Handling problem on speed wings

[administrator]

Dominic Eller here. I would like to share a small note I have made on some speed riding wings.
I have noticed on my Skima when flying with hands up ,no brake at all if you make a 10-20% brake action on one side (as you would if making a small correction
to avoid an object) the control is reversed! and becomes an aerodynamic control instead of a drag control! turning in towards the object!!
This only occurs when a turn is started from total hands up. I noticed this effect on my first flight I have since established that the effect is less with trims slow and does not occur if a turn is made when there is some brake on both sides before the turn is made. Control on the rear risers is normal and is the way I make small corrections at speed.
I have made Airwave aware of this and they are looking into it.
This is not the only speed riding glider to have this problem the Ozone bullet also suffers this aerodynamic control effect. I suspect others do too. I think this effect may have had a part to play in one pilots crash into a pine tree.
I made this discovery quite some time ago during winter and really should have written this back then, sorry for sitting on it so long.
Please share this with speed riding pilots around your area and ask them to check this out for them selves.

Heres to great summer and heaps of great flying!

Cheers Dominic Eller