Ground Handling Damage; Packing Your Vulcan - Ozone vulcan Betriebshandbuch

Ground Handling Damage

Many paragliders are damaged by careless ground handling. Here are
some things to avoid in order to prolong the life of your aircraft :
DO NOT drag your wing along the ground to another take-off posi-
tion - this damages the sailcloth. Lift it up and carry it.
DO NOT try to open your wing in strong winds without untangling
the lines first - this puts unnecessary strain on the lines.
DO NOT walk on the wing or lines.
DO NOT repeatedly inflate the glider and then allow it to crash back
down. Try to keep this movement as smooth as possible by moving
towards the glider as it comes down.
DO NOT slam your Vulcan down on the ground leading edge first!
This impact puts great strain on the wing and stitching and can even
explode cells.
Insects
Take care that no insects get packed away with the wing. Some
insects (grasshoppers for example) decay into an acidic substance
which can damage the sailcloth!
Inspections
In addition to your own regular inspections all Ozone gliders should
be inspected every two years in accordance with DHV regulation to
ensure proper airworthiness. Contact your local dealer for informa-
tion on a qualified service centre near you.

Packing your Vulcan

• Spread the glider flat on its top surface, then lay the lines on top.
The risers should be laid on the ground, at the centre of glider,
near the trailing edge.
• Take a wing tip and fold it in to the centre of the wing. Repeat
this until the glider is folded up and approx. 60 cm's wide.
• Do the same to the other side of the glider. Always make sure
that the leading edge is kept in one straight line, as it is impor-
tant not to badly crease the reinforcing fabrics in the leading
edge.
• Don't fold the glider along the same lines every time; any type of
folding reduces the strength of the fabric over time.
• Push out any remaining air by flattening the folded wing from the
trailing edge to the leading edge.
• Fold the glider so that the bundle is approximately the size and
shape of the OZONE rucksack. Never roll the wing up as this
introduces unnecessary stresses into the fabric.
• Always pack your Vulcan as loosely as you can, as every fold
weakens the cloth on any paraglider.
• Finally, wrap the glider tie around the bundle and put it in the
stuff sack.
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