Turning And Thermaling; Wing Overs; Active Flying - FireBird Z-One DHV 1 Manuel

3.3 Turning and Thermaling

To familiarise yourself with your glider your first turns should be gradual and
progressive. For efficient coordinated turns: look in the direction of your
intended course, then lean into it. Your first input for directional change should
be weight shift, followed by smooth application of the brake until the desired
bank angle is achieved.
To regulate the speed and radius of the turn the outer brake should be used.
Never initiate a turn at minimum speed (i.e. with full brakes on) as you could
risk entering a spin.

3.4 Wing Overs

Pilots who like to fly tightly banked S-turns, also called wing-overs, should not
exceed a 45 degree level of bank. Uncoordinated wing-overs can lead to large
asymmetric collapses and therefore tight turns should never be executed near
the ground.

3.5 Active Flying

Active flying is the technique of using input to keep the wing as stable and
efficient as possible.
All good pilots do it. For example, on entering a thermal your glider will rock
back slightly behind you; at this point you should reduce brake to allow the
glider to come overhead again. As you leave the thermal your glider will try to
accelerate and dive forward slightly; apply a little brake to stabilize the wing
overhead.
When flying in turbulent air, you should be able to sense pressure loss in parts
of the wing through the brake lines. You can compensate by using a little of
the appropriate brake until you feel the pressure return. This should be done
smoothly and progressively: over-braking your glider is dangerous and could
lead to a stall.