Trimmers during flight

8 posts / 0 new

March 23, 2012 - 12:28am

kitesurfa

Submitted by Stoylen on March 10, 2007 - 9:58am.

Perhaps this is a stupid question folks, but I have been wondering about something for a while, and I figure it's better to ask first before trying it out in real life.

I've been flying since 1994, but I have never had a glider with trimmers. How will a speedglider react if using the trimmers in flight? Pulling them evenly on both sides is surely not a problem, but what reaction will be provoked if pulling the trimmers asymmetricly? Will it turne more radical than when using the brakes? Will it become difficult to stabilize it?

This is a security question, not a "acro" question:)

I fly a Nano 14 by the way...

March 23, 2012 - 12:32am

kitesurfa

Submitted by nitramf

I've asked this to myself a lot, I think its no problem.

I would close the trimmers that I get as much height as possible, open them up and lose the altitude wi

March 23, 2012 - 12:31am

kitesurfa

Submitted by Stoylen on March 13, 2007 - 8:25am.

Thank you! My question is just out of interest in knowing how the glider will react in case of using the trimmers in flight. I do not want to try this out my self, and I do not see that I will ever need to either. Anyway - thanks for for your response

Stoylen

March 23, 2012 - 12:30am

kitesurfa

I am no expert and not 100% sure what you mean, but...

Trimmers should be adjusted as pairs as they adjust the angle of attack or pitch of the wing. IMO should never be adjusted asymmetrically to turn the wing as you cant reposition them quick enough to re-correct. Also you will have to release the brake to do the adjustment - Not really the thing to do when trying to turn in the same direction.

Pull on the brake to turn, which should also put pressure on the riser which will help turn the wing quicker, as does weight shifting into a turn. Another key factor is flying speed - slow speed flight will give slow unpowered turns.

Trimmers control the amount of glide and speed you have.

Copy of text from the manual -
The front and back risers of the NANO are fitted with trimmers that enable the pilot to adapt the
glider’s behaviour according to his level and the chosen slope. Trimming the back risers makes
the glider smoother, more forgiving and slower, suitable for beginner pilots, or pilots who have
little experience. Trimming the front risers enables expert pilots to enjoy a more reactive glider,
with greater speed and lower flight angle, to follow steeper slopes.

March 23, 2012 - 12:29am

kitesurfa

alt loss

Submitted by alclark on January 8, 2010 - 1:23am.

it varies depending on heading into wind when you initiate the turn and recovery, wind speed, wing loading is a huge variable, and how much you pull the riser down and for how long you hold the turn, air speed as you initiate the turn, and if your turning out of straight flight or as the pendulum effect from another turn has giving you momentum to turn. i like to keep all big turning manouvers above 500 feet until i get the turn down then i drop 50feet at a time until i get low with a long 2 stage flair for landing then start fine tuning my initiation altitude for the manouver and quicken the flair on landing to soak up the minor alt adjustment ( i'm describing a front riser 270 hook turn into a swoop landing). i'm heading to my favorite fly zone in b.c. at the end of january with the intent to get some exact numbers on different riser turns, air speed, trim settings and condition descriptions for the ozone xt16. but swooping is different every day depending on conditions even humidity can change the performance of a wing, so the numbers only have a vague relevance and is only accurate to the individual who has figured the numbers. but i will post the info when i get it for comparison. i'd be very interested in some performance info of different wings too. not much out there.

March 23, 2012 - 12:29am

kitesurfa

Hi Al

Would be great if you could post your "altitude loss" data for the manouvers - I would be very interested in seeing this data.

March 23, 2012 - 12:29am

kitesurfa

altitude

Submitted by alclark on January 7, 2010 - 6:28pm.

i like to fly with an altimeter so i can see how much altitude is lost with each manouver before i try things close to the ground. and try pulling on your risers just to simulate asymmetrical trim changes with out actually changing the trim. altitude is your friend while studying the behavior of your wing. the trim is designed to be changed during flight but generally isn't once you are familiar with the terrain and have a trim preference for the slope. i fly an xt16 and the asymmetrical trim doesn't react to violently but it doen't help anything. and riser turns are a lot of fun. rear rizers for flatter turns and front risers for hook turns and swoops.

March 23, 2012 - 12:28am

kitesurfa

xt16 no wind take off

Submitted by alclark on January 12, 2010 - 12:44am.

hey everyone,

I'm 93 kilos no rig, and just got my ozone xt16 off the ground in 0 wind on a 4-1 slope today! granted i was hugging the ground for the 5 second flight(short hill) but I've never foot launched on a slope so mellow. I'm 8 weeks off a knee reconstruction and can't even run fast, i just went out to do some ground handling and some test runs for the knee in preparation for a trip at the end of the month, never expected to get off the ground! just goes to show, ozone xt16 and attack harness gets the fatties up easy!

Trimmers during flight

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