Specifications

SONIC OWNERS MANUAL
Version 1.01 13
DE-RIGGING THE SONIC
Laying the Glider Flat
If the wind is over 10 mph and you wish to park the glider safely, it is best to lay the
glider flat on the ground with the nose into the wind. To do this, simply lift the nose
fairing to expose the nose catch assembly. Whilst holding the keel so the glider can’t
blow over, remove the nose wire ring from the Bailey Block and carefully walk forward
with the nose of the glider allowing the control bar to fold back under the glider until you
have lowered the wing to the ground.
Make sure you keep the nose slightly higher than the back of the glider throughout the
lowering process and that the wings stay in the same plane.
If the glider is to be parked for any length of time, or if the wind is quite fresh, it is also
advisable to unclip the reflex bridles to prevent the nose from being lifted by the wind.
From here the glider can be quickly reassembled ready to fly again or be broken down
as required.
Flat Breakdown
1. From the “flat” position above, remove the under-surface and #7 battens, and put
them behind the glider. (Be careful as it is easy to forget these if they have been
laid in long grass away from the other battens.)
2. Move to the rear of the glider at the keel raise the keel 10” (250mm) off the
ground and pull back the double cross bar restrainer cable so the stainless steel
shackle will remove from the Bailey block.
3. Remove the rest of the battens. To protect the aerofoil shape of the battens
gather the curved ends together and feed them into the batten bag, slipping them
as a unit right to the bottom of the bag. Slide in the remaining straight and #7
battens and shake them to the bottom, then seal the Velcro bag end.
4. Bring the leading edges in to the keel. As you do this, pull the sail over the
leading edge so that none is caught between the keel and wing bars. Remember
not to lift the leading edges too high when swinging them in.
5. Pull the sail flat so that the now doubled over sail forms a diamond shape.
Keeping tension along the line from nose to outside diamond points, fold the sail
toward the leading edge (as if folding a paper dart then repeat with a second fold.
Do not take the sail right to the keel but lay the folds just outside the leading
edges. Loosely roll the folded sail until it lays against the leading edges.