Pipistrel Plus Operator's Manual page 29

pipistrel.si
Cruise
Some 3600-4000 RPM are necessary to maintain horizontal flight if you're flying alone, about 4500
RPM if there's two persons on board.
At these power settings the airspeed will stabilise at about 65 km/h (35 kts) if you have the powered-
hangglider balanced towards the back (last hole). At middle balancing setting the trike will be faster
(75 km/h, 40 kts), but you will need about 500 RPM of engine power more. At front balancing setting
the strike will fly at about 85 km/h (45 kts), but be ready for another 500 RPM more.
CAUTION!
At back balancing setting the neutral position of the triangle is more to the front,
whereas at the front balancing setting the neutral position is more towards the back.
WARNING!
Increased engine RPM is directly related to higher fuel consumption. The fuel
consumtion is dependant also on the propeller picth setting at a certain speed. Larger propeller
pitch, lower RPM - lower consumption the same IAS; Smaller pitch, higher RPM - higher fuel con-
sumption.
Cruising in rough atmosphere
Should you experience wake turbulence, reduce airspeed below maneouvering speed and and con-
tinue flight
CAUTION!
In rough air, reduce engine power if necessary to keep airspeed below VRA.
Turns
A turn is the basic maneneouvre to change direction of flight.
To make a shallow turn in horizontal flight gently pull backwards the hand in which direction you
want the turn to be. Doing so, the trike is pulled out of the neutral position and the trike will begin to
turn. After a few moments neutralise the triangle by pulling the other hand backward a well. Doing
so, you will stabilise the powered-hangglider in a turn. At this point, you may release the triangle and
the powered-hangglider will continue to turn in a constant shallow banked curve. To exit the turn,
pull back the hand which is opposite to the direction of turn. As the flight is level again, neutralise
the forces on the triangle.
CAUTION!
To enter a turn only two steps are needed: the innitiaton (pull desired hand back)
and establishment (pull the other hand back as well). The same goes for exiting the turn.
To make tighter turns you need higher entry airspeed. Keep in mind: ''The tighter the turn, the hig-
her the airspeed!'' . To accelerate use either more throttle or initiate a shallow dive.
When performing steep (tight) turn you may encoutner flying through your own wake turbulence.
If this happenes, you the powered-hangglider will swing - shortly but violently. To avoid this simply
make those steeper turns in a shallow climb or dive (shallow up- or down-spiral).
29
Trike
Normal procedures