BrianSGermain 1 #1 May 3, 2005 Question: "I've been really watching the tandem skydives. I notice that they come in high over the landing area, go to almost full brakes to drop without much forward speed. As they approach the ground, they slowly raise the toggles again, pick up some forward speed and flare normally. Is this a technique that I can apply to my landings if it appears that I am going to overshoot a target when I turn onto final?" Brian's Answer: What you are referring to is called the "Sink, Surge, Flare" technique. It is mainly used to gather speed for the flare by tilting the pitch to a lower angle of attack by surging the canopy at about 100 feet. The problem is, if you are too low, the flare will not work at all. If you are acutely aware of your altitude, can be a viable means by which to get a better flare. Another advatage of this type of approach is that you can take a steep glidepath to the target, sinking in on it from above. This increases your chances of hitting your mark. It can be very useful if you are forced to land in a backyard or other small landing area. There are disadvantages. On the whole, flying a standard pattern with full airspeed is a safer way to get to the ground. Flying slow through turbulence increases the chances of losing control of the canopy. Your internal pressurization is created by your flight through the air, and your stability is based partly on that. The other factor contributing to stability is line tension. Surging the canopy close to the ground reduces the apparent weight, and brings you closer to a collapse. +Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #2 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat you are referring to is called the "Sink, Surge, Flare" technique. It is mainly used to gather speed for the flare by tilting the pitch to a lower angle of attack by surging the canopy at about 100 feet. The problem is, if you are too low, the flare will not work at all. If you are acutely aware of your altitude, can be a viable means by which to get a better flare. I'm confused. I had always figured that after a speed induction manuever, we generally didn't enter the 'flare' portion until the artificially induced speed had already bled off. Alternately, by the time we're flaring after our speed induction manuever, the canopy is in the same place as it would be had we skipped that manuever. This would mean that building speed for landing can be a hell of a lot of fun, but it doesn't result in a better flare. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianSGermain 1 #3 May 4, 2005 QuoteQuoteWhat you are referring to is called the "Sink, Surge, Flare" technique. It is mainly used to gather speed for the flare by tilting the pitch to a lower angle of attack by surging the canopy at about 100 feet. The problem is, if you are too low, the flare will not work at all. If you are acutely aware of your altitude, can be a viable means by which to get a better flare. I'm confused. I had always figured that after a speed induction manuever, we generally didn't enter the 'flare' portion until the artificially induced speed had already bled off. Alternately, by the time we're flaring after our speed induction manuever, the canopy is in the same place as it would be had we skipped that manuever. This would mean that building speed for landing can be a hell of a lot of fun, but it doesn't result in a better flare. _Am Actually, speed does help with the flare. Airspeed is the energy that allows a wing to achieve ample lift to counter the weight. Take a look at swoopers. By gaining speed, we are able to achieve level flight with minimal tail input, or none at all if the relief of the front riser input is timed correctly on a canopy with a strong neutral recovery arc. For many years, skydivers "hook turned" just to get their canopies to plane out at all. With mere full flight speed, they would not achieve level flight regardless of the flaring technique. Today's parachutes are more than capable of getting to level flight with full flight speed, but will only maintain this flight path for a short peroid of time. The duration of the level flight phase is something that is not ephasised enough with regards to safety. In a prolongued swoop, be it tandem or sport jumper, the pilot has the opportunity to maneuver the parachute in the final seconds of the landing. Further, by spending more time in close proximity to the ground, jumpers tend to relax and more carefully choose their foot placement. When the level flight phase is only one second long, there is not time to calm down and make choices. It is over as quickly as it began, and the risk for injury increases. Airspeed is your friend. It affords us the opportunity to slow time down during the landing, and consciously experience the process. If handled skillfully, higher speed approaches can actually reduce the risks of injury. Ironic. +Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
