GIN X-Alps User Manual

pilot manual

v1.1, 19.05.2014

Contents

Thank you... 4
Warning 5
About Gin Gliders 6
Introducing the Atlas X-Alps 7
Before you fly 8
Flying the Atlas X-Alps 11
Care and maintenance 22
Final words... 26
Technical specification 27
Line plan 28
Riser diagram 29
Materials 30
Brake line knot diagram 31

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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 Atlas X-Alps.

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 Atlas X-Alps

The Atlas X-Alps is the light version of the Atlas, already one of the most popular paragliders
in the easy intermediate class.

The Atlas X-Alps is aimed at a broad range of intermediate pilots looking for a light and
compact wing with all the benefits of our latest EPT technology. The Atlas X-Alps is suitable for
regular use, travel and hike ‘n fly. The combination of safety, handling and performance means
you can even take it on XC adventures in the most hardcore places! Pilots with at least one year’s
experience and flying at least 30 hours per year will benefit the most from choosing the Atlas
X-Alps.

The Atlas X-Alps features EPT (Equalized Pressure Technology), our numerical method of
calculating the best possible airfoil parameters for any given profile. EPT has led to improvements
in inflation/re-inflation behaviour, searching behaviour, low-speed handling, stall resistance,
climb rate, and stability in turbulence and at speed. EPT enables us to increase performance by
increasing the aspect ratio of the wing, but without the traditional trade-offs in handling and
stability.

During development of the Atlas X-Alps, we drew on our many years of experience of
lightweight construction technology. Compared to the Atlas, the Atlas X-Alps has crisper and more
precise handling, easier inflation on take-off and slightly better performance. Passive safety
remains outstanding compared to the level of performance. The materials have been carefully
chosen for the optimum combination of lightness and durability, with more durable fabric used
for areas of the most critical wear (e.g. top surface leading edge). The result is an all-round
lightweight intermediate wing that we are confident will satisfy a wide range of pilots.

TIP: To fly the Atlas X-Alps, you should
be familiar with active flying and
recovery techniques.

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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 Atlas X-Alps flies well at any wing loading within this weight
range. It is not necessary to load the wing near the maximum for best results. Choose your
optimum wing loading according to your personal preferences and the conditions you fly in.
Increasing the wing loading results in a more dynamic feel, increased brake pressures and higher
speeds. This typically suits more experienced pilots flying faster in stronger conditions.

Extended weight range

Due to the EPT technology, the Atlas X-Alps has excellent flying characteristics over a wide
range of wing-loadings. There is an additional 5kg margin* over the maximum weight which can be
of use, for example if you need to carry extra equipment.

* (extended range EN certified on S and M sizes)

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

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