GIN Fuse User Manual

pilot manual

v2.0, 01/06/2014

Photo: J. Maupoint

Contents

Thank you... 5
Warning 6
About Gin Gliders 7
Introducing the Fuse 8
Before you fly 9
Flying the Fuse 13
Care and maintenance 25
Final words... 29
Technical specification 30
Diagram of parts 31
Riser diagram 32
Line plan 33
Certification and line lengths 34
Certification and line lengths 35
Materials 36
Brake line knot diagram 37

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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 Fuse.

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 Fuse

The Fuse is a tandem paraglider for professionals who demand only the best for their
passengers—and for themselves!

The Fuse contains the same EPT (Equalized Pressure Technology) that’s at the heart of our XC
wing, the Carrera. EPT means a better launch, a better landing and a better flight all-round! The
Fuse is both reliable and efficient for commercial use, yet makes no compromises when flown for
pure pleasure.

Effortless inflation and take-off

The Fuse is easy to manage on the ground and inflates smoothly and evenly in all flyable
conditions. And because the Fuse profile produces a lot of lift at low airspeeds, you’ll get
airbourne without a fuss—even if your passenger doesn’t move as enthusiastically as you would
wish!

Agile, well-balanced handling

The Fuse reacts to your control inputs with speed and precision and goes exactly where you
put it. You get just the right amount of feedback, so your passenger stays comfortable and you
easily find lift and stay in thermals. Or, if you prefer to land sooner, the agility of the wing means
that you can still have some fun on your way down!

Stress-free landing

The Fuse has excellent roll response even at lower speeds, ideal on tight landing approaches.
Near minimum speed, the sink rate increases significantly and—in appropriate conditions—you
can use this behaviour to your advantage during the last few metres before touchdown. Despite
this, the wing’s energy retention is good and you can still flare with authority.

CAUTION: To fly the Fuse, you
should be a qualified tandem
pilot in accordance with your local
regulations. You should be flying
regularly and be competent in “active
flying” techniques.

WARNING: The Fuse is not intended as
a training glider!

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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 at the end 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.

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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Trim (speed) system

The trim system varys the angle of attack and functions both as a speed system and also as a
means to adjust the trim speed of the wing for varying take-off conditions and passenger weights.
The trimmers on the B, C and D risers are operated via KametTM buckles on the D risers. An 11cm
total range (from slight negative to large positive setting) provides versatility and a large reserve
of speed. There are 3 basic positions:

Trimmers neutral: this is marked by red stitching, and is the position for normal flights.

Trimmers open: recommended when flying with low to medium hook-in weight, in stronger
winds, for towing, for flying with big-ears or when flying with light passengers. It is also useful
for long transitions into headwinds.

Trimmers closed: recommended when flying at or near the maximum take-off weight. Closing
the trimmers will reduce take-off and landing speed.

Tandem Spreader bars

The Fuse has been tested and certified with a standard T-bar (spreader bar) suspension system.
Using the Fuse with other tandem suspension systems is not recommended as it could adversely
affect both flight characteristics and the behaviour in extreme flight situations.

Connect your passenger to the appropriate loop in order to balance the relative difference
in height and weight between you and your passenger. Be sure to connect the passenger
symmetrically to the corresponding loops on each side of the spreader.

Always use tandem-rated carabiners or maillons for these connections and also for those of
your rescue system.

CAUTION: Be sure to always set the
trimmers symmetrically.

CAUTION: Don’t fully open the trimmers
in severe turbulence or near the
ground.

CAUTION: Be aware that fully open
trimmers will place the brake handles
much higher up on the riser

TIP: The slight negative trim setting is
useful on steep take-offs or with heavy
passengers.

NOTE: When using soft spreaders,
weight differences are not relevant
and the different hang points for pilot/
passenger serve only to equalize height
differences.

NOTE: If you choose to use the lower
pilot hang-point on the spreader, you
may need to adjust the lengths of the
brake lines.

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Big ears system

A clamp cleat system makes it simple to lock the big ears in place when used for an extended
period.

Your 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. The GIN Fuse glider has been developed with the corresponding GIN Fuse pilot
and Fuse passenger harnesses, which have appropriate attachment point heights. For any other
harnesses, we recommend an attachment point height of 40-44cm (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.

Mounting the tandem reserve

Always mount the reserve so that unintentional opening by either passenger or pilot is
impossible. Please refer to the reserve manufacturers User Manual.

The reserve bridle should run along the pilot’s back, through the Velcro guide of the spreader
bar, and be attached to the main carabiners at the main suspension point (where the risers are
attached). Any other mode of attachment will compromise the safety of pilot and passenger in

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.

NOTE: The pilot and passenger’s chest
strap (horizontal distance between the
main carabiners) should be set to the
same distance.

NOTE: Information regarding harness
dimensions used in certification flights
is contained in the documentation of the
relevant standards.

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the event of a rescue opening.

Rucksack

The Fuse comes with an XXL rucksack, designed to carry all your equipment in comfort.

Weight range

Be sure to fly your glider within the certified weight range given in the Technical Specification
section. Due to EPT technology, the Fuse flies well at any wing loading within this weight range.
Higher wing loadings result in a more dynamic feel, increased brake pressures and higher speeds.
Lower wing loadings result in lower speeds, a softer feel and less dynamic reactions.

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

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