- 16. February 2024
Alright, let’s break down what goes into inspecting your paraglider to make sure it’s all good to hit the skies. Think of it like giving your car a thorough once-over before a big road trip.
First up, we’ve got the porosity check. It’s all about seeing how breezy your sail cloth is getting. Over time, the fabric can start letting air through more than it should, thanks to the sun’s rays and just general wear and tear. We use this nifty gadget – a porosity meter – to measure how fast air can sneak through under a bit of pressure. It gives us the lowdown on whether your wing’s fabric is still in prime condition and flyable.
Next, we test the line strength. Just like you don’t want your shoelaces snapping, we don’t want any lines breaking mid-air. Different materials age differently, so we pay extra attention to the ones that get cranky with too much bending and force. Oh, and heads up – we might actually have to snap some lines on purpose to check their strength. But don’t worry, you’ll get those snapped lines back as a keepsake, and we’ll hook you up with brand-new ones.
Then there’s the visual inspection. We take a close look for any rips, tears, or signs of a party gone wrong. Minor stuff usually isn’t a biggie, but here we’re on the lookout for anything that could mess with your safety.
Trim tuning is where we get all technical, checking that all the lines are the right length and play nice together in accordance to the current glider profile. This keeps your glider balanced and flying smooth.
And finally, we check out the sailcloth strength, making sure it can still take a punch (or a strong pull) without tearing.
So, there you have it—a top-to-bottom look to keep you soaring safely and your glider feeling loved.
