Tips & Tricks

What's the right way to clean my skywalk paraglider?

With a soft cloth and water. Don’t use a stiff brush, chemical cleaners or saltwater. When you’re finished, let the glider dry out thoroughly in a shady place.

How should I store my skywalk paraglider over longer periods of time?

We recommend taking the glider out of the glider bag and store it loosely bunched up in a skywalk Storage Bag in a dry location. This will protect the glider from strong heat, direct sunlight, high humidity, chemicals, sharp objects and insects.

What should I do when my skywalk paraglider gets wet?

Let your glider dry out in a shady place. If your glider comes into contact with saltwater, first rinse your glider (fabric, canopy, risers and lines) with fresh water.

How can I extend the service life of my skywalk paraglider?
  • Protect your glider from unnecessary UV.
  • Pack your glider dry and loose and avoid folding it in the same places every time.
  • Don’t let the glider fall on the leading edge.
  • Don’t lay out your glider on rocky ground with sharp stones.
  • Maintain the check interval of your glider. Have it inspected by an authorized shop as this is the only way to ensure a high quality inspection.
How should I remove sand and dirt from my skywalk paraglider?

Hang the glider by the trailing edge with the leading edge pointed down. Shake out the sand or dirt, moving toward the front of the glider until it is empty. In addition, most gliders have a sand and dirt outlet on the stabilizer that can be opened by Velcro.

What should I do when I discover a tear in the fabric of my paraglider?

Small tears (to about 5cm in length) that don’t affect any seams or line loops can be repaired with skywalk adhesive fabric strips. Simply cut two of the adhesive strips to the required size, leaving 3cm extra on either side of the tear. Then apply one piece over the tear on the top and the other piece on bottom of the fabric.

How do I replace a damaged line?

Replacing a defective line should only be done by an authorized dealer. If you do have to replace one yourself, follow the line scheme closely. Always order the replacement line from an authorized dealer or directly from skywalk. Before you replace the line, verify the correct length by comparing it with the corresponding line on the other side of the glider. After replacing a line, you must carry out a line inspection, which is best done by kiting the glider on the ground and checking the symmetry.

What should I do when a nylon wire in the leading edge breaks?

At the end of every nylon wire you will find a small opening in the seam through which you can remove the wire. Cut the new wire to the same length and slide it in through the same opening.

How do I mount a brake handle?

If a brake handle comes off, we recommend that you tie it back on with a bowline knot. Make sure that the brake line has the correct length (check the marking on the brake line) and the right amount of lead.

What information does the type certificate provide? (Homologation)

The individual type certificates provide information about the extreme flight behavior of the glider. The flying maneuvers are usually simulated over a lake in calm conditions. However, in thermal or turbulent conditions, the extreme flight behavior of the glider can often be more aggressive.

What are JET FLAPS and how do they work?

JET FLAPS are a so-called split flap like those seen on a large airplane. When the glider is braked, the airflow is routed through the glider, restoring smooth airflow. This extends brake line travel and softens the stall behavior.

What advantage do the JET FLAPS on my skywalk paraglider offer?

Lower flyable minimum airspeed. The speed range is wider and easier to control. The pilot has more time to react when flying near the stall point.

What should I do when my paraglider doesn’t fly right anymore?

If the paraglider pulls to one side, the cause is often an asymmetric adjustment of the harness. If you have other problems such as difficult launch behavior, sluggish handling, etc., you should contact a skywalk dealer or contact skywalk directly.

What size paraglider should I select?

In general, we recommend a wing loading in the upper half of the weight range for skywalk paragliders, because this range offers the best balance of performance to weight. However, the choice of the right size also depends on the conditions you expect to fly in and on personal preferences. Due to the higher wing loading, a paraglider flown in the upper weight range will react more dynamically, will fly more directly, and will suffer fewer collapses. This is especially suitable for strong thermals and/or windy conditions.

If you mostly fly in the mountains, you should consider this range. A paraglider flown in the middle to lower weight range will have a muted reaction due to low wing loading and will exhibit more docile flying characteristics, but will also tend to collapse more frequently. This is especially suitable if you would like to minimize your sink rate in weak thermals and/or if you primarily fly in the flatlands. However, the greater wing area makes it harder to control the glider in strong winds.

If you are uncertain about the choice of your size or if you are between two sizes, decide according to your own preferences and test fly both sizes.

What's the right way to pack my skywalk paraglider?

Video

How to pack a 2-liner correctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEj71FlxKM

Differences between the Get-Up and T-Bar Systems

Get-Up System:

  • Enables a safer and more dynamic takeoff run due to the exceptional leg freedom.
  • The straps can be closed easily with just two buckles. This reduces the likelihood of forgetting to close the leg straps because the pilot has only two buckles that are connected directly to the chest strap.
  • The use of a Get-Up system makes it possible to actively influence the mechanical characteristics of the connection between paraglider and harness by means of the adjustment options (does not apply to Range X-Alps). The Get-up system acts as cross-brace, creating a better connection between the seat and the risers.
  • (without adjustment possibility) the mechanical characteristics can not be influenced, but the feeling in flight is less damped, since the system is inherently stiffer.

  T-Lock system (consists of 3 buckle straps):

  • Leg straps must be closed separately
  • The T-Lock or “T-Bar” system runs from the center of the seat to the chest strap and ends with a T-shaped buckle that closes the chest strap. The belt runs between the legs to the chest, thus preventing the pilot from falling out even when the leg straps are open.