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EPIC 2-manual-EN-v1.2 April 2022
Rapid descent procedures
Big Ears
The wingtips of your paraglider can be folded in to increase its sink rate. The Big Ear facility allows you to descend
quickly without substantially reducing the forward speed of your glider. (B-line stalls also allow for fast descent, but
they result in greatly reduced forward speed).
To engage Big Ears, lean forward in the harness and grasp the outer A-lines, or the maillons of the ‘Baby-A’ risers,
keeping hold of both brake handles if possible. Pull the outer A-lines or Baby-A risers out and down at least 30cm
so as to collapse the tips of the glider. It is very important that the other A-lines are not affected when you do this
as pulling these could cause the leading edge to collapse. Steering with Big Ears in is possible by weight-shifting.
When you let go of the outer A-lines or the Baby A risers, the Big Ears may come out on their own. If not, a pump
on the brakes is all that is necessary.
Before using Big Ears in earnest you should practise with plenty of ground clearance in case a leading-edge
collapse occurs. Always keep hold of both brakes in order to retain control. Putting your hands through the brake
handles so they remain on your wrists is a good method of doing this.
B-Line Stall
This is a fast descent method and is a useful emergency procedure. With both hands through the brake handles, take
hold of the top of the B-risers, one in each hand, and pull them down by 10-15cm. This will stall the canopy and its forward
speed will drop to zero. Make sure you have plenty of ground clearance because the descent rate can be over 10m/sec.
To increase the descent rate pull harder on the B-risers. When you release the B-risers the canopy will automatically
start flying again, normally within two seconds. Sometimes the canopy will turn gently when it exits from the B-line
stall. It is normally better to release the B-risers fairly quickly rather than slowly, as the latter may result in the canopy
entering deep stall. Always release the risers symmetrically, as an asymmetric release from a B-line stall may result in
the glider entering a spin.
Flight Characteristics
