If you have any questions which are not answered in this manual, please do not hesitate to contact your Swing dealer or us directly: Tel: +49 81 41 32 77 888 or info@swing.de...
Take note of the relevant regulations in your own country. • Use of the paraglider is at your own risk. The manufacturer is not legally responsible for any personal injury or material damage which occurs in connection with Swing paragliders. •...
• Before towing, ensure that the winch operator has the appropriate training and licences. • Aerobatics are prohibited. • Flying with a wet canopy or when it is raining is prohibited; it may cause the glider to stall • Do not under any circumstances alter the construction of your paraglider. If you do, any claims under the warranty will not be accepted and the certification will lapse.
20 kg 4.3 Connecting a harness to the ASTRAL 6 The ASTRAL 6 can be connected to any harness which has DHV “GH” harness classification. You can find out more about this on the DHV website at www.dhv.de.
4.4 Winch towing The ASTRAL 6 is suitable for winch-towing. Make sure that the brakes are unclipped when the paraglider takes off. Use weight-shifting while towing to assist the steering. Use of a suitable towing aid is not imperative but highly recommended in all cases. It increases pilot safety during the towing stage.
Before launching, always check the following: Pre-flight check 1. Are there any tears in the glider or other damage? 2. Have all the lines been untangled? 3. Are the brake lines clear and tightly connected to the handle? 4. Are the brake lines properly adjusted? 5.
5.5 Adjusting the speed system Although the ASTRAL 6 is already trimmed to a sufficiently high basic speed, it is also equipped with a speed system. You will use it in particular if there is a strong headwind, when you fly over valleys or if you want to leave a dangerous area quickly.
Page 10
Figure 2: How the Speed system of the ASTRAL 6 works Caution! Accident risk! Disturbances (e.g. collapses) are more dramatic with increased speed than when the glider is unaccelerated. Because of the increased risk of collapse, we strongly recommend that you do not use the speed system in turbulent areas or near the ground.
The ASTRAL 6 is suitable for reverse-launching from 3m/s wind. Tip! The pilot must work actively to keep the Astral 6 on the ground in high wind speeds (from approx. 6m/s). Otherwise the glider may rise above the pilot unintentionally. Level flight The ASTRAL 6's flight is stable and level when the brakes are up.
Page 12
Caution! Accident risk! Always keep within the recommended limits. Do not perform aerobatics or extreme flying manoeuvres, such as spirals with "big ears". This will prevent accidents caused by overloading the glider. Deep stall Various things can cause a paraglider to deep stall, e.g. shrinkage of the C and D lines as a result of dampness or flying in the rain.
Page 13
Strong turbulence can cause part or all of the leading edge of the glider to fold or tuck under. Normally the ASTRAL 6 will immediately recover its normal flight position. Recovery If the ASTRAL 6 does not immediately recover from a frontal tuck, brake quickly and strongly with both steering-lines (brake lines) to re-inflate the glider. Asymmetric tucks If there is turbulence, one side of the paraglider may collapse.
Generally the DHV certification tests differentiate between rates under and over 14 m/s and tests are carried out accordingly. With the ASTRAL 6, the canopy automatically recovers within one turn under the 14 m/s rate. Above 14 m/s, breaking the outside half of the wing and/or weight shifting to the outside may be required to recover from the spiral.
Page 15
If the glider does not stop turning, you can stop it by weight-shifting to the outside of the turn. Caution! Accident risk! With spiral dives, very high turn speeds can be reached, with an increase in the acceleration (up to over 6g) due to gravity. So be careful when you try this! •...
Let go of both A-risers. If the ears do not open automatically, assist the opening Recovery process by pumping the brakes. Caution! Accident risk! When the technique of "big ears" is used, there is a higher load for the line groups which are still weight-bearing.
7.2 Checking the lines measuring Measuring the length of the lines is part of the regular paraglider inspection. The lines must be measured with a load of 5kg to get comparable results. You will find the original line measurements in the service and inspection manual. Have your paraglider checked at least every two years by the manufacturer or an authorised inspector.
Ground handling time must be at least doubled when working out the total hours of use because of the increased wear and tear on the glider. If Swing is to accept guaranty and warranty claims, all inspections must be carried out Validity of by SWING, or an inspection agent authorised by SWING.
Even the best products and materials have only a limited useful life. The synthetic materials used in a paraglider must be disposed of properly. Please ensure that you dispose of your SWING glider properly if it has reached the stage where its useful life is over. If you wish, you can return it to us and we will then dispose of it for you.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Astral 6 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers