19
Positive Spiral
Spirals carry a high rate of descent. Therefore high accelerations (G) make it impossible
to hold them for an extended period of time. The spiral force may cause the pilot to
faint and to lose flying controls, and crash. Furthermore, they will exert a lot of force
and affect the pilot and equipment alike.
The pilot should never exercise this maneuver in turbulences or with wide lateral
angles. In windy conditions, the pilot must be aware of oscillations during the
maneuver.
When the pilot activates just one brake, slowly and progressively, the
E
E
L
L
L
L
U
U
S
S
F
F
I
I
V
V
E
E
(
(
5
5
)
)
inclines sideways in a sharp angle and enters a steep and quick turn, which may
become a positive spiral.
During a spiral the rotation radius can be controlled by the greatest or smallest force
applied to the inside brake.
In order to come out of it, the pilot must release the brake slowly and shift his/her
weight lightly to the outside of the turn. A sudden exit may result in an exaggerated
momentum forward of the canopy, and collapsing it. For this reason, on exiting the last
turn, the inside brake of a given turn must be softly applied again.
In case the canopy collapses during this process, the spiral must be counter-acted, as
the active canopy area will be reduced.
Warning
•
Never combine ears with spirals. The canopy active area reduction plus the 'G'
force, by the centrifugal effect, may result in line
and/or canopy damage.
•
Exiting of any spiral at great speeds must be piloted.
•
This maneuver requires high altitudes (at least 600 meter over ground) and is
dangerous due high descent ratio pilot can lose the altitude reference. Never do this
maneuver without sufficient experience.
