Prices2024-04-18T12:29:09+00:00

Prices

Which glider service suits you?

What’s involved?

Technical

£125
  • Tandem or paramotor wing £145
  • All the technical tests required to confirm airworthiness and performance
  • Pilot remains solely responsible for checking for physical damage
Technical tests

Measure the length of all lines by laser

Assess line strength

Test fabric porosity

Testing may identify that additional work is needed, such as retrimming

Full

£195
  • Tandem or paramotor wing £235
  • Comprehensive assurance that everything is as it should be
  • Typically one full day of a qualified technicians time
All technical tests

Additional checks for damage

Inspection of the canopy

Assessment of the risers

Examine lines for damage

Rate the overall condition of the wing

Checking may reveal repair work such as line replacement is needed

Measure the length of all lines by laser2019-02-19T22:00:48+00:00

We check your wing is in trim using a laser and software to compare actual line lengths against specification.

A gradual loss of trim often goes unnoticed, but restoring a glider to specification can be quite dramatic. Both Kevlar and Dyneema lines change in length over time, particularly if they get damp or exposed to heat. Being out of trim can affect both safety and performance. Minor variations outside the ±10mm tolerance can make a glider harder to launch, handle poorly, fly more slowly and lose height more quickly on glide. Greater deviation from specification can increase the likelihood of a collapse, stall or spin. Corrections are made by taking various different loops at the maillon or in the upper cascade to shorten individual lines and bring the glider back into trim without the expense of making new lines. This can refresh the handling and performance of a wing to the way it was when the glider was new.

Assess line strength2018-12-23T10:36:29+00:00

Depending on the age of your wing, we may remove an upper and main line to test their breaking strength.

Gliders may cease to be airworthy if their lines are no longer strong enough. Line strength reduces with age and use. We sample test Kevlar lines if your glider is more than two years old, and Dyneema after four. We may test younger gliders if the condition of the lines indicates significant use. Under European standard EN 926-1, the lineset must carry 14 times the maximum flying weight.

Test fabric porosity2018-12-23T10:36:35+00:00

We check that the fabric of your wing will keep the internal pressure high enough to maintain normal resistance to collapse and parachutal tendencies.

This is the first test we do on a service. It’s particularly important for an older glider that may be approaching the end of its serviceable life. The porosity meter measures how long it takes to draw a given volume of air (0.25 litres) through a small (38.5 cm2) area of fabric. For a new glider, this will take over 275 seconds, but reduces with age, use and the conditions the wing is exposed to. We examine much more closely if the result is less than 20 seconds. Poor results in conjunction with weaker fabric strength revealed by a Bettsometer tester may indicate that a glider is no longer safe to fly.

Examine the condition of the canopy2018-12-23T10:36:42+00:00

Hanging the glider up in the workshop allows us to examine the canopy really closely to find any damage.

Minor damage to the fabric, stitching or line tabs easily overlooked on the hill can be identified and repaired. Most damage revealed on a service is minor and can be quickly patched without charge. If more significant damage is identified, we would discuss the repair with you first.

Check over the risers2018-12-23T10:36:48+00:00

We check the risers, maillons, brake handles and speed system are all as they should be.

Webbing can become damaged through wear such as line burn from brake lines when ground handling. Brake and speed systems need to run smoothly. Maillons must be secure, and movement of the main line loops around the maillon should be restricted by maillon inserts or O rings.

Inspect lines for damage2018-12-23T10:36:55+00:00

We examine every line carefully to check they are not damaged.

A careful and thorough inspection of the lines is important to confirm there is no physical damage that might reduce individual line strength. If we find extensive damage to the lines, we would let you know before making replacements. We carry a wide range of line material, so can usually match the original line exactly. Occasionally we do not have the identical colour or pattern, but you can be confident that the technical performance will always match or exceed the original specification.

QR Code2020-10-24T14:17:10+00:00

Rapid access to the latest service report applied to the inside of your wing.

After completing your wing service, a unique QR code will be generated containing a link to the latest service report for your wing.

This is what the Technical Service covers

The most common reason for poor handling and performance is that lines go out of trim. This can affect safety by making spins and stalls more likely. A full measure of all the lines by laser can determine if a retrim is needed

Over time and through use, line strength reduces, canopy fabric becomes porous and can weaken. Checking that these remain above the manufacturer’s specified limits assures your safety

A Full Service also covers this

It’s easy for damage to be overlooked on the hill. A thorough inspection of the canopy, lines and risers will identify any undetected wear or damage that might affect the safety of your wing

Example service reports

Technical Service

Full Service

Does a service involve any other charges?

Retrim work

  • Measurement of all lines by laser will establish whether or not your glider is in trim

  • Retrim work, if needed, typically costs between £25 and £45, depending on how much work is involved

Replacement lines

  • Replacing a line during a service costs £16

  • Damaged lines are replaced

  • If we strength test any lines (based on age and condition) they will need replacing

Repairs

  • We will repair a small holes without charge as long as there aren’t too many

  • If your canopy needs some repairs or more than a few lines need replacing, we’ll get in touch first

How much does a repack cost?

What’s involved?

Round or square

£70
  • Tandem reserve £80
  • If you detach your reserve and send it to us in the deployment bag, the cost is £5 less.

Rogallo

£120
  • Brake handles checked and reset
  • If you detach your reserve and send it to us in the deployment bag, the cost is £5 less.
Check deployment2018-12-21T17:46:05+00:00

The first step is to carefully deploy the reserve and make sure everything works as it should:

  • Do the pins release easily?

  • Does the reserve come out without needing too much force?

  • Are the bridle and lines long enough to allow a good swing without the mouthlock releasing?

  • Do the lines slip out of the mouthlock easily?

  • Does the deployment bag fall off readily?

If we encounter difficulty at any stage, we fix it

Examine for damage2018-12-21T17:52:04+00:00

Before hanging the reserve out to air, we carefully examine the lines and canopy to make sure there’s no evidence of damage or contamination. Reserves can inflate very sharply, creating a significant shock loading, so any signs of weakness are taken seriously. We also check the condition of the bridles, maillons, O rings, deployment bag and handle, and the harness compartment or front mounted container.

Air thoroughly2018-12-21T17:20:22+00:00

Layers of damp fabric can stick together, with the potential to delay the opening of the reserve. We hang the reserve up to air until it is thorougly dry before repacking

Repack carefully2018-12-21T17:14:07+00:00

Care is taken to follow the manufacturer’s instructions meticulously and reproduce the packing method used when the reserve was certified

Reinstall2018-12-21T17:49:35+00:00

It’s vital that the reserve is compatible with the harness or front mounted container to ensure a swift and easy deployment. So we check to make sure that:

  • The reserve folds comfortably into the deployment bag

  • The lines slip out of the mouthlock easily

  • The bridles and maillons are in good condition

  • The bridle and lines are long enough to allow a good swing without the mouthlock releasing

  • The reserve comes out easily without needing too much force

  • The pins release readily

Other items

How much is the courier charge for collection and return?2020-10-24T14:46:51+00:00

We can arrange a collection to get your kit to the workshop, and there are two options:

  • Our courier can collect from your home or work address during working hours. This costs £25 for most UK mainland addresses for shipments up to 25kg

  • If you drop off your kit at one of the 2,500 DPD shops across the country (find one here), the cost is £15 for a box weighing up to 20kg

Return to you once the work is complete costs £20 for most UK mainland addresses for shipments up to 25kg

UK home or work address: collection and delivery charges

Area Weight limit (kg) Timing Collection Return
Most of the UK 25 Next day £25.00 £20.00
Highlands 10 Two days £37.50 £25.00
Isle of Wight 10 Two days £37.50 £25.00
Scottish islands 10 Two days £44.50 £27.25
Isle of Man 10 Two days £44.50 £27.25
Norther Ireland 10 Two days £44.50 £27.25
Channel Isles 10 Two days £44.50 £27.25

Scottish Highland postcodes are AB36-38, AB55-56, FK17-21, IV1-39, IV52-54, IV63, KW1-14, PA21-40, PH19-26, PH30-41 and PH49-51

Scottish Islands postcodes are HS1-9, IV40-51, IV55-56, KA27-28, KW15-17, PA20, PA41-49, PA60-78, PH42-44 and ZE1-4

How much does a replacement line cost?2020-05-18T15:31:41+00:00

Replacement lines cost £15 each, with a  few exceptions

A very small minority of lines are more expensive because of their material or construction. If this affects any line you order, we’d be in touch about the additional cost, and you’d be free to cancel your order for a full refund

Postage charges are as follows:

Region Up to 5 lines Each extra line
UK £3.85 £0.75
Europe £12.50 £1.00
Rest of the world £14.50 £1.25
How much does an inspection for a repair cost?2019-05-02T07:28:37+00:00

We recommend an inspection to make sure all the damage has been identified

A thorough inspection of the fabric of the canopy costs £40. We can also carry out an inspection of the lines for an additional £30.

If you’re sending in a harness for repair, we can inspect that for £18.

How much will a repair cost?2019-01-03T13:30:17+00:00

To answer that we really need to examine your kit first

You can email us photographs of the damage and we’ll do our best to give an indication of the likely cost, but it’s only when we can see it for ourselves that we can give you a quote. Take a look here to get an idea of the possible cost involved for glider repairs.

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