Edition 1 / 6_2015 User Manual
Contents
1. ADVANCEA PE A Contents TE e EE 4 TS ALIADOS ere a Red ann ie 6 ALPHA 6 come fly WIND ea se 6 Outstanding features ous sa mate mare anes 6 Pll He ASAS Rs rare r Piloting Redulremenls s u a eich 8 General advice about paragliding 8 Usmgthe paraglider sie 2255 ale ak paca a at 10 DEVO Sense 10 BASIC SSNS ars za en aa 10 Adjusting the brake lines 10 SDEEA SYSIEN arms als a a a 2 aula ala aids 3M 11 lo MANE SSCS i trae es aed eA dace ESS 11 Weight ANOS La ei Reena teem ni 12 Belgie eier TPS EE AN Se ra Need 14 Connecting the Risers 14 MARS Olli se ad dat awd Geek ed Gta we Sao Ba awa ea 14 Normal kizas duh aid Tien omer 16 TOMO MONA SANA 16 Accelerated NO EE 17 CONAN SCS es ee ee de See 18 Reefer Eee ae Rite ne 19 RS CAMINO E E E EE eingras 22 Berns dilautan inana ne eee dada pd 23 Belle ple Reet ee ee eee rere eee ee are eee ee 23 Flying with a wet paraglider risk of deep stall 24 WUNSCH ING A as Rasa ra 24 Beater TL EE 25 ere EE re dens gel Aah er ee donne 25 Maintenance repairs and care PACKING era see NAG He EE ER 27 Gare and maintenance ars Ben das 27 TRIO Ode zes ei ni redire 28 CH CR SSSR eu Me cs to aL et sea ety ni 28 A eH awa ath anos arte 28 JIS DOGAN Sr aia Resa se 29 CRIS es ar read re Materials USCC ice attics Ta DE En 31 CORCA yan tema e eaa are 32 SUI ee ad E E at NAS ADVANCE2. Do not use solvents under any circumstances fthe glider has been subjected to increased stress such as a tree landing have it examined by an expert Regularly remove sand leaves stones and snow from the cells Openings with Velcro closures are provided at the wing tips for this purpose Do not leave the glider out in the sun unnecessarily before and after flight UV light Do not subject the packed glider to excessive temperature fluctua tions and do ensure adequate air circulation to prevent condensa tion forming Do not drag the glider across the ground When landing make sure that the canopy does not fall on its leading edge 27 Taking Care To ensure a long life it is important that you try not to allow your wing to fall on its leading edge after landing whenever possible The fabric and sewing at the leading edge can be damaged by the friction and strain so caused but also there s the risk that the ribs inside could be ripped by the sudden increase in air pressure Check Anew ADVANCE paraglider must be given a check every 24 months 2 years With intensive use gt 150 flying hours per year or especial ly demanding use an annual check is needed after the first check When a check is carried out the condition of all materials is assessed in accordance with strict guidelines and tested with great care Finally the overall condition of the glider is rated and recorded in a test report You can find
3. Service Centres 34 The ADVANCE website sida Ea 34 Waran sasra aa oh ERA 34 WNO OAS erari ne ae near Ban Line DIGI ea ice rara riadas dsd EE ee ee Re ya POMS KNOL sarar AA AAA CE TARA Thank you Tor thing ADVANCE Congratulations on your choice of an ALPHA 6 a quality product from ADVANCE We hope that you will spend many rewarding hours in the air with it This user manual is an important part of the glider Here you will find instructions and important information about safety care and main tenance and that s why we recommend that you read this document carefully before your first flight Register your ALPHA 6 online on www advance ch warranty you will then receive product updates or safety related bulletins about the ALPHA 6 direct from us This information will also be available to download from our website at www advance ch as will the latest ver sion of this manual and further updated information If you have any further questions or problems please contact your dealer or get in touch directly with ADVANCE Now we wish you a lot of enjoyment with your ALPHA 6 and always happy landings Team ADVANCE About ADVANCE ADVANCE based in Switzerland is one of the world s leading para glider manufacturers Since it was founded in 1988 the company has consistently pursued its own directions and concepts both in develop ment and production The results are quality products with distinctive chara
4. additional information about the check in this manual in the section Service or at www advance ch The general check procedure for paragliders is a constituent part of the ALPHA 6 manual This manual also contains basic technical infor mation and the line lengths of the glider Repairs As a general rule you should not attempt to repair a paraglider yourself The various seams and lines are made with great precision and for this reason only the manufacturer or an authorised service centre may fit identical replacement parts or replace entire cells Exceptions to this rule are the replacement of lines and the repair of the small tears or holes in the fabric that may be glued with the self adhesive ripstop in cluded in the repair kit After a repair or the replacement of a line the glider must always be opened out and checked on the ground before the next flight Spare parts such as lines quicklinks and repair materials for the ALPHA 6 can be obtained from ADVANCE or an ADVANCE Service Centre and or dealer 28 Disposal Environmental protection plays an important role in the selection of materials and the manufacture of an ADVANCE product We use only non hazardous materials that are subjected to continuous quality and environmental impact assessments When your paraglider reaches the end of its useful life in anumber of years time please remove all metal parts and dispose of the lines canopy and risers in a waste incinera ti
5. counter steer ing Normally the wing will reopen without pilot action Due to higher aerodynamic forces during accelerated flight the glider will respond to a side collapse with more energy But the turning ten dency in fully accelerated flight is unspectacular and slow If a collapse is slow to reopen a deep fast but brief pull on the fold ed side brake will help Here it is important to completely release the brake again to let the glider keep its flying soeed Be careful with the brake on the open side and only apply enough to keep straight so as not to stall the wing This side is providing the lift necessary to keep the glider flying under control Poorly flown wingovers can cause a wingtip to fold inwards from the side causing it to catch in the lines and create a cravat Due to the high drag they produce cravats can lead to strong turning spiralling Prevent this from developing by using just enough but no more outside brake Then open the cravated wingtip by pulling the orange stabilo line Clearing a cravat can be also done more quickly by pump ing Apply 75 of brake on the affected side within a maximum of two seconds then release immediately Symmetric collapse frontstall After a spontaneous or a deliberate front collapse using all A risers the airflow breaks away from the profile and the canopy will pitch back The pilot will soon swing back underneath Wait without applying brake until the wing is ag
6. onset of a spin you should immediately release both brakes fully hands up Fullstall The ALPHA 6 quickly responds to a steering demand but the available brake travel is very long and the brake loading gets very high before the stall point This gives the pilot a large safety margin Entry into a fullstall is achieved by progressively and symmetrically pull ing down both brake lines Forward speed reduces Airflow and wind noise reduce After reaching minimum speed the paraglider first goes into a brief phase of deep stall Then further brake will cause complete airflow breakaway and the wing will fall back in fullstall The ALPHA 6 has a strong desire to fly again but is easy to hold in the stall A brake wrap makes sense when flying a fullstall To recover the canopy has to be pre inflated To do this the brakes should at first be released slowly and symmetrically and only fully released when pre inflation is complete The ALPHA 6 then flies away relatively gently without shooting forward too much Tip Basically in all out of control flight situations you should immediately release both brakes fully hands up 22 Deep Stall It has not been possible to establish stable deep stall by using brakes or a slow recovery from B Stall However in rain or when the canopy is wet the ALPHA 6 like every other paraglider becomes more prone to deep stall If the wing does go into deep stall recovery should be made by using th
7. the weather conditions before taking off His or her capabilities must be adequate for the actual paraglider Wearing an adequate helmet suitable boots and clothing and carrying an emergency parachute a reserve are essential Before every flight all items of equipment should be checked for damage and airworthi ness A proper pre takeoff check must also be carried out Every pilot bears sole responsibility for all risks including injury or death when participating in the sport of paragliding Neither the manu facturer nor the seller of a paraglider can guarantee or be held respon sible for the pilot s safety Using the paragider Delivery Before delivery every ADVANCE paraglider has to be flown by the deal er and checked for correct settings and trim When this has been done the dealer enters the date of the first flight on the label attached to a centre rib This entry together with a completed warranty card will ensure that defects in the product attributable to manufacturing faults are covered by the ADVANCE warranty See Warranty in the section Service Within 10 days of purchasing your glider we ask you to fill in the regis tration form on the internet to be found under Warranty The ALPHA 6 comes with an COMFORTPACK rucksack an inner bag a compression strap a repair kit carbon speed bar with lines a mini windsock in the canopy colours and a Getting Started booklet Basic setti
8. wing from recovering too quickly thus pitching back excessively before diving in front if the turn stops with too much speed remaining Make sure that you start the recovery with plenty of height above the ground Generally speak ing you should allow the same amount of time to recover as it took to enter the manoeuvre but remember that the vertical speed will be higher and much more height will be used The ALPHA 6 comes out of a steep spiral dive by itself if a neutral sit ting position is maintained Active weight shift to the inside of the turn can lead to stronger acceleration and the glider may show less desire to recover by itself 20 Caution The ALPHA 6 was tested in accordance with the latest certification requirements In a neutral sitting position and after releasing the inside brake a spiral dive of up to 14 m s sink rate recovers by itself Spirals of higher sink rates can remain in a stable spiral if weight shift is applied to the inside of the turn Weight shift to the outside or pulling outside brake is sufficient to recover from a high speed spiral Caution The ALPHA 6 is certified for harnesses in group GH without rigid cross bracing Group GX harnesses with cross bracing or those with very low hang points could dras tically alter the flying behaviour in the spiral dive See section Suitable harnesses Caution Do not fly spiral dives or aggressive changes of di rection with big ears applied the ra
9. NCE operates two company owned Service Centres that carry out checks and repairs of all types The workshops based in Switzerland and France are official maintenance operations certi fied by the German Hanggliding and Paragliding Federation DHV which has many years experience and in depth product specific expertise The ADVANCE worldwide service network includes other authorised service centres which provide the same services All service facilities use original ADVANCE materials exclusively You can find all the information about checks and repairs and the rele vant addresses at www advance ch The ADVANCE website At www advance ch you will find detailed information about ADVANCE and its products as well as useful addresses which you can contact if you have any questions Among the things you will be able to do on the website are complete the warranty card online up to 10 days after purchasing the glider enabling you to enjoy the full benefits of the ADVANCE warranty find out about new safety related knowledge and advice concerning ADVANCE products download an application form in PDF format which you can use when sending your glider in for a check at ADVANCE find an answer to a burning question among the FAQs Frequently Asked Questions subscribe to the ADVANCE Newsletter so that you will be regularly informed by e mail about news and products It is well worth visiting the ADVANCE website regularly becau
10. a further small effect of increasing the angle of attack as well as there being a lower airspeed because of the reduced wing loading In order to avoid the risk of deep stall with a wet glider the wing should be braked as little as possible and big ears not used at all As a further preventative measure apply moderate 25 40 speed bar These actions have a small effect in reducing the angle of attack If the wet glider does go into deep stall you should recover by using the speed bar only See also section Deep stall Winching The ALPHA 6 is suitable for winch launching When taking off in wind less conditions ensure that the paraglider is laid out in banana or even wedge shape to make sure the centre inflates before the wingtips avoid risk of rosetting Winch launch is only permitted if the pilot has completed a tow training course only Germany DHV the winch system is certified for use with paragliders the winch operator has been fully trained in how to winch paragliders 24 Paramotoring The ALPHA 6 is certified for paramotoring You can find the paramo toring appendix to the ALPHA 6 manual on www advance ch under Downloads Acrobatics While developing the ALPHA 6 attention was concentrated on simple and safe use and similarly natured flying behaviour Assuming adequate pilot ability and correct technique the ALPHA 6 lends itself well to flying such manoeuvres as wingovers SAT helicop ter an
11. ain above you and returns to normal flight After a big collapse reopening may be delayed but do not forceably encourage reopening by the use of excessive brake because of the risk of a fullstall Rapid descents For quick and efficient ways of getting down the ADVANCE test team recommend big ears with or without speed bar or the spiral dive the choice depends on the situation Tip Fast descents should be practised now and then in quiet conditions so they won t become emergencies when you need them Symmetrical collapsing of the wingtips big ears The ALPHA 6 has split A risers which make applying big ears easy The outer narrower A risers with a red covered line are separated spe cially for this To do this manoeuvre pull both of these narrower outer risers This will fold the wingtips in and you can hold them there easily To reopen release the risers the ALPHA 6 wingtips then open them selves thanks to the high internal wing pressure Sink rate can be further increased by using the speedbar when the ears are folded Depending on the situation the glider can be steered using weight shift Info Big ears is also possible using two lines per side with the ALPHA 6 Here it is important that the glider must then be accel erated as well and the trailing edge must not be braked D Caution Do not fly spirals or sharp changes of direction with big ears applied the increased loading carried by fewer lines can dama
12. cteristics Behind the ADVANCE brand name is a team of specialists who share the passion and trust in the company s products At home in the air themselves they contribute their valuable personal experience and dedication to the working processes Total control of the production process and supervision of the working practices at the ADVANCE factory in Vietnam ensure a high standard of workmanship Long term relationships with fabric and line manufac turers means that ADVANCE knowledge and expertise also finds its way directly into the development of new materials ADVANCE attaches great importance to after sales customer support and has built up a worldwide service network for this purpose An on going interaction with its customers brings in a steady flow of new Knowledge that finds its way into ADVANCE products thus completing the Circle of Service Ihe ALPHA ALPHA 6 come fly with me The ALPHA 6 is the perfect paraglider for first flights building expe rience and occasional flying As a beginner you can trust this wing 100 The ALPHA model is the well tried classic for first flights and after basic training offers many possibiities of exploring further afield This 6th generation of the ALPHA series is modern in concept found ed on many years experience and promises reliability and durability Outstanding features Easy takeoff revised ALPHA 6 line concept leaves the wing with visibly fewer suspensi
13. d asymmetric spiral The wing was tested to the usual 8g load factor but is not specially strengthened for industrial strength acro Be aware that dynamic manoeuvres put greater loading on the struc ture and can shorten the glider s life This means that a regular check of the paraglider is essential for your safety In addition there will be the special requirements of your country to be observed 25 Ai P L Y Vlaintenance repairs and care Packing Gather your ALPHA 6 rib on rib so that the plastic rods at the leading edge lie as flat as possible on one another all at the same height This will prolong your ALPHA 6 s life and keep its fast and excellent filling qualities at takeoff You should randomly offset your packing centreline so that the final chordwise fold is not always along the same cell Only store your dry paraglider in a dry and dark place Care and maintenance Ultraviolet light heat humidity sea water aggressive cleaning agents unsuitable storing and physical abuse dragging across the ground speed up the ageing process The life of a paraglider can be extended significantly by observing the following advice Allow a wet or damp glider to dry by leaving it completely unpacked at room temperature or outside in the shade fthe glider gets wet with salt sea water rinse it thoroughly with fresh water Clean the glider only with fresh water and a little neutral soap if nec essary
14. djusted when you can use the full travel available on the wing Make certain that the speed lines are not set too short thus causing the wing to be pre accelerated all the time Suitable harnesses The ADVANCE ALPHA 6 is certified for harnesses in Group GH with out rigid cross bracing see section Certification The suspension points of the chosen harness should ideally have a carabiner distance of approximately 45 cm equivalent to your shoulder width and a height of 40 to 48 cm The ALPHA 6 is neither suitable nor certified for use with harnesses in group GX with effective cross bracing The use of such har nesses can have a bad effect on both handling and extreme flight characteristics Info Experience has proved the theory a streamlined harness can significantly improve gliding performance Weight range The weight ranges of the different wing sizes are given in the section Technical Data The figures there represent total in flight weights This includes the pilot s body weight plus clothes as well as the weight of all the equipment glider reserve harness instruments etc Flying at the lower or upper weight limits can have an effect on the paraglider s flying characteristics and handling without affecting the pilot s safety Glide performance remains the same over the whole weight range but climbing performance will be altered lighter means better climbing in easy conditions When the ALPHA 6 is f
15. e Skytex 38 9017 E25 Lower surface Skytex 38 9017 E25 Ribs Skytex 40 9017 E29 Miniribs Skytex 40 9017 E29 Lines Edelrid Technora Aramid 6843 340 240 200 160 covered 2 4 mm 24 mm 1 9 mm 1 5 mm base lines Edelrid Technora Aramid 6843 120 covered 1 4 mm middle galleries Liros Dynema DSL 70 covered 0 95 mm upper galleries Liros Dynema DSL 70 DFL 115 covered 0 95 1 3 mm brake lines Liros Dynema DFL 115 covered 1 3 mm upper main brake lines Edelrid Dyneema 7850 240 covered 1 9 mm brake main lines Risers Polyester 22 mm 1100 kg Riser quicklinks Maillon Rapide stainless 3 5 mm 750 kg Sewing thread Polyester 31 Certification The ALPHA 6 has EN and LTF certification The test reports can be downloaded from www advance ch Certification ratings can only provide limited information about a paraglider s flying behaviour in thermally active and turbulent air The certification grading is based primarily on provoked extreme flight ma noeuvres in calm air During the development of an ADVANCE paraglider the emphasis is first and foremost on flying behaviour and handling and not exclusively on the certification test The result is a well rounded product with the familiar ADVANCE handling Nevertheless the certification rating occu pies a significant proportion of the specifications that have to be met 32 Service ADVANCE Service Centres ADVA
16. e speed sys tem exclusively See also section Flying with a wet paraglider Landing Always make a proper landing circuit with a clearly defined final ap proach As the ground approaches progressively increase brake to level the flight path before applying full brake to completely arrest the forward speed D Caution Steep turn reversals lead to strong swinging of the pi lot and should not be done near the ground D Caution Braking will reduce your speed and increase your sink rate but it will certainly seriously restrict your ability to manoeuvre D Caution Getting below minimum speed leads to stalling this should unquestionably be avoided when top landing and on final approach Caution Never let your glider fall to the ground on its leading edge The overpressure so caused inside the wing can rip the cell walls and damage the leading edge 23 Flying with a wet paraglider risk of deep stall Flying with a wet glider creates a risk of deep stall Deep stall is often the result of a combination of factors The weight of the wet canopy goes up and this increased weight increases the angle of attack which always puts the glider nearer the deep stall limit Added to this water drops on the top surface have a detrimental effect on the laminar flow of the boundary layer near the leading edge which distinctly re duces the maximum lift coefficient If the wet glider is also being flown at its lower weight limit there is
17. ely assisted by active weight shift Angle of bank can always be increased steadied or reduced by appropriate adjustment of brake position When circling in a thermal choose the desired angle of bank and corre sponding turn radius by using the inside brake line and let the paragli der turn steadily like this Stabilise the outside wing with outside brake as required in particular to keep the rate of turn constant Too much brake on the outside wing will slow the turn rate and airspeed down allow the pilot to swing back under the wing and lose the glider s abi lity to turn A harness that is matched to the ALPHA 6 flying qualities helps you enter and settle on a very steady turn See also section Suitable harnesses Caution To keep good manoeuvrability make sure to fly your ALPHA 6 with enough airspeed while turning in thermals not too much outside brake Tip If a brake line were to break you can steer your ALPHA 6 with the rear C risers if necessary Accelerated flight The ALPHA 6 canopy remains very stable even when accelerated At their upper speed range however paragliders fly at alower angle of at tack and are generally considered to be less structurally stable at high speed Because of the higher forces and energy collapses at high speed are more dynamic See also section Collapses When encountering strong turbulence while accelerated you should first release the speedbar completely before applying the b
18. ge the structure Tip If you want to lose height as quickly as possible and fly away from a problem area at the same time we recommend the following apply big ears and use as much speedbar as condi tions allow Spiral dive For the most comfortable way of doing this we recommend a neutral sitting position without active weight shift and a shoulder width cara biner distance approx 45 cm Enter the spiral by progressively pulling one brake Your head and field of view should be directed in the turn direction As the angle of bank increases so will the rate of turn airspeed and centrifugal force which makes the pilot feel heavier The behaviour of the spiralling paraglider can be separated into two phases in the beginning the glider makes a normal turn which pro gressively tightens with increasing angle of bank In the second phase the paraglider engages its spiral mode This means that the wing dives forward and assumes a more vertical flightpath During this phase of the manoeuvre try to keep a neutral sitting position and give way to the centrifugal force your body will be pulled to the outside of the turn To recover keep the neutral sitting position and progressively release the inside brake Your body weight will be somewhat tipped to the outside While coming out of a spiral dive of high vertical and rotation al soeeds some assistance with outside brake is essential Careful releasing of the inside brake will prevent the
19. haracteristics very well and try out takeoffs stalling shooting forward tendency and collapses while remaining safely on the ground The ADVANCE test team have a motto one hour s ground training is worth 10 high flights But bear in mind that ground practice puts use on the glider Normal flight In calm air the ALPHA 6 best glide is achieved with fully released brakes Light braking brings the glider to its minimum sink condition When flying into a headwind through descending air or when procee ding to the next thermal glide performance will be distinctly improved by appropriate use of the speed system Despite the wing s high stability an active flying style is recommended collapses can be almost completely avoided This means keeping the lightly braked glider directly above you in other words countering roll and pitch disturbances When the angle of attack increases e g wing swings back when entering a thermal the brake lines should be briefly released fully until the glider returns to its overhead position When the angle of attack reduces e g glider shoots forwards the wing should briefly and strongly braked Be careful not to get below minimum speed and don t overreact with the brakes Turning flight The ALPHA 6 has precise response to brake application It reacts directly and progressively to increasing steering demands once the brake line free travel has been taken up Steering can be effectiv
20. ised wing loading carried by fewer lines can damage the glider B Stall The whole paraglider structure and its profile shape would be severely strained by a B stall We recommend that you do not carry out B stalls on a regular basis If you do fly a B stall the recovery requires that the B lines are completely released without hesitation so that normal flight is resumed within 2 seconds B stall is difficult for light pilots because of the high force required 21 Stalling One sided stall spin When circling tightly in a thermal the ALPHA 6 indicates early and clearly by strongly increasing brake load the risk of a stall However if a wing reaches its stall point you will feel a marked reduction of brake load on the inside of the turn If this happens you must immediately release the brake lines so that the ALPHA 6 can return to normal flight by itself If one wing does stall the paraglider will go into a spin negative rotation negative means a wing going backwards The ALPHA 6 will react dynamically but will still be manageable by an untrained pilot Even so depending on the situation from which the paraglider is allowed to fly again the reaction can be quite vigorous shooting forward with a raised risk of collapse This shooting forward can be restrained by well judged braking Normal flight can then be resumed without a fur ther collapse Tip Basically in all out of control flight situations but especially the
21. lown in its upper weight area the higher wing loading produces a higher trim speed and a more dynamic and agile flying character Info The ALPHA 6 has a weight range that has been extended above the recommended region but still keeps its EN LTF A certification the EN LTF A approval includes a weight increase of around 15 kg above the recommended weight ranges for all sizes When the ALPHA 6 is flown in its upper weight region the higher wingloading produces a higher trim speed and a more dynamic and agile flying character The fact that the ALPHA 6 keeps its EN LTF A rating at the higher wing loadings confirms its high degree of passive safety ALPHA 22 50 70 kg 15 kg ALPHAS 24 60 80kg 15 kg ALPHAS 26 70 95 kg 15 kg ALPHA 28 85 110 kg 15 kg ALPHA 31 100 130 kg Empfohlenes Startgewicht Erweiterter Gewichtsbereich Recommended takeoff weight Increased takeoff weight Plage de poids conseill e total volant Plage de poids tendue 13 Flight characteristics We recommend that you make your first flights with your new glider in quiet conditions in a familiar flying area A few pull ups at an easy site will give you confidence in the ALPHA 6 s handling qualities from the very beginning Connecting the Risers The ALPHA 6 has an Easy Connect System on the risers to simplify connecting the risers Each riser has coloured sewing running up the back of the C riser red for left and blue f
22. m The Smart Sail System aligns the weave of the fabric around the air intakes with the local tension vector Specially impregnated robust cloth at this highly loaded place extends the glider s life Extended weight range On top of its recommended weight range the ALPHA 6 has another 15 kg added on but at these weights the wing remains in the EN LTF A category This significantly widens the glider s area of use ADVANCE Standards Distinctive winglets have been reducing induced drag vortex effect on ADVANCE wings for 25 years Like all ADVANCE models the ALPHA 6 has swivels on the brake lines and comes with different sized brake handles to suit the glider size At the risers the brake lines run through ceramic rings Piloting Requirements Right from the start the ALPHA 6 gives the beginner or leisure pilot the safety they need when they lift off into the third dimension A sense of achievement is guaranteed from the beginner s first flights encouraged by the knowledge that you can always trust the ALPHA 6 completely The ALPHA 6 is perfect for schools but it also provides improving pilots with continued flying enjoyment with maximum passive safety long after they have finished their training General advice about paragliding Flying a paraglider calls for appropriate training and a sound knowl edge of the subject as well as of course the necessary insurance cover and licence A pilot must be able to correctly assess
23. ngs The length of the brake lines is set at the factory so that the trailing edge is not braked is crease free when brakes are fully released in fully accelerated flight This setting should be kept as a matter of principle Adjusting the brake lines If the length of the brake lines has to be readjusted there must be 8cm of slack free travel between the brakes free position and the first influ ence of brake effect in unaccelerated flight brake starts to take effect We recommend that the brake handles are secured with a bowline knot See the illustration at the end of this manual Speed system The ALPHA 6 has a speed system which can improve the glide per formance and increase wing stability at speeds above trim speed In accelerated flight the system shortens the front risers so reducing the wing s angle of attack The ALPHA 6 speed system is designed to fully retain the wing profile during accelerated flight keeping the wing s good qualities at high speed Adjust the speed system correctly before your first ALPHA 6 flight Make sure that the speed lines run freely through all the pulleys in your harness Connect the speed lines to the glider risers using Brummel hooks Finally check that your settings allow you to use the full travel of the speed system To do this it is best to hang the harness up sit in it connect the risers and have someone else hold them up as if in flight Caution The speed system is correctly a
24. on plant 29 Technical details ALPHA 6 22 24 26 28 31 Area flat m 22 1 24 26 1 28 5 31 9 Area projected m 18 9 20 6 22 3 24 4 27 3 Recommended Takeoff weight kg 50 70 60 80 70 95 85 110 100 130 Increased takeoff weight kg 70 85 80 95 95 110 110 125 130 145 Glider weight 4 3 4 55 4 75 5 25 9 79 Aspect ratio flat 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 Aspect ratio projected 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 Span flat m 10 3 10 8 11 2 11 7 12 4 Span projected m 82 8 6 8 9 9 3 9 9 Trim speed km h 38 1 38 1 38 1 38 1 38 1 Max speed km h 48 1 48 1 48 1 48 1 48 1 Certification EN LTF A EN LTF A EN LTF A EN LTF A EN LTF A Number of cells 39 39 39 39 39 Number of risers 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 Maximum chord m 2 65 art 2 88 3 01 3 19 Riser lengths cm 47 5 47 5 50 0 51 5 53 0 Max accelerate travel cm 15 15 16 17 18 Max line lengths incl risers m 6 61 6 88 718 7 90 1 91 Trims none none none none none Other adjustable removable DR BE N Geh ER variable devices 1 Values depending on wing loading harness pilot and glider size 2 Pilot wing equipment 30 Materials used We routinely inspect and test our materials many times over Like all ADVANCE products the ALPHA 6 is designed and produced as a re sult of the latest developments and contemporary knowledge We have chosen all the materials very carefully under conditions of the strictest quality control Leading edge Skytex 38 9017 E25 Upper surfac
25. on points and fewer lines easy to sort and easy to see After a simple takeoff your ALPHA 6 is in the air The ALPHA 6 is also light thanks to carefully designed internal structure and high quality materials Great in the air Modern Advanced Air Inlet Technology brings flying safety and wing stability The typical ADVANCE combination of semi circular intakes with an Air Scoop Technology provides higher pressure in the wing at high angles of attack This results in progressive brake loading and minimises any tendency to spin when turning This means more pas Sive safety Lasting fun Modern design ensures that the fun continues long after your training with your ALPHA 6 Double 3D shaping around the leading edge cre ates a smooth upper wing surface giving you better performance The spartan line concept with its sophisticated diagonal ribs inside further raises gliding performance noticeably high for the A classification All the details Easy Connect System The risers have a new Easy Connect System which makes it simple and quick to connect them to the harness Concept and colour mini mize the risk of clipping in with risers twisted or on the wrong side Quick Snap The ALPHA 6 has split A risers for trouble free big ears Before takeoff the divided A risers are held together by magnets This simplifies take off handling and during takeoff they separate themselves for normal flight Smart Sail Syste
26. or right in the direction of flight The coloured sewing facing the pilot and the riser running cleanly upward to the lines confirm that the riser has not been connected with an 180 degree twist For additional assistance all ADVANCE harnesses will in future have the same marking on their suspension loops red to red blue to blue The Easy Connect System also enables you to clip in while facing the wing This can be helpful for a reverse takeoff in windy weather Takeoff Before every takeoff carry out the following pre takeoff checks 1 Harness and helmet done up reserve OK 2 Lines free 3 Canopy open 4 Wind direction and strength assessed 5 Airspace and field of view clear The ALPHA 6 has split A risers the thin outer one is used for big ears We recommend the use of both A risers for takeoff each side will be clipped together by its Quick Snap magnet The wing will then fill reliably from the middle out and will pull up straight with little effort During takeoff the Quick Snap magnets will snap apart by themselves Tip To get the wing in the right shape for takeoff do the follow ing pull the brake lines in while you are sorting the lines until the canopy arrives at the perfect banana shape The ALPHA 6 takeoff behaviour is very smooth and easy for both for ward and reverse takeoffs The canopy inflates quickly and rises pro gressively without hanging back The ALPHA 6 rises excep
27. rake nec essary to stabilise the wing The high stability of the ALPHA 6 does allow you to fly through turbulence while accelerated When doing this active speed system should be used adjusting angle of attack and controlling pitch attitude by using speedbar instead of brakes Pitch disturbances can then be reduced to a minimum and better gliding performance attained See also section Adjusting the Speed system When the angle of attack increases e g wing goes back meeting a thermal the speedbar should be briefly but strongly pushed f the angle of attack reduces e g wing shoots forward the speed bar should be released Caution Even though the ALPHA 6 is stable in accelerated flight you should only use as much speedbar as you feel happy with Tip Take care not to use speedbar and brake at the same time otherwise you will get into the worst possible gliding situation to no advantage Tip For best gliding always choose a speed that takes into ac count actual headwind sink rate and expected quality of next climb Collapses Asymmetric collapse of the wing The ALPHA 6 has a very stiff and stable canopy With an active flying technique collapses can be almost completely prevented in normal flying conditions If the glider does however suffer a side collapse at trim speed it will respond to a collapse of more than 50 of the whole wing with moder ate turning allowing heading to be easily held with light
28. se the range of services offered is continuously being expanded Warranty In order to enjoy the full benefits of the ADVANCE warranty you are re quested to complete the relevant form on the website in the Warranty section within 10 days of purchase As part of the ADVANCE warranty we undertake to rectify any defects in our products that are attributable to manufacturing faults In order for a warranty claim to be made ADVANCE must be notified imme diately on discovery of a defect and the defective product sent in for inspection The manufacturer will then decide how a possible manu facturing fault is to be rectified repair replacement of parts or repla cement of the product This warranty is valid for three years from the date of purchase of the product Warranty and Service Intervals begin from the date of the glider s first flight recorded on the identification 34 plate If no date is evident the applicable date is that on which the glider was transferred from ADVANCE to the ADVANCE dealer The ADVANCE warranty does not cover any other claim Claims in respect of damage resulting from careless or incorrect use of the product e g inadequate maintenance unsuitable storage overloading expo sure to extreme temperatures etc are expressly excluded The same applies to damage attributable to an accident or normal wear and tear 35 Wing parts Upper surfas Ribs Winglet Cleaning Velcro Lower s
29. tionally easily so it is very important that you match your pull up technique to the weather conditions and the steep ness of the slope This means In alot of wind and or on steep ground the ALPHA 6 needs little or almost no initial tug just lead it up In zero wind and or on flat ground a more reasonable impulse would be sensible Takeoff in light wind forward takeoff The ALPHA 6 only needs a moderate pull up impulse even in a light wind It is not necessary to step back and run into the lines Guide the glider up with pronounced leaning forward but without too much of a pull on the A risers until the canopy is overhead During the pull up phase any directional correcting should only be done by decisive going under the wing without using the brakes After any necessary corrections and a satisfactory visual check a few determined steps with good leaning forward will achieve lift off even in little wind Careful braking can shorten the takeoff run Takeoff in stronger wind reverse takeoff The reverse takeoff is mainly recommended for stronger winds Like the forward takeoff we recommend that you use both ALPHA 6 risers During the pull up you should walk towards the ALPHA 6 as necessary to control its rising rate Turning round and taking off with the ALPHA 6 will then prove to be easy Tip Playing with the glider on flat ground in some wind gives a good feeling for the wing You can get to Know the ALPHA 6 s c
30. urface 36 Line plan 37 AISers 1 Big ears system with Quick Snap 2 Quicklinks and clips 3 Speed system pulleys 4 Brummel hooks 5 Magnet clips 6 Swivel 7 Suspension loop with Easy Connect System marks 8 Ceramic brake ring 38 30wlne D 5 y S d advance thun ag fon 41 33 225 70 10 www advance ch uttigengstrasse 87 fax 41 33 225 70 11 info0advance ch ch 3600 thun
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