Spiral - Airdesign HERO Betriebshandbuch

The spiral dive is an effective way of making a fast descent. During the spiral dive, the pilot and
glider will experience strong centrifugal forces, which strain the glider. As such, it should be
considered an extreme manoeuvre. Due to the rapid height loss during a spiral, you must
always take care that they have sufficient altitude before initiating the manoeuvre, and that
the airspace is free around you.
Initiation: Shift your weight and smoothly pull on one brake (the same side you are weight
shifting into) so the glider goes from a normal 360-degree turn into a steep turn, and from
there into a spiral dive. Once established in the spiral, the descent rate and bank angle can be
controlled with weight shift and the releasing or pulling of the inner brake. As the glider banks
in front of you maintain the spiral by keeping the brake pressure constant; at this point weight-
shift can be neutralized. Descent is controlled by pulling more on the inner brake. A slight pull
on the outside brake helps to keep the glider stable.
Recovery: The HERO recovers from a spiral spontaneously, as soon as the brakes are released
and weight shift to the outside-turn. To exit, allow the spiral to slow down for a turn or two by
slowly releasing the inner brake and at same time put little brake on the outside. Once the
glider starts to exit the spiral, control your descent rate and bank angle with weight shift and
the outer and/or inner brake, to prevent any strong climbs out of the spiral. Always finish a
spiral dive at a safe altitude.
The HERO does not show any tendency for a stable spiral. That means the glider does not
remain in spiral after releasing the brakes. If the glider should, in rare cases, remain in a stable
spiral, you should first weight-shift to the outside and then brake slightly more on the outside.
A spiral can become locked due to a variety of reasons including the following:
• Chest strap is too narrow
• Weight shifting to the centre of the turn, or actively pushing or holding the body
weight against the forces generated in the spiral
• Harness without seat-plate
When utilising a harness without a seat-plate there is less or no automatic weight-
shifting to the outside of the turn. The pilot has to actively shift the weight to the
outside by pushing down on the outside-turn leg. If the weight is kept neutral or
even to the inside of the turn, the wing can maintain the spiral.
• Ballast is mounted on the chest/waist strap
• Cross bracing on the chest strap
• No braking input on the outside brake
ATTENTION: In a stable spiral, the G-forces are very high. Be aware that it may therefore
require considerable more input and effort to recover from this state.
ATTENTION: When exiting a spiral too fast, the conversion of energy may result in the glider
climbing quickly and entering its own turbulence. This may cause the glider to collapse. We
advise that you allow the HERO to exit from the spiral dive in a controlled manner.
You should take care to use only moderate spirals, so as not to put unnecessary load on you
and your lines.
IMPORTANT SATEFY NOTICE: A pilot who is dehydrated and/or not accustomed to spiralling
can lose consciousness during a steep spiral dive!
i. Spiral
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