Axis Pluto II Pilot's Manual

Pluto II

PILOT'S MANUAL

Thank you for taking the time to read this booklet.

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Pre flight

 Pre-delivery inspection
 Brake-line lengths
 Weight range
 Pre-flight safety

3. Flying the Pluto II

a. Normal flight

 Pre-flight inspection
 Launch
 Flight
 Landing

b. Losing altitude

 Big ears
 B-line stall
 Spiral dive

c. Dealing with turbulence

 Asymmetric collapse
 Symmetric collapse
 Deep stall
 Full stall
 Negative spin

4. Care, maintenance and repairs

 Ground-handling
 UV damage
 Storage
 Repairs

5. Technical details

 Certification
 Technical data
 Line plan
 Specification of materials

6. About Axis

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1. INTRODUCTION

When setting out to design our intermediate glider we had a clear target: we wanted
to create the best paraglider possible for intermediate and recreational pilots who
want to fly cross country. Pilots who want to experience the satisfaction of travel by
paraglider, who want maximum enjoyment with minimum stress, performance and
sensitive handling, but who rightly demand ever more security.

The Pluto II is an intermediate glider (EN-B) for recreational pilots who want to have
fun and be relaxed and safe in the air and is also ideal for enthusiastic and talented
beginners, or pilots moving up from an EN-A or DHV 1 level wing who still crave
security. Pluto II is excellent tool for basic cross country learning.

This manual provides information about the glider, which will help you to fly safely
and keep your wing in good condition. If after reading this manual you have any
further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or any authorised Axis dealer.

Thank you for choosing the Pluto II from Axis.

www.axispara.cz
www.axispara.co.uk

SAFETY NOTICE

By the purchase of this equipment, you are responsible for being a certified paraglider
pilot and you accept all risks inherent with paragliding activities including injury and
death. Improper use or misuse of paragliding equipment greatly increases these risk s.
Neither Axis nor the seller of Axis equipment shall be held liable for personal or third
party injuries or damages under any circumstances.
If any aspect of the use of our equipment remains unclear, please contact your local
paragliding instructor, Axis dealer or the Axis importer in your country.

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2. PRE FLIGHT

Pre-delivery inspection

The Pluto II is delivered with a rucksack, inner bag, compression strap and this manual.
The dealer or your instructor should have made a test inflation and test flight before
delivery to you.

Brake-line length

When you receive your new Pluto II, the brake-line length is set the same as the Axis
test glider. This length has been finely tuned by Axis test pilots and it should not be
necessary to adjust it.

If you feel it is necessary to adjust the brake-line length to suit physical build, height of
harness hang points, or style of flying we recommend you ground handle the glider
before you test-fly it and carry out this process after every 20mm of adjustment.

There should always be free brake travel when the glider is flown hands-up. This
means when you look at your brake lines in flight with your hands up, there should be
a slight bow, or arc, to the line – the brake lines should not be tight. This is to prevent
the brakes being applied when the speed-system is used.

Brake lines that are too short:

 May lead to fatigue from flying with your hands in an unnatural position
 May impede recovery from certain manoeuvres
 Will certainly reduce your glider's speed range.

Brake lines that are too long will:

 Reduce pilot control during launch
 Reduce control in extreme flying situations
 Make it difficult to execute a good flare when landing.

Each break line should be tied securely to its control handle with a suitable knot.

Other adjustments or changes to your Pluto II lead to a loss of guarantee,
airworthiness and validity of certification and may endanger both yourself and others.

If you have any suggestions on improvements let us know and our test pilots will try
out your ideas in a controlled situation.

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Weight range

The Pluto II must only be flown within the certified weight range as shown in this
manual. The weight range quoted is the total in-flight weight which includes pilot,
glider, harness, clothing and accessories.

Pre-flight safety

Before flying this glider you should:

 Have the appropriate practical and theoretical training
 Have the required licence and insurance
 Be fit to fly and unaffected by stress or drugs
 Wear a suitable helmet
 Use a suitable harness and emergency parachute
 Make a thorough pre-flight check.

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3. FLYING THE PLUTO II

We recommend you practice inflating your glider before flying it, and make your first
flights in gentle conditions on a familiar flying site.

A. Normal flight

Pre-flight check

A proper pre-flight check is essential for safe flying.

Before launch lay the glider out into a slight arc and check that:

 Cell openings are free of obstructions
 Lines are free of tangles or knots
 No twigs, grass or other objects are tangled in the lines
 Risers are correctly connected
 Brake lines run freely through the pulleys
 Knots on brake handles are secure
 Karabiners on risers are closed and/or tightened

Launch

The key to successful launching is to practice ground-handling on flat ground as often
as possible. The Pluto II inflates easily and steadily using forward or reverse launch
techniques. There is no tendency to overshoot the pilot. To forward (alpine) launch in
light or nil wind there is no need to pull the risers hard. Allow the glider to stabilise
overhead and run positively forward checking the canopy is fully inflated and clear of
any knots or tangles. Reverse launching is recommended in strong wind.

Flight

The best glide speed in calm air is achieved in the hands-up position. The best sink rate
is produced with both brake lines drawn down equally to about 20% of their range.

Turning

The handling characteristics of the Pluto II require no special or non-standard
procedures. Brake pressure is progressive. This gives a responsive and sporty feel to
the handling. In an emergency (e.g. a broken brake line) the Pluto II can be
manoeuvred by steering carefully with the rear risers or by weight shift.

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Using the speed system

The speed system on the Pluto II comes supplied with Brummel hooks ready to attach
to your own speedbar of choice. When you have done this, check the speed system
runs smoothly by hanging in your harness before flying.
In particular check that the speed system won’t be engaged when in normal flight.
Unnecessary knots and loops in a speed system are not recommended.

Maximum useable speed is one of the strong points of Axis paragliders and the Pluto II
is no exception. However, in spite of this exceptional stability, any collapse at full
speed will be more severe than the same event experienced at trim speed. Always
keep both hands on the controls when flying fast and be ready to release the speed
system immediately at the first sign of a collapse. Use the speed system carefully when
flying close to the ground or the terrain.

Landing

On your first flights you may be surprised at how well the Pluto II glides. Take account
of this when making your landing approach and give yourself the opportunity for S­turns or a longer approach than you might be used to.

For a normal, into-wind landing evenly pull the brakes all the way down when you are
about one metre from the ground. Under nil-wind conditions, or if you are forced to
make an emergency downwind landing, a wrap on each brake will allow you to make a
stronger flare.

B. Losing altitude

Most pilots will, at some time, want to lose height. This may be because of a change in
the weather, you are at cloudbase and don’t want to go any higher, or simply because
you want to finish your flight quickly.

Ideally, the best way to lose height is to find an area of sink and stay in it. This way you
can fly normally to the ground. However, if there is no sink, or if you are in strong lift
and want to go down, a rapid descent method may be needed.

There are three main rapid descent methods:

 Big ears
 B-line stall
 Spiral dive

Each of these descent methods places extra, different stresses on gliders and should
be avoided if you want to extend the life of the glider.

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