Deep Spiral - Nova MENTOR 3 Manual

If you perform the manoeuvre in bumpy air, the MENTOR 3 may start to
deform. (The wingtips move forward until the wing has a "horseshoe shape")
If the wingtips start to move forward immediately exit the manoeuvre.
To exit the B-stall, raise up both hands speedily.
Keep the brake handles (without extra wraps) in your hands during the
manoeuvre. Make sure to not apply brakes during the exit! We recommend to
look at the glider during the manoeuvre. (Don't forget to make sure, you have
enough height and that the airspace below you is clear of other gliders.)

Deep spiral

The deep spiral is the most demanding of the three manoeuvres. (Ears, B-Stall
and Deep Spiral) You should only practise it with a lot of altitude. The best way
is to learn it under professional guidance.
Entering a deep spiral can be divided into two phases:
First, you fly a turn by applying one brake and by shifting your weight to the
same side, the glider will bank up and increase its turning speed. This phase
ends at a sink rate of roughly 8m/s – 10m/s. (depending on the wing loading)
Then at the beginning of the second phase the g-forces increase rapidly and the
leading edge will lean towards the ground. In a fully developed deep spiral, the
leading edge is almost parallel to the ground. The maximum sink rate with the
MENTOR 3 can get up to 25m/s and more.
The first attempts to fly a deep spiral should be stopped clearly before reaching
the second phase to get used to the quick rotation and to practice the exit
without pendulum swinging. The exit should be performed by simply releasing
the inner brake with a neutral weight-shift. The MENTOR 3 will then decrease
its bank angle and go back to normal flight. To avoid a pendulum movement,
the inner brake has to be pulled in the moment the wing wants to reduce its
bank rapidly.
By applying the inner brake again, you force the glider to exit the spiral
movement not rapidly but during two or three rotations. It is very important to
master this exercise before continuing to the second phase of the deep spiral.
The pilot will feel the entering of this phase by the suddenly increased g-force.
In this moment, the pilot is being pushed to the outer side of the harness. It is
important to not counteract. So the pilot should lean to the outer side to avoid a
stable spiral. (See below)
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