Maintenance - Advance SIGMA 6 Betriebsanleitung

Landings
We recommend you to select a landing site that you are familiar with,
as well as having no obstacle. Beware of your first landings with the
SIGMA 6 as its performance will almost certainly be superior to your
previous canopy.
Remember to build up speed prior to landing but do not let the bra-
kes up completely ; flare the glider by progressively applying the bra-
kes before landing. Avoid brutal braking after allowing the canopy to
accelerate as this will convert into lift of several metres above the
ground.
Flying with a wet glider
Occasionally a tendency towards a parachutal stall has been obser-
ved with a wet or soaked glider. Various factors may contribute to this
effect; in many cases it was generally a combination of all influen-
cing factors:
The rain causes an increase in the angle of attack as a result of the
increased canopy weight. This tends to bring the glider closer to the
parachutal stall point.
Pelting rain can destroy the laminar boundary layer in the leading
edge area, resulting in a significant reduction in the maximum achie-
vable lift coefficient before the glider goes into parachutal stall.
Moreover, if the wet glider is being flown at the lower weight limit,
this causes a further small increase in the angle of attack as well as
a lower flying speed on account of the lower wing loading.
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A possible precautionary measure to prevent parachutal stalls with a
wet glider is a slightly accelerated flight (25-40%), because this redu-
ces the angle of attack and therefore the danger of a parachutal stall.
This should preferably be employed before the glider is already in a
parachutal stall. Two other points to remember when flying in rain
are to keep braking to a minimum and avoid pulling big ears - both
would increase the angle of attack.
Flying Acro with the Sigma 6
On initial view the SIGMA 6 appears to be a very dynamic but well be-
haved wing that would suit acro flying purposes.
The development of the wing however had characteristics for cross
country and thermal flying in sight. It has been neither structurally
strengthened nor tested at higher than usual G loadings.
Naturally you can fly wonderful wing overs and loops with the SIGMA
6. But remember that such manoeuvres stress the wing more and
the longevity of the wing is greatly reduced. Obviously greater pilot
skill is a pre-requisite for pilots who wish to perform Acro.
IMPORTANT : ADVANCE does not recommend the SIGMA 6 as an
Acro glider.
Ground handling
While playing with the glider in light wind on flat ground, you can get
to know the characteristics of the SIGMA 6 in detail. It enhances your
feel of the glider and you can safely test stalls, overshoot tendency
and collapse behaviour.
These experiences in safe surroundings will improve your awareness
of flying and your feel for the SIGMA 6. Moreover, this will allow you
to take off in greater safety, and will increase your trust in your gli-
der, giving you great flying fun. The ADVANCE Test Team has a rule of
thumb: 1 hour's ground training is as valuable as 10 high-altitude
flights.
Launching by winch
The SIGMA 6 is suited to tow or winch launch. In case of no wind, we
advise to lay out the wing on the ground in rounded shape to ensure
an easy and even inflation.
Winch launch is only permitted if :
- The pilot has a winch / tow endorsement.
- The winch system is certified for use with paragliders.
- The operator has fully learnt how to winch paragliders.
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CARE & MAINTENANCE
Folding
We recommend that the canopy be packed by folding cell to cell in
order to lay the mylar reinforcements of the leading edge flat and on
top of each other.
Do not pack the canopy very tightly.
Maintenance advice
The lifetime of the canopy can vary considerably depending upon the
care that you take with its use and maintenance. Other than ultra vio-
let rays the principal causes of wear are transport and storage.
- Avoid violent shocks on the upper surface (eg. when the canopy
falls on the ground whilst ground handling) or any rubbing
against the ground as these wear the stitches and the coating.
- Do not leave the canopy folded for several days if it is either
damp or tightly packed.
- Immediately remove any salt or sand that enters the cells, as
this can corrode the stitching and cause wear during each
successive folding.
- Only clean the canopy with soft water and neutral soap. Let the
canopy dry in a dry and airy place but not in direct sunlight.
- Remove the twigs and gravels that could have entered into the
glider by opening the velcros on the wing tips.
- After a crash or a violent landing on the leading edge, always
have the canopy checked by your sales agent. The canopy should
also be checked if you notice a deterioration of the performance
or behaviour.
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