U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2, Manual

Flying experience

This manual is only focusing on the points of the technique of flying that are important for the 
U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2. It cannot and should not replace a profound flight training in an ap-
proved flying school! Without flight training and according experience paragliding is life-endan-
gering! 

take off

After the paraglider is unpacked and laid out oin the shape of a horseshoe, the following points 
are to be considered:

-  The paraglider should be laid out in such way that when pulling up by the A-risers, the  

  center lines are evenly and earlier tensioned than those towards the wing tips. This ensures  
  an easy and symmetrical inflation at the launch.
-  Take the wind direction in consideration when laying out the glider, so that when it is pulled  
  up into the wind, both sides of the glider can rise symmetrically.
-   ensure the risers are without twists and the brake line runs freely through the pulleys to the  
  trailing edge of the glider.
-  no lines should pass underneath the sail. A line-over at take-off can have fatal  
 consequences. 
-   of course the 5-point check shouldn’t be forgotten either.
  In the 5-point check the following is checked:
  1. Strapped (helmet, harness and carabiners are closed)
  2. Suspended (risers aren’t twisted when hung into the carabiner, speed system is mounted  
  correctly, carabiners are closed)
  3. Lines (A-lines on top, all lines are sorted, brake line runs freely through the pulleys)
  4. Canopy (canopy lies in the shape of a horseshoe with opened leading edge at the launch)
  5. Wind and airspace (wind appropriate for launch, airspace is empty)

The center of the U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2 is marked by the U-Turn logo on the leading edge. It’s 
sufficient to hold only the main A-risers. Since the U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2 has little to no ten-
dency to overshoot, it requires only minimal brake input during the launch. If needed, direction-
al corrections with the brakes should be undertaken only if the wind is already overhead, since 
too much brake input could drop the glider back. The remaining risers should not be grabbed 
during take off. With an even pull, but overall light input only, the glider is to be inflated. Unlike 
other gliders, it is not necessary to inflate the U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2 with aggressive pulling or 
even fast running. That is also true when there is little to zero wind. measured pulling up is the 
simplest and safest way to launch the U-Turn BLACKLIGHT 2. once the pilot made sure that the 
glider is overhead and fully inflated, the final decision is made weather to take off. After some 
dynamic steps the pilot takes off.

the flight