42
DESCENT TECHNIQUES
This handbook is not a textbook for learning how to paraglide.
According to the local rules and regulations, instruction and training must be carried
out at a licensed flight instruction center. The following information will enable you to get
the most out of your new skywalk TONIC.
Spiral dive:
You can initiate the spiral dive by carefully increasing the pull on one of the brakes
and simultaneously shifting your weight to the inside of the curve.
Because of the higher wing load, entering a spiral dive with the TONIC is simple. Bank and
sink speed can be controlled by dosed pulling or release of the brake line on the inside of
the curve. Gentle braking of the wing at the outer curve will prevent not only the collapse
of the outer wing, but also control the sink speed. A spiral dive is the fastest way to lose
altitude. This is an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time, since you must learn
to control the sink rate.
The extreme altitude loss resulting from a spiral dive requires that you always maintain
adequate safety distance. In order to avoid oscillation when exiting the spiral dive, you
must slowly release the brake on the inside of the curve while maintaining pressure on
the curve outer side brake.
The skywalk TONIC has no tendency to stable spiral. If it should not stop turning in unfa-
vourable influences, then you must actively exit the spiral by shifting pilot weight to the
outer side of the curve and brake more on the outer side. Braking on both sides will also
bring the glider out of the spiral. However, you must be active on the brakes to react to
the shooting forward of the canopy once exiting the steep spiral. Caution: the steering
pressure is higher in a steep spiral than in normal flight.
B-line stall:
The B-line stall was excluded from the certification by skywalk.
The TONIC is a very agile wing with high trim speed and altitude can be easily decreased
by spirals, steep turns or big ears, in combination with use of the speed system, thus the
B-stall is not a recommended method for effectively reducing altitude.
Besides that, the B-stall has a very negative effect on the durability of materials.
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