frazer1981 Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Being a new boy im just curious? what gives a wing a DHV rating?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 It is ONE of 3 'standards' of testing for Paramotor / Paragliding kit. A beginner / Training wing would have a DHV1 rating maybe a 1/2 A top notch hill pilot would fly a DHV 3 In short, the DHV rating system is more aimed at non powered flight. DHV do NO tests with a Paramotor attached so thus not ideal SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Hi Frazer the DHV is the German Hang Gliding Federation. They are authorised in Germany by their goverment to test wings to the LTF standard testing programme (LTF is the German goverment's set of tests that a paraglider must undergo to alow it to be sold and flown in Germany). DHV have up to now been the only organisation authorised to conduct the LTF tests so the tests have become synonmous with DHV. (like calling a vacuum cleaner a Hoover). The DHV employ test pilots and charge paraglider manufacturers a fee to conduct the tests. The glider is measured for its characteristics in recovery from certain in-flight situations such as asymetric collapse, spin, spiral dive, brake travel limit and many more. The time it takes and the amount of pilot input required to recover straight and level flight determines which rating it receives. These are 1, 1-2, 2 , 2-3 , 3 and "uncerified". so 5 classes. the 1 class is the one that requires least pilot input to recover it and after the least amount of turning from track. Every size of a wing is treated as a seperate wing so a large wing might get a 1-2 but its extra small version might get a 2. So it can be very expensive to get a range of wings certified. There are other certifications of glider including EN the european (mostly French) standard with a number of testing houses licensed to conduct the tests, and recently DMSV who test wings with paramotors with some basic recovery tests. The important thing to remember is that the certification gives you some information about a wing's recovery characteristics but not about its tendency to get into situations in the first place! (although these can be closely related). A DHV 1 certified wing is the easiest for a novice pilot to recover if it collapses and is reccommended for training and for pilots who dont want high performance. Hope this helps. LTF certifications: lassification Addition Description 1 Paragliders with simple and very forgiving flying characteristics. 1-2 Paragliders with good-natured flying characteristics. 2 Paragliders with demanding flying characteristics and potentially dynamic reactions to turbulence and pilot errors. Recommended for regularly flying pilots. 2-3 Paragliders with very demanding flying characteristics and potentially violent reactions to turbulence and pilot errors. Recommended for experienced and regularly flying pilots. 3 Paragliders with very demanding flying characteristics and potentially very violent reactions to turbulence and pilot errors, little scope for pilot errors. For expert pilots. G Only explicitly listed types of harnesses GH "H"-braced harnesses - any group GH harness may be used with that glider (=almost all modern DHV-certified harnesses) GX Cross-braced harnesses - any group GX harness may be used with that glider Biplace Certified for biplace operation Y Hang type harness (for historic reasons) S Special harness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frazer1981 Posted June 23, 2008 Author Share Posted June 23, 2008 Thanks for the information! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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