Launching and flying an older dudek synthesis lt

[KIT352]

So I have been flying a bgd magic for a while and have no problems with it in any aspect.  A mate at work gave me his dudek synthesis lt that he bought new but was afraid to fly so it has basically zero hours on.  I sent it out for inspection and laser measuring and it came backs all aces.  

For the life of me I can not get this thing to really behave well.  I have crawled through the manual and forums but haven't really found anything to guide me.  The local instructors here can't help as it's a wing before there time so it's just me now.  Reviews say it was a great wing and I would love to at least get up once or twice to try it out.  Seems a shame to bin it otherwise.

From what I have gathered for clues I set trimers to zero.  Open them up slightly for higher wind launches.  I am holding the gold A risers completely until it's overhead.  Brakes have a ton of built in slack on them so I have to wrap them to get any response out of them.  

For all my efforts I have given up trying to launch in nil wind, I just can't get it up over my head.  It always stays back a bit.  If I have 5 to 10 wind I can get it up sometimes but not often enough.  I have better luck opening the trimmers to 3 or 4 but then I'm running as fast I can to get it up and that's without a motor on my back.  No way can I run that fast with a motor.

What am I missing here?  Should I be messing with the trimmers more or is it more a matter of technique with the risers?  I noted the manual calls the gold A risers the easy launch system but it's not for me lol. 

It's like a lost art in these parts so any tips you can share would be great.  Like I said, It's really too nice to just toss out because everyone has forgotten how to fly them.

[Hann__]

I`m afraid the Synthesis is now a very old design and even when new displayed the difficult low wind launch characteristics you describe here, they really can be a recalcitrant old bugger in challenging conditions.

I always felt mine to be made out of military grade canvass rather than lightweight nylon such was the feeling of weight and effort required to get the thing overhead.

I reverse launched mine if possible, and used to dread the times when the wind would drop and call for a forward, although it was possible with a lot of effort and a little bit of learned technique.

You`re doing everything right - grab the A` risers, push push push and commit. Maybe hold on to the A`s slightly longer than you`re used to to make sure it`s overhead whilst you run?

One of the characteristics of Dudek wings of this era was the tendancy of them to hang back and not come overhead easily as you`ve found.

You`ve been spoilt by a modern wing which are generally much more forgiving and willing to fly.

I dunno whether it`s worth persevering, when you do eventually fly it you`ll find it`s a stable wing, but ultimately a bit slow and ponderous...

[KIT352]

Thanks for the info.  Ive been calling it the heavy pig around the field. It feels like I'm trying to pull up a Vauxhall corsa.  I've certainly been spoiled by newer designs as you said for sure.  I have a gin pegasus 2 that is the same size and I bet it's half the weight and also effortless to get airborne.  

I've given reverse a few tries but to be honest they feel much harder.  I just can't get enough backwards speed to get it overhead.  It holds back too much. Higher winds that I think would help just make it harder. Probably yet another technique issue but one I can't really make progress on.