Problem with WW Ramair 154, myself and Charly Kangaroo?

Strange, but I still can't get enough speed when approaching with the arms on the uprights. All my landings look like hot air ballon landings ending like a post stamp. No time to flare. I have tryed everything, arms high-no way, arms lower-little better (not enough), moving from speedbar to uprights a second before flare- too tricky, moving the G-point forward-still not enough. I had no choice and was forced to screw the wing tips a little bit more in order to be able to land safely. My theory is that the glider has the uprights ending behind the G-point (or how is it called), and in combination with a harness with a fixed suspension, one can't pull the upprights back enough because they're allready levelled with the shoulders. Climbing up the uprights produces a rotational moment that do the thing worse. I'm confused because there are no pilots I know complaning about this. The wing is O.K., i've two with the same result. No problem with the other types of wings and same harness. I would really appreciate any tip before next landing.

When flying does the glider trim at about minimum sink? Does it trim at a stall? I have noticed that gliders tend to trim slower with age. If it truly trims too slowly, look into moving the CG even further forward. Older gliders tend to loosen spanwise and tighten chordwise. Perhaps shimming the LE and loosening the inboard batten ties would tune it better.

Perhaps it's all technique. Fly fast into ground effect with one hand on the basetube and one on a downtube. Don't try to rotate fully upright. You should be able to fly fast enough with the basetube at your thigh unless you have just a hellish wind gradient at your LZ. Slowly ease the bar out as you near the ground and transition your other hand to the downtube carefully. With hands about shoulder high, you should have good flare authority. Think pushing up instead of pushing out.

wildly wibbled thus:

How much C. of G. movement is there on the harness? Try flying with a stirrup, you can get far more upright on these. If this cures the problem, you may find the hangpoint on your harness isn't at the C. of G., or that there isn't enough travel on the harness or long enough leg loops to allow your CG to move back far enough when landing to put you upright enough. Had this problem with my old harness and noticed it big time when I flew a Ramair.

If you get even MORE upright, though, your legs get in the way of pulling on some speed. Getting fully upright is highly overrated. You have more control authority if you're partially prone, partially upright by having one hand on the basetube and one on a downtube. When it comes time to flare, the weight of your legs behind your CG will actually add to a crisp flare as they pendulum foreward. I see more botched landings by people trying to get their legs out in front of them.

If the original poster is having trouble getting a RAM AIR to go fast, I think there is most likely something wrong with the way the glider is tuned than a problem with his harness. It could be, though, that he's flying his whole approach rocked up with his hands high on the downtubes in flare position. Not recommended.