Flaring

[skydude2000 3]

Hi all,


I was just wondering, what are some of the ways to make the act of flaring easier? I've generally got a pretty good beat on when to flare. I've flown a Tutor 288, which I have no trouble flaring, usually was a single stage, then I moved to an Avatar 210, still didn't have much trouble.

I recently transitioned to a Sabre 190 loaded at 0.97:1 and I tried to move to a two stage flare. Maybe not very well. I just couldn't believe the difference in the force it took to do a full flare. For medical reasons my right arm is a fair bit weaker than my left, so I'm concerned about an uneven flare and possibly hurting myself. Is there anything I can do to improve the strength in my weaker arm to ensure an even flare? Any ideas are appreciated.

Blue Skies,

Skydude.

PULL!! or DIE!!

[DougH 270]

Quote

Is there anything I can do to improve the strength in my weaker arm to ensure an even flare? Any ideas are appreciated.

Exercise? Physical therapy? That is a question better suited for your doctor/trainer.

For flaring make sure you are pulling the toggles down, and not out to the side. If you pull them out to the side you get less tail deflection when you arms are maxed out, when compared to flaring with your arms at your side.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[JohanW 0]

Not about to tell you what to do to improve the strength in your right arm - because I'm not a doctor. But I share your worry.

It may not be a good idea at all for you to fly this canopy.You are handicapped, let's face it.

Looking far ahead of you, definitely not down, while landing, and keeping the canopy flying straight and level, while braking (not flaring) not more than necessary to achieve just that, will give a decent flare. Near the end of the flare, when reaching the stall point, completing the flare might make for tippy-toe landings. This takes practice, nobody does that on the first try. But if you really have trouble spending the force to achieve level flight n that canopy, it might not be for you.

But don't give up too soon!

Get coaching, live and in person, from someone who really knows what to do, how to teach that and willing to work with you specifically. Get mentoring actually, because it's going to take a while in your case. Accept that you will need to work harder for not even the same results others are getting (you might be used to that already, possible projection here). Go slow and keep large margins, because you need them more than others, but your mentor should be the one telling you this. Practice, practice, practice. You may very wellhave enough strength once you've gotten accustomed to the new canopy, I would not at all be surprised by that. But it might take you longer than others to find out.

I don't think very many people have learned to flare well on the Internet. This goes double for you. Get mentoring.

Johan.
I am. I think.