SUPAIR | STEP | page 15
Fast descents
360° spiral dives
To begin a spiral dive make sure the air space is clear around and below you, then lean toward the chosen side while gradually
applying brake/toggle pressure on that side. The wing will gradually accelerate before entering a full spiral dive. You may use the
outer/upper toggle to manage your sink rate.
In order to exit the rotation, get back to a neutral (centered) position in the harness and gradually release the inside brake. You need
to keep the glider in a turn as it decelerates in order to limit the surge while exiting the spiral. If your exit is too radical the glider
will surge aggressively and experience a substantial dive to be immediately controlled.. Gradually slowing down the rotation with the
outside and upper brake will allow you to exit the spiral in a controlled manner.
DANGER This manœuvre places a lot of stress on the glider. The high speed and "G" force might be disorientating and, in
extreme cases, cause you a temporary loss of consciousness. Practice this maneuver gradually with ample space around
and below you.
This technique is usually physically demanding and will provoke a parachutal wing configuration and hence wing control will be
diminished.
Loosing altitude using the "B" risers is done by grabbing the risers at the metal links level and applying a symmetrical downward
vertical pull until the wing's profile is deformed. This maneuver can be maintained to increase the wing's sink rate.
To regain a normal flying configuration, bring your hands up quickly to the "A" risers red markers, then let go the "B" risers altoge-
ther. The wing will experience a moderate surge forward which will need to be instantly neutralized and controlled.
B-line stall
Conforming to the certification, the STEP glider does not show any tendency to stay in a locked spiral configuration and will return by
itself to a normal flying angle in less than two full rotations when the toggles/brakes are brought back up.
To prevent stressing we do not recommend combining spiral dives with "Ears".
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