GIN Mirage User Manual

Mirage Owner’s Manual

Rev.1.0, 05/06/2012

Please read this manual prior to your first flight with the Mirage.

Gin Gliders Inc., 285-1 Galdam-Ri, Mohyun-Myun, Yongin-City, Kyunggi-Do, Korea

www.gingliders.com, [e-mail]

Thank you…

Thank you for choosing the Mirage. We are confident that this paramotor glider will provide you
with countless happy experiences as you progress in your flying career. This manual contains
all the information you need to fly and maintain your paramotor glider. A thorough knowledge
of your equipment will keep you safe and enable you to maximize your full potential.

Please pass on this manual to the new owner if you ever resell your paramotor glider.

Happy Flights and Safe Landings,

The GIN Team

Safety Notice

By the purchase of our equipment, you are responsible for being a certified
paramotor glider pilot and you accept all risks inherent with motor paragliding
activities including injury and death. Improper use or misuse of GIN equipment
greatly increases these risks. Neither Gin Gliders Inc nor the seller of GIN
equipment shall be held liable for personal or third party injuries or damages
under any circumstances. If any aspect of the use of our equipment remains
unclear, please contact your local paramotor instructor, GIN reseller or the
importer in your country.

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Contents

Thank You… .............................................................................................................................................. 2

Safety Notice ........................................................................................................................................... 2

1. Gin Gliders ........................................................................................................................ 4

2. Introducing the Mirage ...................................................................................................... 5

For Pilots Who… ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Cutting-edge Design ................................................................................................................................ 5

Construction............................................................................................................................................. 6

Manufacturing .......................................................................................................................................... 6

3. Before you Fly ................................................................................................................... 7

Pre-delivery Inspection ........................................................................................................................... 7

Speed System ........................................................................................................................................... 7

Brake line adjustment .............................................................................................................................. 7

Rucksack .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Certified Weight Range ............................................................................................................................ 8

Pre-flight safety ...................................................................................................................................... 8

4. Flying the Mirage .............................................................................................................. 9

Preparation for launch ............................................................................................................................. 9

Flying with and without a motor .............................................................................................................. 9

Flying under power ................................................................................................................................ 11

Advanced manoeuvres ............................................................................................................................ 16

Aerobatics .............................................................................................................................................. 19

Tow launch ............................................................................................................................................. 19

Golden rules ........................................................................................................................................... 20

5. Care, Maintenance and Repairs ........................................................................................ 23

Ground handling ..................................................................................................................................... 23

UV damage ............................................................................................................................................. 23

Packing instructions .............................................................................................................................. 23

Transport and Storage ........................................................................................................................... 24

Cleaning ................................................................................................................................................. 24

Inspections ............................................................................................................................................ 24

Repairs ................................................................................................................................................... 24

6. Reference ........................................................................................................................ 25

Testing and Certification ........................................................................................................................ 25

Technical Specifications data ................................................................................................................. 26

Line Plan ................................................................................................................................................ 27

Material list ..................... ................................... ................................. ................................................28

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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, loves to fly. This
philosophy applies equally for an entry-level wing such as the Bolero, as for the world-beating
competition glider, the Boomerang. No glider is released to the market without Gin’s complete
satisfaction.

Gin has been designing and manufacturing paragliders since 1986, and is backed by an equally
experienced team, both within the company in Korea and throughout a worldwide network of
distributors and dealers. The “GIN Team” has dominated the Paragliding World Cup every year
since 1998, and has had countless other competition successes in World Cups, World and
National Championships. This high level of expertise provided by dedicated professionals
ensures that you get the best possible product support and after sales service.

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2. Introducing the Mirage

The Mirage is a new concept in an intermediate-level powered paraglider. The designers, Gin
Seok Song and Mike Campbell-Jones, have drawn on all their years of experience to produce a
glider that is uniquely in tune with the needs of today’s pilots. The Mirage offers outstanding
security, with precise handling. This allows the pilot to accurately feel the sensations of flight,
and thus develop an active flying style. Rapid progression up the learning curve is enabled, as
the pilot becomes well acquainted with the myriad of different movements and moods of the air.
The Mirage will allow you to experience the full pleasure of paramotoring and free flight,
without ever compromising your safety.

For Pilots Who…

The Mirage is an ideal intermediate glider, and is also suitable for the more experienced club
pilot who flies infrequently and wants a good performing glider wi th the highe st safety margin.
The Mirage is designed for all kinds of flying, from the first steps at the powered paragliding
school to the long cross country flight.

Cutting-edge Design

Gin and Mike have made extensive improvements in the Mirage compared to other reflex profile
wings in the current market. Performance, take-off and handling characteristics have been
improved without sacrificing security.

The new shape of the wing tip improves the performance in flight by reducing the induced drag.
A double reinforcement at the leading edge has been introduced. This improves take-off

characteristics, performance and increases the lifetime of the canopy.
The brake line layout features an extra upper line that gives the wing an even more precise feel.
Although your Mirage wing has been designed to fly like a conventional paraglider, the reflex

wing section means that it has an elevator built into its shape. The wing no longer completely
depends on payload as its only source of stability, It maintains its own attitude in pitch, rising
and falling through thermals and turbulence, whilst remaining stable above the pilot’s head,
requiring minimal control input.
The trimmer system allows you to raise the rear of the airfoil, effectively reducing the chord
and surface area by some 30%, giving the wing a higher wing loading and increased speed
without changing the angle of attack. The centre of pressure also moves forward adding further
to the pitch stability. This redistribution of loading gives the wing exceptional tuck-resistance
and increases the working aspect ratio; the result is a faster, more efficient wing under power
and at speed, much like a traditional powered aircraft.
When requiring more lift at lower speeds, the rear section can be trimmed down to restore a
fully flapped airfoil, the Mirage changes its characteristics, becoming closer to a conventional
paraglider with smooth sporty handling, short slow take offs and steep climb outs.

Construction

Your Mirage’s strength and durability have been achieved through careful choice of modern

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materials and innovative design.
All materials from which it is constructed are batched and every stage in its manufacture can be
traced to a named operator and quality control checker.
The top and bottom surfaces are made from the hardwearing Porscher-Marine NCV, 45 and 40gm
respectively. The wing tips, leading and trailing edges are reinforced using a mix of load tape
and Mylar.
All lines are made of Technora, the latest in line technology, and incorporate the b est qualities.
The lines are both strong and flexible whilst remaining temperature stable, and less prone to
shrinkages when lightly loaded.
The lines are split into 3 categories, tertiary, secondary and primary.
Line diameters are 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 & 2.3 mm respectively.
The larger diameters being the primary lines, the mallions to which the lines are attached to the
risers, are made of polished stainless steel, which avoids corrosion and gives excellent
strength and durability. The riser material is 1.2K / 20mm polyester webbing. The main
attachment points are reinforced with Cordura, to protect against wear from the karabiners. The
Mirage has been built with paramotoring in mind and when new, has a safety factor of some 50%
over and above its tested loading. It has been engineered to perform to its specifications for
about 400 hours.

Manufacturing

All GIN gliders are produced in the company’s own facilities using the most modern techniques.
The highly skilled staff take extreme care during the entire manufacturing process. Stringent
quality control is made after each step, and all materials that go into each wing can be traced .
These measures guarantee that pilots fly with the assurance that their wing m eets the most
exacting manufacturing and safety standards.

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3. Before you fly

Pre-delivery Inspection

The Mirage is delivered with speed system, rucksack (reversible with fast packing bag), 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.

Speed System

The speed system increases the maximum speed by lowering the angle of attack with a pulley­guided, foot-operated system. Approx. 30% gain in speed can be realized with the accelerator
at full travel.

It is important to have your accelerator system correctly routed through your harness and
attached to the risers with the supplied Brummel hooks. The length of the speed bar system
should be initially adjusted while on the ground, sitting in the har ness so that the legs are fully
extended at the point of full accelerator travel. It is helpful to have an assist ant hold the risers
taut while making this adjustment. Subsequent fine-tuning can be done on the ground foll owing
the first flight with the speed system. If in doubt about th is procedure, consult your instructor
or dealer.

Riser A B C D

length at trim speed 51cm 51cm 51cm 51cm

length at full speed 35cm 43cm 58cm 65cm

Brake line adjustment

The main brake line lengths of the Mirage correspond to the tested r esults of EN. These line
lengths have been fine tuned by GIN test pilots, and it should no t be necessary to adjust them.
We recommend that brakes are not set too short otherwise full Reflex effect may be lost.
During flight, it is common to fly with half a wrap on the brakes. However, care should be taken
to release the wraps in any extreme situation.

With an ordinary harness or your motor unit on your back, ground-handle the wing above your
head. When the wing is nicely level, check that when the brakes are up against the brake pulleys
that the trailing edge of the wing is not being pulled down. Then as you gently pull the brake
you should have only a few centimetres of movement before the brakes start to pull down on
the trailing edge of the wing. Make sure it is the same length on both sides. It is safer to have
this adjustment too long than too short.
We recommend a double sheepshank or a bowline knot for the brake handle attachment as
shown in the diagram.

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Rucksack

All Gin gliders are delivered with a durable ripstop KODURA rucksack, designed for ergonomic
carrying comfort and ease of use.

Certified Weight Range

The Mirage must be flown within the certified weight range given in the reference section a t the
back of this manual. The weight range is quoted as the total wei ght in flight, i.e. the weight of
the pilot, motor, glider, harness and accessories. The easiest way to check your total weight is
to stand on weighing scales with all your equipment packed into your rucksack.

Pre-flight safety

To fly this equipment you should:

Have appropriate practical and theoretical training and experience for this class of glider.
Have the necessary insurance and licences.
Be in your right mind, unaffected by extreme stress, recreational or prescribed drugs.
Only fly in conditions suitable for your level of proficiency.
Wear suitable head protection; use a certified harness and emergency parachute.
Make a thorough pre-flight check.

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4. Flying the Mirage

We recommend that you first practice inflating your glider on a small training hill, or flat
ground before connecting to your motor. Make your first flights with your new paramotor glider
in gentle conditions and from a familiar take off area.

The following is best carried out by an instructor or at the very least an experienced motor pilot.
Before flying your Mirage with a motor unit, we recommend that you do a static hang test. This
is done by hanging your motor unit from an appropriate structure from the wing attachment
points by using a strong rope or strap, then by sitting in the harness, get an assistant to
measure up the risers from the hang points up. The aim is to make sure that you, the pilot, are
able to reach the brakes whilst in flight. Allowances should also be made for the wind blowing
the toggles out of reach. The Mirage’s risers are shorter than most conventional paragliders,
which reduces the potential problem.

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, turbulence.
Inspect your glider, harness, reserve handle and pin, helmet and any other equipment.
Choose a sufficiently large take-off area with even ground and no obstacles.
Lay the glider out according to the plan form, and get the lines and risers sorted out.
Secure yourself in your harness and don’t forget the leg loops! Put your helmet on.
Connect the risers to your motor karabiners, ensuring there are no twists or loops around

the lines.
Connect the speed system to the risers with the Brummel hooks.
Do a final line check by pulling gently on the risers or lines to ensure there are no new

knots, tangles or interfering branches or rocks. Take extra care in nil or light winds.

Pre-flight check list

Engine delivering full power?
Reserve parachute: pin in and handle secure.
Helmet and harness buckles closed.

Trim set?
Nothing likely to foul the prop?
Speed bar system running freely and out of harm’s way?
Lines free. (Steering toggles and brake lines free and not twisted?)
Canopy open and into wind.
Airspace clear.

Flying with and without a motor

Although the design philosophy of the Mirage is that of a high- speed paramotor wing, which
performs well as a free flying glider and may be flown as such with no adjustment. Slower trim

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