Deutscher Hängegleiterverband e.V.

Equipment Portal

PHI Sonata 24

Sicherheitsklasse 3
PHI Sonata 24

Instability rating

Safety class 1 Safety class 2 Safety class 3 Safety class 4 Safety class 5
asymmetric collapse
course change
forward pitching
height loss
sink velocity
collapse on opposite wingtip
cravat
G-Force
Frontal collapse
course change
Speed (Recovery)
pilot action (Recovery)
cravat
height loss
sink velocity
Spiral dives
G-Force
Sink velocity after 720°
Maximum sink velocity
Behaviour on brake release
course change after spiral dive exit
Height loss during recovery
Safety class 3
Pilot skill requirements:
Recovery techniques and experience levels greater than those learned in initial training.
SIV training recommended.
Regular flight practice.

Glider characteristics

Launch preparations: easy
launch characteristics: balanced, delayed climb, needs gentle guidance, minimal feedback during inflation, little braking required, slows before zenith, control check simple, low takeoff speed
asymmetric collapse: canopy colllapses at high angle to leading edge, en: EinklapperDynamikGering, total course change 90-180°, (1), moderate course change rate, moderate forward pitching 45-60°, (2), high height loss 40-49 m, (3), low sink velocity 10-14 m/s, (1), , , G-Force < 2,5 G, (1)
Frontal collapse: canopy collapses with high total collapse aera, marked pitch backwards 45-60°, moderate pitch forwards 30-45°, low dynamics, no course change, (1), , symmetric recovery, , , delayed return to normal airspeed, short deep stall phase, , high height loss 40-49 m, (3), moderate sink velocity 15-19 m/s, (2)
Spiral dives: moderate sink velocity increase, Moderate G-Force 3,5- 4.0 G, (2), Sink velocity after 720° <14 m/s, (1), High maximum sink velocity < 22 m/s, (3), sink velocity increase < 3 m/s on brake release, (1), Course change 90-180° after spiral exit, (1), moderate height loss during recovery 30-60 m, (2)
B-Stall: high force required, moderate pitch backwards 15-30°, moderate pitch forwards 15-30°, stable sink phase, no tendency to deform, , immediate return to normal airspeed, 6-8 m/s, height loss on recovery 20-40 m
big ears: simple initiation, stable flight phase, , , immediate automatic recovery, Vsink unaccelerated 3-3,5 m/s, Vsink accelerated 3,5-4 m/s, Vunaccelerated 3-5 km/h less than trimspeed, Vaccelerated 0-3 km/h faster than trimspeed
Steering behaviour: balanced, 80 cm brake travel range, very noticable brake pressure increasse, Late stall point, easily identifiable

Notes

Rating

Safety class 3

This class of paraglider react moderately to one or more of the following manoeuvres: frontal collapse, asymmetric collapse or spiral dive.
Moderately means that the above manoeuvres result in dynamic reactions from the glider and/or large height losses.

Good piloting skills which need to be regularly practised, together with good personal reaction times which are above basic training levels are required to safely fly this class of gliders.

Skill and experience levels greater than those attained in basic training are required to safely recover from the above manoeuvres. Emergency descent manoeuvres, in particular spiral dives may require advanced recovery skills. Additional training such as regular ground handling or SIV training is recommended.