The SIV Manual

Every maneuver we train, in order, with what's required before you fly it. This is the same manual we go through together, page by page, during your course — browse it any time.

Twelve maneuvers, grouped into five categories — from basic control through emergency recovery, rapid descent, advanced dynamics, and combined speed-system collapses. Tap any maneuver to open it and see its purpose, the correct reaction, and what you should already be comfortable with first.

Basic Control

The first two maneuvers — foundational wing control every progression builds on.

1

Roll with body

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update to the manual. It's first in the progression, so no prior maneuver is required.
2

Pitch with brake

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update to the manual.

Emergency Maneuvers

Collapses are grouped here because you can do everything right and still get one — training targets the correct reaction, not avoidance. The right response depends on your wing category (simple EN A / low B vs. higher aspect-ratio).

3

Asymmetric (side) collapse — 50% right / left

Full notes
Prerequisite: Foundational SIV maneuver — one of the first taught in the emergency group. No prior maneuver required.

Correct Reaction Sequence

  • Control heading first — using weight shift and/or brake; a change of direction may be required depending on how the wing is turning.
  • Reinflate the collapse by pulling the inner (collapsed-side) brake.
  • As soon as the fabric is fully reinflated, hands up.

Weight Distribution

All pilot weight remains on the open (flying) side. This makes that side's brake more sensitive and responsive to pilot commands while the other side is compromised.

Teaching Progression & Pass Criteria

  • Start with a simple collapse-and-release.
  • Key teaching point: on the collapsed side, the pilot must return to brake — a pilot cannot hold brake and riser at the same time.
  • Pass criterion: instructor must see the top surface reinflate.
4

Symmetric collapse

Full notes
Prerequisite: Clean, confident asymmetric collapse recovery (maneuver 3).

Same underlying principle as the asymmetric collapse: the pilot may have no influence over the trigger — what's trained is the correct reaction, and it's wing-dependent.

Simple / Low-AR Wings (EN A, low B)

Hands up. Let the glider self-recover — it will shoot forward and retake speed, which restores lift.

Higher Aspect-Ratio Wings

The A-line attachment sits further back in the chord. The pilot may need to pull both brakes as soon as the leading edge is seen coming back, then go hands-up once it's fully out. Speed management is important here — avoid letting the pilot fall into a stall.

Rapid Descent

Pilot-initiated technique, not an emergency reaction — placed between the collapse group and advanced dynamics. Very commonly used.

5

Big ears

Full notes
Prerequisite: None specific — commonly introduced early in a course. Your first attempt is closely supervised.

Purpose

Rapid descent — used for top landings, or to manage drift in a valley (e.g. during soaring, where controlling sink rate against terrain or wind matters).

Supervision Points

  • First-time execution requires close supervision — watch for the pilot pulling the wrong line.
  • On release (hands up), watch for over-piloting: pilots reflexively pulling both brakes to "help" open the tips. The wing releases on its own once the lines are freed — added brake input is unnecessary and undermines clean technique.
  • Aerodynamic note: applying big ears increases induced drag at the tips. On wings that have been flown heavily and are out of trim, this raises stall risk — flagged especially on rented or older school gliders.
6

Big ears with weight shift (increased descent)

Full notes
Prerequisite: Comfortable, clean big ears release (maneuver 5).

Combining big ears with weight shift to induce rolling significantly increases sink rate — useful where an even faster descent is needed than big ears alone provides.

Advanced Dynamics

Higher-energy maneuvers taught later in the progression, after collapse recovery and rapid-descent technique are solid.

7

360°–360° with dive / speed control

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update. As part of the advanced dynamics group, expect this to come after collapse recovery and big ears are solid.
8

Spiral dive

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update.
9

Autorotation

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update.
10

Stall

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update.
12

Spin

Notes coming soon
Full teaching notes for this maneuver haven't been written up yet — they'll appear here in a future update.

Speed Collapses

Combines two skills you already have — accelerated flight and collapse recovery — introduced only once both are solid on their own.

11

Speed collapses

Full notes
Prerequisite: Confident, clean trim-speed asymmetric and symmetric collapse recovery (maneuvers 3 & 4) — a collapse under acceleration is faster, more violent, and costs more altitude than one at trim speed.

Why It Happens

Flying on the speed bar reduces angle of attack and reflexes the wing profile, lowering the safety margin — the wing collapses more easily and more aggressively for the same turbulence or input than it would at trim speed.

Correct Reaction Sequence

  • Release the speed system immediately — first and most critical step, before any brake input. This restores angle of attack and returns some of the wing's natural stability margin.
  • Then follow standard collapse procedure: heading control (weight shift / brake on open side), reinflate the collapsed side, hands up once reinflated.
  • Expect a stronger dive/surge — the collapse tends to be more dynamic, with a bigger forward pendulum surge and potential for a stronger turn if asymmetric.

Teaching Points

  • Sequencing is the core lesson: speed system off before brake input. Pulling brake while still on the bar fights the reflexed profile and delays recovery.
  • Typically introduced only after the pilot is confident and clean on trim-speed asymmetric/symmetric collapse recovery.
This section is pending instructor sign-off before it's treated as final teaching guidance — check with Artoosh directly if you have questions about speed collapses before your course.

Train these maneuvers hands-on

The SIV Manual is what we work through together, in the air, during your SIV course.

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