GIN Bolero 5 User Manual

pilot manual

v1.0, 20/01/2015

Photo: Jerome Maupoint

Contents

Thank you... 5
Warning 6
About Gin Gliders 7
Introducing the Bolero 5 8
Before you fly 9
Flying the Bolero 5 12
Care and maintenance 24
Final words... 28
Technical specification 29
Line plan 30
Riser diagram 31
Materials 32
Brake line knot diagram 33
Diagram of parts 34

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Thank you...

...for choosing Gin Gliders. We are confident you’ll enjoy many rewarding experiences in the air

with your GIN Bolero 5.

This manual contains important safety, performance and maintenance information. Read it
before your first flight, keep it for reference, and please pass it on to the new owner if you ever
re-sell your paraglider.

Any updates to this manual, or relevant safety information, will be published on our website:
www.gingliders.com. You can also register for e-mail updates via our website.

Happy flying and safe landings,

GIN team

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Warning

Like any extreme sport, paragliding involves unpredictable risks which may lead to injury or
death. By choosing to fly, you assume the sole responsibility for those risks. You can minimize the
risks by having the appropriate attitude, training and experience and by properly understanding,
using and maintaining your equipment. Always seek to expand your knowledge and to develop
self-reliance. If there is anything you do not understand, consult with your local dealer as a first
point of contact, with the GIN importer in your country or with Gin Gliders directly.

Because it is impossible to anticipate every situation or condition that can occur while
paragliding, this manual makes no representation about the safe use of the paraglider under
all conditions. Neither Gin Gliders nor the seller of GIN equipment can guarantee, or be held
responsible for, the safety of yourself or anyone else.

Many countries have specific regulations or laws regarding paragliding activity. It’s your
responsibility to know and observe the regulations of the region where you fly.

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About Gin Gliders

Dream

In forming Gin Gliders, designer and competition pilot Gin Seok Song had one simple dream:
to make the best possible paragliding equipment that pilots all over the world would love to fly—
whatever their ambitions.

At Gin Gliders, we bring together consultant aerodynamists, world cup pilots, engineers and
paragliding school instructors, all with one goal: creating better paragliders.

Touch

We’re a “hands-on” company that puts continuous innovation and development at the centre of
everything we do.

At our purpose-built R&D workshop at head office in Korea, we are able to design, manufacture,
test-fly and modify prototypes all in a matter of hours. Our international R&D team is on hand both
in Korea and at locations worldwide. This guarantees that your equipment has been thoroughly
tested to cope with the toughest flying conditions.

Our own production facilities in East Asia ensure the quality of the finished product and also
the well-being of our production staff.

Believe

We believe that the product should speak for itself. Only by flying can the pilot understand the
wing and develop trust and confidence in it. From this feeling comes safety, comfort, performance
and fun. The grin when you land should say it all!

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Introducing the Bolero 5

Ever since its first version in 1999, the Bolero has provided a solid foundation for thousands
of pilots to develop their skills—from the first steps on the training slopes to soaring effortlessly
amongst the clouds.

The Bolero 5 gives pilots just the right feedback to enable them to develop an instinctive
feeling for the air—in a safe, comfortable and progressive manner.

The Bolero 5 is intended as a first paraglider, suitable for school use but also for regular pilots
who want to fly relaxed and for intermediate pilots progressing into XC flying.

The Bolero 5 features EPT (Equalized Pressure Technology), our numerical method of calculating
the best possible airfoil parameters for any given profile. The result is that the tiny, constant
deformations of the airfoil in flight are reduced, and the air pressure inside the wing stays more
constant. Although some pilots associate EPT with performance gains, the technology has several
other key benefits. The wing inflates more easily, has better thermal searching behaviour, climbs
better and is more stable and comfortable in active air. In addition, the glider has a longer brake
range, higher brake pressures approaching the stall point. The low stall speed gets you airbourne
quickly and provides a good safety margin for landings. The flare is positive and easy to feel.
Overall, we feel we have succeeded in the challenging task of improving on the Bolero 4.

WARNING: The Bolero 5 is suitable for
trainee pilots only under the strict
supervision of a competent and qualified
instructor.

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Before you fly

Delivery

Make sure your dealer has checked and test-flown the glider. Your glider will be delivered to
you with the original trim settings which correspond to the tested configuration. Do not make any
modifications, such as changing the risers or altering the line lengths. This would invalidate the
certification and is potentially dangerous.

Brake lines

GIN test pilots have carefully tuned the brake line lengths during testing, and there should be
no need to change them. We generally suggest flying with wraps (a turn of brake line around the
hand).

If you do decide to make adjustments to suit your harness, body or flying style, make any
adjustments in steps of 2cm. Be sure to test fly the glider after each adjustment. See the reference
section of this manual for the recommended knot to use to re-attach the brake handles.

Risers and line layout

A line plan and a diagram of the risers can be found in the reference section at the end of this
manual. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the risers and the position of the “stabilo (STB)”
line.

Speed system

The speed system accelerates the wing by progressively shortening the risers towards the
front.

Make sure that the speed system lines are routed properly through your harness and attached

NOTE: Your glider may have been
delivered with some lines looped around
the maillons, this is to allow the glider
to be re-trimmed during a professional
check at the recommended service
interval.

WARNING: If you fly with wraps, be
sure to release them in any extreme
situation. Failure to do so could prevent
normal recovery of the wing.

CAUTION: If you do shorten the brake
lines, make sure there is enough free
brake travel that the trailing edge is
not braked (deformed) when the glider
is fully accelerated. There should be at
least 10cm of free brake travel when the
glider is flown “hands-off”.

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to the risers using the Brummel hooks. Perform any adjustments symmetrically while on the
ground. Adjust the speed system so that the maximum speed is attained (“pulley-to-pulley” on the
riser) when your legs are fully extended. Ask a friend to hold the risers in the flying position while

you are seated in your harness on the ground.

Harness

It’s important for your comfort and safety to fly with a suitable harness that is properly
adjusted. When choosing a harness, remember that the height of the attachment points (i.e.
distance from the carabiners to the seat plate) affects the sensitivity of the glider and the
relative brake travel. The lower (shorter) the attachment points, the more sensitive the glider is
to weightshift. GIN gliders are developed with GIN harnesses, which have an attachment point of

approximately 40-48cm (depending on size and model).

Adjust your chest strap so that the distance between the carabiners is approximately 46cm.
Lighter pilots may fly with a slightly narrower setting. A rule of thumb is to set the width of your
chest strap to that of your shoulders.

Your dealer will be able to offer individual advice regarding harnesses.

Rucksack

GIN gliders are delivered with a rucksack, designed to carry all your equipment in comfort. If
you have any particular requirements, a wide range of optional rucksacks and reversible harnesses
are also available. Please see our website or ask your dealer for details.

CAUTION: Make sure that the speed
system is not too short. The front risers
must not be pulled down in normal
(unaccelerated) flight.

CAUTION: Don’t adjust your leg and
shoulder straps too tightly. If you do,
you may have difficulty sitting back into
your harness after take-off.

CAUTION: If you fly with a cocoon
harness in a reclined position, be sure
to quickly get into an upright position
in any turbulence or extreme situations.
If you don’t, you may experience
a reduction in control travel or an
increased risk of riser twists.

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Weight range

Be sure to fly your glider within the certified weight range given in the Technical Specification
section. Due to EPT technology, the Bolero 5 flies well at any wing loading within this weight
range. If you are choosing between 2 sizes, choose your optimum wing loading according to your
personal preferences and the conditions you fly in.

If you prefer dynamic flight behaviour with fast reactions, you should fly at a high wing­loading, i.e. choose the smaller model. This may be an advantage in strong, tight thermals.

The dynamics are reduced in the middle and lower part of the weight range. Flight behaviour
becomes more straightforward and many pilots fly with this wing loading because they find it
easier to centre in thermals, especially weaker and wider thermals. If these features appeal to
you, you should fly with a lower wing-loading and choose the larger model.

The Bolero 5 reacts to weight changes only by slightly increasing or reducing trim speed,
with little noticeable effect on glide performance. You can therefore choose the size completely
according to your own flying style.

Overload

The EN 926-2:2013 describes the weight measurement with: “All weights are subject to
an acceptable tolerance of ± 2kg”. Therefore a slight overload of the wing would be within EN
tolerances. However, flying over the maximum weight further increases the dynamic flight
behaviour. In small bubbles, the wing has more horizontal momentum and less tendency towards
lifting. A test flight is always recommended if in doubt.

TIP: Check your total flying weight by
standing on weighing scales with all your
equipment packed into your rucksack.

TIP: Remember that ballast can also
be used to adjust wing loading to the
conditions.

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