APCO Aviation Play 42 MK-II, Manual

www.apcoaviation.com

13.3 STRONG WIND AND REVERSE LAUNCH 

The Play42 has ample lifting power and care should be taken in strong wind. It is 
advisable to have an assistant anchor the pilot when attempting a strong wind 
launch. It also helps to release the A-riser just before the glider gets above your 
head. Then pull a bit of brake to stop the wing from overshooting, but not too much 
as the glider might pull you off your feet too early. The assistant should let the pilot 
walk under the wing to reduce the wing load during inflation rather than resist its pull; 
this reduces the tendency of the glider to lift the pilot prematurely.  

13.4   TOW OR WINCH LAUNCHING 

All Apco gliders are well suited for winching and have no bad tendencies on tow. 
With towing it is important to have the wing above your head on launch and not to try 
and force a stalled wing into the air. This is especially important if the winch operator 
is using high tension on the winch. Very little brake if any need be applied on launch 
and during the tow. Directional changes should be made with weight shift rather than 
brakes. While on tow, the brake pressure will be higher and more input may be 
needed to make corrections than in normal flight.  
 

14 FLIGHT TECHNIQUES 

14.1 FLYING SPEED 

Indicated trim speed is dependant on the amount of brake the pilot is using, wing 
loading, altitude above sea level and the accuracy and make of speed probe. The 
speeds recorded were taken at optimum wing loading at sea level using a Skywatch 
Pro; Slight variations in speed range values are expected. 

 
NOTE: 

The speeds indicated in the technical data sheet are the correct speeds measured at 
sea level using a calibrated instrument flying at optimum wing loading. Speed 
readings in the flight reports could differ as this was measured during testing using 
various instruments and is an indication of the difference between trim, stall and top 
speed. The speed range will be the same but the actual numbers may differ. 
 

ˆ

  With 0% brake the Play42 will fly at 37 km/h with a sink rate of 1.2 m/s.  

ˆ

  At 25% brake the glider will fly at 33km/h with minimum sink rate 1.1 m/s.  

ˆ

  The best glide angle is achieved with 0% brakes.  

ˆ

  With 80% brake the glider will fly at about 24km/h and will be close to the stall 

POINT 

22

KM

/

H

. 

 
CAUTION: 

A

PART FROM FLARING FOR LANDING

,

 THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO FLY WITH 

70%

 TO 

100%

 BRAKE

.

T

HE SINK RATE WILL BE EXCESSIVE AND YOU RISK ENTERING DEEP STALL OR 

FULL STALL

.

T

HERE

’

S ALSO A RISK OF ENTERING A SPIN 

(

NEGATIVE

)

 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO 

TURN THE GLIDER NEAR THE STALL SPEED

.

WARNING: 

U

SE THE TRIMMERS IN TURBULENT CONDITIONS OR CLOSE TO THE GROUND WITH CAUTION

.

W

HILE FLYING WITH THE TRIMMER RELEASED

,

 THE GLIDER HAS A REDUCED ANGLE OF ATTACK 

AND IS THEREFORE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO TURBULENCE AND MAY COLLAPSE OR PARTIALLY 

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