Tandem Flight Familiarization

 

Flying Tandem as a passenger is an exhilarating event especially if one has never flown before or has never had the experience of hanging in a harness suspended from a soft floaty parachute.  The feelings you can expect to encounter range from a bit of forceful tugging during wing inflation prior to take off, to a floating sensation  as your suspended like a puppet in the air over the earth, to finally a genital touch down and slight forceful tug while the wing drops to the ground.   Watch the video or video 1 to get a good idea on what to expect.

Things to consider are:

  1. Your inhibitions of flying:  Consider not going if you have a fear of flight. Performing a tandem flight is not meant to assist in the rehabilitation of getting over the fear of leaving the earth.  If anything it will only make you feel less secure due to the fact your body is suspended from nothing more than a soft chair over the ground.
  2. If you're considering taking up the sport and need to  experience Powerparagliding first hand then this is as close as it gets short of strapping a 65lb motor to your back and flying off in the sunset.  There are some differences.  Your instructor is schlepping all the weight and negotiating the wing through its paces during takeoff, flight and landing.  There is still a great deal to learn as a student prior to actually lifting off the ground so if your tandem instructor makes it look effortless, good on him.  By no means is it easy to accomplish without receiving good instruction and spending quality time building up wing handling proficiency levels  in preparation for your first solo flight.
  3. It just looks so fun and you have to do this at least one time.  It is addictive and you may want to do it again.  If this happens consider becoming a groupie and help carry equipment for free rides.  It is an incredible feeling  and even after spending 600 hours sitting in the Pilots chair, never flown as a passenger, it made me feel as giddy as a school girl when I experienced my first tandem flight as a passenger. 

Preflight instruction-What you should expect to hear from your instructor before you take-off and land.

Ground Prep: 

  1. The instructor may ask your weight.  This is not the time to lie.  If you feel uncomfortable whisper it to him.  He may laugh but it is all about safety so no time to be embarrassed.   He will make a judgment call and perhaps adjust the tandem harness to support the total Up-weight (motor, pilot and passenger weight).
  2. Explanation of how the wing flies, preparation and the evolution of  takeoff, flight, and landing.
    •  Wing:  The wing is specialized nylon like fabric non-porous material attached to lines that is laid out on it's back with the front cells facing up.   When the pilot and passenger are in position, the instructor will simply pull on the front lines of the wing, known as the "A" lines and the wing will fill with air immediately, take shape and lift off the ground. To induce flight,  forward movement is required and this is what the motor achieves. The instructor will perform tandem flights generally when the winds are between 5-9 miles per hour. Because the wing is so big it can be a handful to handle and heavy forces on the passenger due to strong winds can make the passenger's experience less enjoyable.
    • Preparation/Dawning the Tandem Harness: 
      • Prebrief:
      • One of the most important aspects of the flight is to be sure your safely and comfortably fastened into the harness.  Setting the straps too loose or too tight could unleash a seriously uncomfortable climbout if they wind up too high around the groin area.  You will be shown how to reposition yourself to regain a comfortable position if this does happen.  He may even help you, if your still struggling,  to achieve proper positioning after climbout.
      • Expect  the instructor will buckle the straps making sure they are adjusted, secure and attached to the tandem equipment. 
      • He will discuss the equipment's attachment points and inform you where hands and arms should be located during the evolution. 
      • You will also learn the location of the kick strap and how to "kick" into the harness and rest your legs after takeoff. 
      • Pushing into the chair can be difficult or easy and expect to wiggle your butt back while grabbing the back of the chair to slide into the full sitting position.  The kick strap will help by pushing the chair back against the butt area.
    • Evolution of Takeoff:  
      • Wing Setup
        • The instructor will lay out the wing, buckle you into the harness and tandem bar, and walk you to the wing where you will need to stand while he is connecting the wing to the Motor. 
        • He will tell you that he wants your hands on the front of the bar and to pull forward a little bit.  Expect some tussling so listen to his commands.  He will ask you to move around while he connects and positions himself in preparation to build a "Wall" and raise the wing.
        • When he is connected he will place the equipment in a location that is exactly perpendicular to the wing and the wind.
        • You will be slightly off center facing the wing in a position preparing for a "reverse launch" You will actually face the opposite direction of flight so prior to flight he will point you in the general running direction. 
      • Raising the Wing
        • The instructor will give  a ready command and ask you to crabwalk backwards.  At this moment he will pull on the "A" lines and you will feel some tugging by the wing and possibly the wings lines or the tandem spreader bars rubbing your back.
        • Depending on the wind you will be pulled forward a little.  It is best not to fight the tug and go with the force of the pull. Your instructor will be directing  and pulling lines until the wing is over head. 
        • Depending on wind speed, he may continue to ask you to crab walk backwards until the wing is positioned properly.  Some times he may need to reposition himself right or left so expect to hear a right or left command as well.  you may even feel him tugging you into the direction you need to go... Go with the direction he guides you and don't fight it.
        • At this moment in time this is the busiest your instructor will be, and things come fast and furious so be flexible
        • When the wing sits overhead steadily he will ask you to keep pulling yourself towards the front of the bar and make a left turn, face you down the appropriate direction of flight (the flight path) and begin forward motion. 
      • The Run:
        • This is the most critical time during takeoff.  Because the instructor must identify the exact direction of flight path, while guiding you in this direction.  Again listen to his commands, feel him line you up in the appropriate direction and  be prepared for what is to come next.
        • Things are happening very quickly after the turn.. Generally there is no waiting..  He will ask you to pull yourself towards the front of the bar and run.  The motor will rev-up, get noisy and you will feel a pushing sensation.  Keep pulling forward and RUN.  
        • NEVER STOP RUNNING UNTIL YOUR OFF THE GROUND BY 20 FEET. 
        • LET THE WING TAKE YOU OFF THE GROUND. DON'T JUMP INTO THE HARNESS.. You can  possibly sustain injury to you or your instructor if you jump into the harness prior to the wing rendering weight equilibrium. In other words you could trip your instructor and he will fall on you.  Notice in the video the passenger will continue to move his legs even though he is off the ground.
      • Flight:
        • The instructor will be looking for any equipment problems immediately after takeoff. This is the most critical time during flight so be cognizant of the possibility for an immediately landing if something does go wrong.  An instructor will do this promptly so expect a short lift off followed by simple touchdown inside of 20 feet.  He will tell you he is landing so be prepared to set back down again.
        • If things are going good he well  you will climb out past 20 feet and now it is time to pull out the kick strap and wiggle yourself into the chair.   Your instructor will be doing the same thing so expect a  restless feeling behind you until he gets comfortable. 
        • make sure you feel comfortable.  If something is pinching binding or grabbing inform him so you can either land if it is unbearable or make adjustments in the air to alleviate the issue. 
        • Enjoy the ride.  Since it is an instructional ride the instructor may ask if your interested in holding the break handles to maneuver the glider.  If you don't feel comfortable you don't have to.

Mike Brown