Gradient BRIGHT III User Manual page 10

During the spiral dive the pilot and glider will experience strong centrifugal
forces: the overload could be more than 3 g (!) which is a great demand on the
pilot. The glider is strained just as much!
- initiation: Smoothly pull on one brake so that the glider goes from a normal
360-turn into a steep turn and from there into a spiral dive. The transition into a
spiral dive can be made easier by weight shifting to the inner side of the turn.
Keep an eye on the tension of the control line all the time - reduced tension
signalises an overload of the glider and danger of falling into a negative spin.
- recovery: BRIGHT III recovers from a spiral automatically as soon as the
brakes are released. Release them smoothly and always finish a spiral dive
with safe altitude!
Caution: be sure, that your position in the harness is neutral! Recovery from
spiral dive could be delayed by weight shifting to the inner side of the turn!!!
5.3 Special flight regimes
No matter what category of canopy you fly or what level of certification it has,
in turbulence or in strong thermals you may experience all kinds of collapses.
BRIGHT III behaves comfortably in these situations, Indeed not only does
BRIGHT III deal with extreme flight regimes automatically, but also offers an
above average degree of safety. Even so, you must follow all safety rules when
practising special flight operations and always pay attention to your altitude!
Before performing special flight regimes remember:
• practise reserve deployment on the ground, in a simulator, so that reserve
deployment is automatic and efficient.
• Rapid altitude loss and considerable rotational forces may develop during
unstable manoeuvres. Take account of these factors in the context of reserve
deployment!
5.3.1. Collapse of one side of the canopy
- initiation: Take hold of the outer A-lines on one side and pull them down
smoothly. The wing tip will collapse downward forming a characteristic "big ear".
The size of the ear depends on the depth to which the lines are pulled as well as
the number of lines pulled down. You can stop any tendencies to turn by
applying the opposite brake and by weight shifting onto the inflated side of the
canopy.
- recovery: Under normal conditions BRIGHT III will re-inflate spontaneously
when the pulled lines are released. The inflation time and loss of altitude can be
reduced by suitable action of the pilot. To stop any tendencies to turn off course
pull brake on the inflated side (be careful not to overreact and stall the inflated