BOBCAT owner’s manual – English Thank you for taking the time to read this manual before using the BOBCAT.
Thank you… Thank you for choosing the BOBCAT. We are confident that this speedflying glider will provide you with countless exciting and fun experiences and will enable you to make good progression in your speedflying career. This manual contains all the information you need to fly and maintain your glider. A thorough knowledge of your equipment will keep you safe while enabling you to maximise your full potential. Please pass on this manual to the new owner if you ever resell your glider.
Contents Thank You… .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Safety Notice ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1. Gin Gliders ........................................................................................................................ 4 2. Introducing Speedflying ................................
1. Gin Gliders Gin Gliders was formed in 1998 by paraglider designer and competition pilot Gin Seok Song and his team of engineers and test pilots. Gin’s philosophy is simple: To design gliders that he, and any other pilot, will love to fly. This philosophy applies equally for a speedflying glider such as the BOBCAT, as for the world beating competition glider, the Boomerang. No glider is released on the market without Gin’s complete satisfaction.
2. Introducing Speed Flying Speedflying, a new flying concept. A new flying craze is here: Speedflying; flying fast downhill. Over the last few years, Gin Gliders have been developing speedgliders for speedriding (launch by ski). Now, Gin Gliders introduces a speedglider designed for foot launch, the Bobcat. Speedgliders, a new design concept. Speedriding and speedflying are both based on a new design concept developed by Gin Gliders.
speed. You'll reach the bottom faster, but with a huge grin on your face. Soaring in stronger winds How many pilots confronted with "strong" winds of 30-45 km/h, have dreamed of the Bobcat? Here it is! On the coast, in the mountains, or on your favourite hill, when it is impossible to take your paraglider from its bag, the Bobcat is ready to take over. Ground training How many paragliding schools have dreamed of the Bobcat? Here it is.
4. Before you fly Pre-delivery Inspection The BOBCAT is delivered with a rucksack, the Bobcat harness (designed specifically for the Bobcat), inner bag, compression strap, repair tape and this manual. Your instructor or dealer should have made a test inflation followed by a test flight before delivery. Risers and trimmers The back risers of the BOBCAT are fitted with trimmers that enable the pilot to adapt the glider’s behaviour to match his level and the chosen slope.
Brake line adjustment The main brake line lengths of the BOBCAT are the same as on the sample that has been used by the GIN R&D team. These line lengths have been fine tuned by GIN test pilots, and it should not be necessary to adjust them. In soaring flight, it is common to fly with half a wrap on the brakes and hold the handles on the knot. However, care should be taken to release the wraps in any extreme situation.
Weight range The BOBCAT should be used in the weight range for which it was designed. The weight range is defined according to the pilot’s weight, including clothes. BOBCAT Weight/ piloting level #13,5 expert #15 Advanced #16,5 Advanced ≤ 80kg 80 kg ≥ Essential In order to fly with this equipment, you should: *Have received theoretical and practical tuition for Speedflying. *Have sufficient practice, the knowledge and the experience necessary to use this glider correctly and safely.
5. Flying with the BOBCAT We recommend that you first practice inflating your glider on a small training slope. Make your first flights with your new speedflying glider in gentle conditions in a familiar area. Preparation for launch Following a consistent method of preparation and pre-flight checks is vital for safe flying. We recommend the following: On arrival at the flying site, assess the suitability of the conditions: wind speed and direction, airspace.
Minimum sink rate and max glide ratio. The minimum sink rate can be found by pulling the brakes on by about 20 cm. the theoretical max glide ratio is obtained by trimming the back risers by 1 cm. Accelerated flight Once you have become accustomed to flying the BOBCAT, you can practice using the trimmers. These enable you to increase the speed of your glider, and to have better penetration through the air in stronger wind conditions.
Caution : The BOBCAT is not designed to perform manoeuvres outside the normal flight configuration. Our test pilots have tested the various reactions in extreme situations; however we strongly recommend that you do not perform stalls, manoeuvres and spins. It is also strongly recommended not to fly any aerobatics with the BOBCAT. Landing with the BOBCAT Choose a landing area free of obstacles.
6. Care, Maintenance and Repairs The materials used in the BOBCAT have been carefully selected for maximum durability. Nevertheless, following the guidelines below will help keep your glider airworthy and will ensure a long period of continuous safe operation. Excessive wear is caused by careless ground handling and packing, unnecessary exposure to UV light, chemicals, heat and moisture. Ground handling Be careful of the following: Violent shocks to the upper surface (e.g.
Transport and Storage Moisture is the worst enemy of your glider, adversely affecting the ageing of fabric, lines and reinforcements. The BOBCAT should therefore be kept dry and cool. Do not pack the glider away for a prolonged period if it is damp, sandy, salty, or if other objects have entered the cells. Always allow it to dry naturally before storage in a dry room.
7. Technical data BOBCAT Technical data BOBCAT SIZE 13.5 15 16.5 AREA 13.5m² 15m² 16.5m² SPAN 7.25m 7.65m 8.0m A.R 3.9 3.9 3.9 AREA 11.42m² 12.69m² 13.96m² SPAN 5.8m 6.12m 6.42m A.R 2.95 2.95 2.95 ROOT 2.18m 2.30m 2.41m TIP 0.91m 0.96m 1.01m CELL NUMBER 26 26 26 GLIDER WEIGHT 3.2 kg 3.5 kg 3.
14 br6 13 e6 10 br4 e5 d5 br mid3 br5 main D3 d6 11 Line material Upper line TGL140, TGL80 Main line TGL280 STB Main TGL140 Brake Main TGL200 12 9 e4 d4 7 br mid2 br3 main D2 8 br2 e3 d3 5 4 e2 d2 br main br mid1 6 br1 main D1 3 2 e1 d1 1 c1 b1 a1 2 main C1 3 main A1 c2 b2 a2 4 5 c3 b3 a3 6 c5 c4 a5 b5 9 b4 a4 8 main C2 7 main A2 10 c6 b6 a6 12 main C3 11 main A3 13 stD stC stB stA 14 ST main Line Plan
Description FABRIC OF CANOPY SUPPLIER NAME DOMINICO TEX ADDRESS 641-11 Dungchondong Kangseogu Seoul Korea TYPE OF FINISH SIDE COATED NYLON 6.6 HIGH TENACITY – 30 Denier 3RS ME (Top and Bottom surface) NYLON 6.6 HIGH TENACITY – 30 Denier 3RS FM (Rib) PATTERN Rip Stop Rip Stop Coated fabric’s weight (g/sqm) 43+2 43+2 WARP (DaN) 3.6 Max 3.6 Max WEFT (DaN) 4.1 Max 4.1 Max Elongation on bias 3 Ibs (%) 11.5 Max 11.5 Max Elongation on bias 5 Ibs (%) 17.5 Max 17.
Suspension line MATERIAL ARAMID(TECHNORA) NAME SUPPLIER ADDRESS TEIJIN LIMITED, JAPAN 1- 1, UCHISAIWAI-CHO 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, 2- TOKYO 100, JAPAN DIAMETER(mm) TGL80(Top) TGL140(Top) TGL280(Main) DIAMETER(mm) 1.1 1.4 1.
Riser MATERIAL POLYERSTER TAPE NAME Güth & Wolf GmbH ADDRESS Herzebrockerstr. 1-3 D-33330 Gütersloh GERMANY SUPPLIER WEIGHT(GR/M) 34 BREAKING STRENGTH 1,100DAN WIDTH(mm) 20mm Maillon MATERIAL STAINLESS STEEL NAME SUBO TECH CO. ADDRESS 981-1 CHAGOK-RI PALTAN-GU, HWASUNG-CITY, KYUNG KI-DO, KOREA SUPPLIER WEIGHT(GR) 12 BREAKING STRENGTH 1,000kg DIAMETER(mm) 4.
Bridle (Attachement line) MATERIAL NYLON NAME SUPPLIER ADDRESS 45 MU KYO DONG JUNG – GU, SEOUL, KOREA SUPPLIER WEIGHT(GR/M) 7.2 BREAKING STRENGTH (kg) 110 WIDTH(mm) 13 Thread MATERIAL HIGH TENACITY POLYESTER YARN NAME AMANN & SOHNE GMBH & CO. ADDRESS INDUSTRIESTRASE 1, D-74391 ERLIGHEIM, GERMANY SUPPLIER 20 DENIER 150D/2 250D/3 BREAKING STRENGTH 2.9kg 3.2kg WEIGHT(GR/M) 0.05G 0.
“Designing gliders is a personal journey of challenge and discovery, an ongoing search for perfection." - Gin Seok Song Every effort has been made to provide you with important and useful information in this flight manual. However, please remember that this is not a book made to teach you how to fly, and that courses in a certified professional school are necessary for the safe practice of Speedflying. This flight manual may be amended at any time without any prior notice. Please visit our website www.
