Gin FALCON - Spiral Dive Execution

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Spiral dive
The spiral dive is an extreme manoeuvre. Practice spiralling with caution and lower sink rates
to get a feeling for the Falcon’s behaviour. Weight shift and pull the brake on one side gradually.
Let it accelerate for two turns and you will enter the spiral dive. Once in the spiral, you can
control your descent rate and bank angle with weight shift and the outer brake. Spiral dives
induce large G forces, and these can disorient the pilot and stretch the glider lines and sail.
The outer wing tip may collapse during the spiral dive although this is no cause for concern. It
can be avoided by lightly braking on the outside. Release the brakes carefully.
o allow the glider to exit from a spiral dive, your position in the harness must either be
neutral, or even better, on the opposite site of the turn while spiralling. If you release the inner
brake the wing will normally exit the spiral dive by itself. The Falcon has no tendency to stay in a
stable spiral, but nevertheless, you should know how to exit from a stable spiral: weightshift
actively to the outside of the turn and pull the outer brake until you feel the deceleration of the
wing and your body moving towards a more upright position. Then, release the outer brake and
let the glider decelerate for one or two more turns. Apply a short brake action on the inside brake
just before the glider exits the spiral dive completely. This will burn off the remaining energy and
avoid a big pendulum moment after exiting the spiral.
We advise you to limit the sink rate of the spiral to a maximum of 14 m/s and always maintain
ground clearance of 150 – 200m. It is possible to reach a much higher sink rate but the following
risks of increases with higher sink rates:
• cause a loss of consciousness
• lose control over the flight manoeuvre and sink rate, the glider will go into a stable
spiral. If this happens, immediately deploy your reserve!
• stress loading and/or loss of consciousness can occur during the spiral which make
subsequent recovery impossible
WARNING
In the spiral dive, very high turn speeds can
be reached with an increase in acceleration
due to gravity (up to over 6g), so exercise
care when attempting this manoeuvre.
A pilot who is dehydrated and/or not
accustomed to spiralling can lose
consciousness in a steep spiral dive! As with
all types of aircraft, we advise you to assist
the glider to exit from the spiral dive in a
controlled manner.
Spiral dives with “big ears” lead to extreme
loading of the open section of the canopy.
Therefore this manouver is prohibited!