Some pilots fly with a little brake the whole time, whether climbing, gliding or just ridge soaring. Many schools teach this as the standard technique, because it can provide a level of comfort to the pilot and give them a feeling of safety, and a kind of permanent physical contact with the wing. A few years ago this was how we all used to fly, but the gliders have changed and the way they should be flown also needs to evolve. Flying permanently with brakes on, it is no longer the best way to fly modern wings for several reasons.
Enhanced stability
The stability of paragliders has improved hugely over the last decade, and whereas previously you needed the extra stability of flying with the brakes on, the modern glider is reassuringly…
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Cross Country (Digital) - 1 Issue, 156 Novemeber - December 2014