Flight Characteristics; Weight Range - Bruce Goldsmith Design Wasp Mode D'emploi

4)
Always check the buckles and attachments on the harness. Ensure the two main attachment maillons/karabiners
from the harness to the main risers are tightly done up, as well as the six shackles which attach the risers to the
lines.
5) Before the pilot attaches himself to the harness he should be wearing a good crash helmet, and boots which
provide ankle support. Put on the harness ensuring all the buckles are secure and properly adjusted for comfort.
Your paraglider is now ready for flight.
Chapter IV

Flight Characteristics

This manual is not intended as an instruction book on how to fly the WASP, you should be a qualified pilot or under
suitable supervision, but the following comments describe how to get the best from your WASP.

Weight range

Each size of the WASP is certified for a certain weight range. The weight refers to the "overall takeoff weight". This means
the weight of the pilot, the glider, the harness and all other equipment carried with you in flight.
We recommend to fly the WASP in the middle of the weight range.
If you fly the WASP on the lower half of the weight range, the turning agility decreases and the glider will be more
damped. In strong turbulences the wing tends to deform and to collapse slightly more than with a higher wing loading. If
you mainly fly in weak conditions you should consider flying the WASP on the lower side of the weight range.
If you fly the WASP on the upper half of the weight range, the agility and the stability in turbulences will increase. Also the
speed will increase slightly. The self damping will decrease in turns, as well as after collapses, so if you fly in bumpy
conditions and you want a dynamic flight characteristic you should go for the top of the weight range.
Active Piloting
Even though the WASP is designed as an intermediate glider, 'active piloting' is a tool that will help you fly with greater
safety and enjoyment. Active piloting is flying in empathy with your paraglider. This means not only guiding the glider
through the air but also being aware of feedback from the wing, especially in thermals and turbulence. If the air is smooth
the feedback can be minimal but in turbulence feedback is continuous and needs to be constantly assessed by the pilot
through the brakes and the harness. Such reactions are instinctive in good pilots. Maintaining contact with the glider
through pressure on the brakes is essential and allows the pilot to feel the loss of internal pressure, which often precedes
a collapse. The WASPis highly resistant to collapse without any pilot action at all, but learning how to fly actively will
increase this safety margin even further.
Harness
The WASP is tested with a 'GH' (without diagonal bracing) type harness.
harnesses as well as ABS style (semi stable) harnesses.
Bruce Goldsmith Design GmbH, Hügelweg 12, 9400 Wolfsberg, Austria
The GH category includes weight shift
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