8
to collapse. When the conditions are turbulent, be more ac-
tive and anticipate the movements of your wing. Always be
aware of your altitude and do not over-react. We strongly
advice you to always keep hold of your brakes. Do not y in
turbulent conditions.
Landing
The Buzz Z3 shows no unusual landing characteristics but as a re-
minder, here are some tips:
•Alwayssetupforyourlandingearly,giveyourselfplentyofoptions
and a safe margin for error.
•Oncebelow30metresavoidturningtightlyasthegliderwillhave
to dive to accelerate back to normal flight. If you are at low altitude,
or if you hit sink, this could mean you hit the ground harder than
necessary.
•Leanforwardoutofyourharnessbeforetheactuallanding(espe-
cially if it’s turbulent), with your weight leaning forward against the
chest strap, and make sure your legs are ready for the landing and a
possible PLF (parachute landing fall).
•Allowtheglidertoflyathandsup(trim)speedforyourfinal
descent until you are around 1 metre above the ground (in windy or
turbulent conditions you must fly the glider actively all the way). Ap-
ply the brakes slowly and progressively to slow the glider down until
groundspeed has been reduced to a minimum and you are able to
step onto the ground.
•Inlightwinds/zerowindyouneedastrong,longandprogressive
flare to bleed off all your excess ground speed. In strong winds your
forward speed is already low so you are flaring only to soften the
landing. A strong flare may result in the glider climbing upwards and
backwards quickly, leaving you in a vulnerable position.
•Ifthegliderdoesbegintoclimb,easeoffthebrakes(10-20cm)-
do not put your hands up all the way - then flare again, but more
gently this time. Keep the brakes at mid speed, stand up, be ready to
run and make sure you brake fully as you arrive on the ground.
•Choosetheappropriateapproachstyleinfunctionofthelanding
area and the conditions.
•Instrongwindsyouneedtoturntowardsthegliderthesecond
your feet touch the ground. Once facing the wing pull smoothly and
symmetrically down on the brakes to stall the wing. If the glider pulls
application of the brake until the desired bank angle is achieved. To
regulate the speed and radius of the turn, coordinate your weight
shift and use the outer brake.
IMPORTANT: Never initiate a turn at minimum speed (i.e.
with full brakes on) as you could risk entering a spin.
Active Flying
To minimize the likelihood of suffering collapses in turbulent condi-
tions, it is essential to use active flying.
All good pilots react to the feedback the gliders send them, and are
constantly adjusting their speed and pitch to match the movements
of the air. The key elements of active flying are pitch control and
pressure control:
If the glider pitches in front of you, use the brakes to slow it down.
Equally, if the glider drops behind you, release the brakes to allow it
to speed up. The goal is to keep the wing directly overhead.
Flying with a small amount of brake applied (approx. 20cm) will give
you feedback from the wing. In turbulent conditions the internal pres-
sure of the wing can change and you will feel this through the brakes.
The aim is to maintain a constant pressure through the brakes. If
you feel a loss in pressure apply the brakes until normal pressure
is resumed then raise hands back to original position (this must be
done quickly). Avoid flying with continuous amounts of deep brake in
rough air as you could inadvertently stall the wing. Always consider
your airspeed.
These movements can be symmetric or asymmetric; you may have to
apply both brakes or just one. These subtle adjustments will keep the
glider flying smoothly and directly above you and dramatically reduce
the chances of a collapse. These are skills that are best learnt by
playing with the glider on the ground!
IMPORTANT: No pilot and no glider are immune to collapses
however active ying will virtually eliminate any tendency