclimb,easeoffthebrakes(10-20cm)-donotputyourhandsupalltheway-
thenareagain,butmoregentlythistime.Keepthebrakesatmidspeed,standup,bereadytorunand
makesureyoubrakefullyasyouarriveontheground.
•Choosetheappropriateapproachstyleinfunctionofthelandingareaandtheconditions.
•Instrongwindsyouneedtoturntowardsthegliderthesecondyourfeettouchtheground.Oncefacing
thewingpullsmoothlyandsymmetricallydownonthebrakestostallthewing.Ifthegliderpullsyou,
runtowardit.
•Ifthewindisverystrong,andyoufeelyoumightbedragged,orliftedagain,stallthegliderwiththeC
risers.Thisstallsthewinginaveryquickandcontrollablewayandwilldragyoulessthanifyouusethe
brakes.
•Alwayslandheadingintowind!
IMPORTANT
Never initiate a turn at
minimum speed (i.e.
with full brakes on) as
you could risk entering
a spin.