YA K owner’s manual - English
Thank you for taking the time to read this manual before using the YAK.
Thank you…
Thank you for choosing the YAK. We are confident that this ultra light 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.
Have fun !
The GIN Team
Safety Notice
By the purchase of this equipment, you accept all risks inherent with speedflying activities,
including injury or 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 o r
third party injuries or damages under any circumstances. The user is fully and solely
responsible for the safe use of this equipment, if there is any doubt regarding th e use or safety
of this equipment then it should not be used.
Warning: Speedflying is a potentially dangerous activity. It is the user’s own
responsibility to assess all weather and meteorological conditions, the flying area, all
equipment, etc, before you use this equipment. This equipment was not designed for any
other use than that of speedflying as described in this manual. This equipment should be
launched from the ground and must never be used for any of the following: Parachuting,
BASE jumping; jumping from any aircraft, or high object; building, antenna, bridge, cliff,
etc. You should wear a helmet as well as all safety equipment required for the practice of
paragliding and Speedflying. It is strongly recommended to learn Speedflying in a
specialised school. When Speedflying, always choose a safe, open area enabling you to
keep a wide safety margin. Do not practice Speedflying in the vicinity of obstacles, cliffs,
rocks or any other hazards. This equipment requires constant care when it comes to
maintenance and handling. Only use the Bobcat glider with the Bobcat harness; they have
been designed to be used together.
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Contents
Thank you…....................................................................................................................................2
Safety note.....................................................................................................................................2
Summary..............................................................................................................................................3
1. Gin Gliders............................................................................................. ..........................4
2. Introducing Speedflying ..................................................................................................5
Speedflying field of u se .................................................................................................................5
3. Introducing the YAK ............................................................................... ..........................5
For pilots who ................................................................................................................................6
Manufaturing .................................................................................................................................6
4. Before you fly...................................................... ................................. ....................... ...7
Pre-delivery Inspection ..................................................................................................................7
Risers and trimmers........................................................................................................................7
Brake line adjustment ....................................................................................................................8
Rucksack.........................................................................................................................................8
Your harness...................................................................................................................................8
Weight range..................................................................................................................................9
Essential.........................................................................................................................................9
5. Flying the YAK................................................................................................................10
Preparation for launch..................................................................................................................10
Take off ........................................................................................................................................10
Min Sink / best glide......................................................................................................................11
Accelerated fligh t .........................................................................................................................10
Active flying.................................................................................................................................11
In turbulence........................ ................ ................ ........................................................................11
Landing with the YAK....................................................................................................................12
6. Care, maintenance and reparis........................................................................................13
Ground handling...........................................................................................................................13
UV damage....................................................................................................................................13
Packing instruct ions.....................................................................................................................13
Transport and storage..................................................................................................................14
Cleaning........................................................................................................................................14
Maintenance Inspections........................................................................................................ .......14
Repairs.........................................................................................................................................14
7. Reference.......................................................................................................................15
Technical specifications................................................................................................................15
Line plan.......................................................................................................................................16
Description...................................................................................................................................17
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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 i s simple: To design gliders t hat he, and any other pilot, will love to fly. This
philosophy applies equally for a speedflying glid er such as the YAK, as for the world beating
competition glider, the Boomerang. No glider is released on the market without Gin’s complete
satisfaction.
Gin has over 20 years experience of designing and manufacturing free flight equipment, and is
backed up by an equally experi enced team, both within the compan y in Korea and throughout a
worldwide network of distributors and dealers.
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 Speed Flying
A. Speedflying, a new flying concept.
A new flying Style is here: Speedflying; flying fast downhill.
Over the last few years, Gin Gliders have been developing speedgliders for speedriding (launch
by ski) and Speedflying (launch by feet).
Now, Gin Gliders introduces an ultralight speedglider designed for foot launch, the YAK.
B. Speedgliders, a new design concept.
Speedriding and speedflying are both based on a new design concept developed by Gin Gliders.
Speedgliders are not small paragliders, like for example the « Yeti 19 » which is a miniparaglider and part of our paraglider range.
Speedgliders are dedicated to fly with low glide ratio, stability and speed.
The Speedgliders’ concept is based on :
- Pitch Stability
- Angle of attack control
- Variable glide ratio
- Speed control
Speedflying fields of use…
"Traditional" Speedflying
Unlike paragliders, the YAK will give you a ride down a mountain, following the slopes and
ridges. This is due to a lower glide ratio and higher trim 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
YAK? Here it is!
On the coast, in the mountains, or on your favourite hill, when it is impossible to take
your paragli d er from its bag, the YAK is ready to take over.
Mountaineering
How many mountaineers climbing down from a summit have dreamed of the YAK? Here it
is!
The YAK will all ow you to take off a nd fl y in stronger wi nds than would be possible with
a paraglider. The YAK is compact, light and will easily fit into the bottom of an
experienced mountaineer’s backpack. Its instantaneous inflati on and its high stability
in turbulence will allow you to experience mountains in a thrilling new way.
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3. Introducing the YAK
The YAK is opening new horizons of piloting for expert and careful pilots with a lot of flying
experience.
The air, the speed and the safety are joined for a new dimension of f l i ght… the possibilities are
growing!
The YAK will give you the possibility to return to the original soul of flight and also to open up
new fields of practice. You wi ll be able to fly down the mountain in wider aerological conditions
with this simple and solid glider. You will have fun with strong wind ground handling and
soaring…
For pilots who…
The YAK is an ultralight speedglider designed for highly experienced and responsible pilots that
have enough knowledge to adapt to the speedglider’s dynamic handling. The higher wing loading
increases the speed and the responsiveness of the handling. The glide angles are much lower
than with modern paragliders. The landing approach and landing itself are considerably
different.
The YAK is not recommended for busy flying sites and tr aining in a professional paragliding
school is stron gly recomme nded. Regular p ractice on the ground is ve ry useful. Take special
care when deciding when and where to fly, and respect other flyers and flying machines.
Manufacturing
All GIN gliders are produced in the company' s own faciliti es using the most modern techniques.
Highly skilled staff take extreme care throughout 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 meets the most
exacting safety standards.
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4. Before you fly
Pre-delivery Inspection
The YAK is delivered with a rucksack, the YETI harness (designed specifically for Light flights),
inner bag, compression strap, repair tape and this manual. Your in structor or de aler should have
made a test inflation followed by a test flight before delivery.
.
Risers and trimmers
The back risers of the YAK are fitted with trimmers th at enable the pilot to adapt the glider’s
behaviour to match his level and the chosen slope. Trimming down (shortening) the back risers
makes the glider slower, the handling l ess responsive and more forgiving, so suitable for pilots
that have less experience. Trimming up the risers accelerates the glider, see acc elerated flight
for more details. Ask for the advice of an instructor who specialises in Speedflying in order to
better understand and exploit the trimming system.
#15, #16,5, #18 riser A C D
Trim Down 50cm 49cm 48cm
Neutral lengt h 50cm 50cm 50cm
Trim up 50cm 53cm 56cm
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Trim up NeutralTrim down
Brake line adjustment
The main brake line lengths of the YAK 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 b rakes and hold the handles on the
knot. However, care should be taken to release the wraps in any extreme situation.
If you do need to make adjustments to suit your harness, body and flying style, we strongly
recommend that you test fly the glider with every 2cm of adjustment. There should be a
minimum of 10cm of free brake travel when the glider is flown hands-off. We recommend a
double sheepshank or a bowline knot for the brake handle attachment as shown in the diagram.
Rucksack
The YAK is delivered with a rucksack and a harness specifically designed for carrying comfort
and ease of use.
Your harness
The YAK was developed with the YETI harness, sp ecific to Speedflying. We recommend that you
use the YAK solely with this harness.
Adjusting the chest strap controls th e distance between the carabiners of the two risers, which
has an influence on the glider’s behaviour.
There is no need to use the YAK with a tight chest strap adjustment, as th ere is no tenden cy to
feel unstable.
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Weight range
The YAK 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.
YAK #15 #16,5 #18
Weight/
piloting level
expert expert/ Advanced
45/75 kg
Advanced
75/100+ 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.
*Have subscribed to the licences and insurances necessary for the practice of this sport.
*Be in normal p hysical and mental health, not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
*Fly only in meteorological conditions fit fo r the practice of Speedflying (and adapted to your
level and experience).
*Wear a helmet and all safety equipment necessary to the practice of speedflying.
*Have thoroughly checked all your equipment.
*Be aware of all the information contained in this manual.
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5. Flying with the YAK
We recommend that you first practice inflating your glider on a small training slope. Make you r
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 ch ecks 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.
Inspect your glider, harness, 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 planform, and get the lines and risers sorted out.
Put your helme t on. Secure yourself in your harness and don' t forget the leg loops!
Connect the risers to your harness carabiners, ensuring there are no twists or loops
around the lines.
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
Helmet and harness buckles closed.
Lines free.
Canopy open and into wind.
Airspace clear.
Take off
The key to a successful launch technique is to practice ground handling whenever you can.
Keeping your brake handles in your hands, the YAK inflates very easily, with front risers in hand.
Keep your arms slightly bent and hands at shoulder height. While using the front risers, your
arms should rise in a curve. It is not necessary to pull hard on the risers.
Make a visual chec k on your glider before taking off to see if it is correctly inflated and that
there are no knots or tangles. If something is wrong, abort the take off.
A slight pressure on the brakes always makes the take off easier. Don’t forget to run fast with
long strides!
Trim position for take off at normal altitude in normal conditions is : “neutral” or “slow”
10
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.
Accelerated flight
Once you have become accustomed to fl ying the YAK, 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. Expert pilots can also use the trimmers to b etter match their glide
to the angle of the slope. Caution: when flying accelerated, your w ing will react in a quicker,
more responsive manner in turns and the glide angle will be a lot steeper. Learn and take advice
from a qualified instructor.
Active Flying
The YAK has a high internal pressure, high resistance to col lapses and a high level of passive
security. However, it is recommended with this type of glider to adopt an active handling style
that will help you to fly safely. The key to active handling is to keep your glider above your
head. If the glider has a tendency to lag behind, raise your hands. If the glider has a tendency to
shoot forward, then control it with the brakes. In all cases, always rememb er to keep su fficient
air-speed and avoid over-piloting. Be ready to control the YAK on the roll axis also, piloting the
exit from spiral if needed.
In turbulent conditions
The YAK is a very stable glider and co llapses on one or both of the front risers are extremely
rare. Extreme turbulence could generate a collapse but the YAK will resume normal flight in
almost all configurations. In case of any doubt, keep your hands at shoulder height and let the
glider fly.
However, if the glider shoots forward violently, control it with the brakes immediately. To help
your glider resume flight more rapidly, it is recommended to use an active handling style,
without being out of time with the wing’s movements.
Caution :
The YAK 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 YAK.
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Landing with the YAK
Choose a landing area free of obstacles. It is recommended to land with a full flair; it will enable
you to obtain a zero vertical speed and an easy run at the end of the flair. Do not make your last
turn at low height, or make a radical turn close to the ground. Do not approach too slowly with
the back trimmer on and a lot of brake. The best landing approach is with the trimmers set to
neutral and then use a proper flair to bleed of your speed.
You can land with the trimmer in either neutral position or at full speed trim position provided
you manage your flair correctly. Landing in low speed trim position is not recommended.
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6. Care, Maintenance and Repairs
The materials used in the YAK 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. when the canopy crashes to the ground leading
edge first whilst ground handling).
Dragging the glider along the ground.
Dyneema, the core material of the lines, is very strong and can take high loads without
stretching, but it is sensitive to heat.
Opening your wing in strong winds without first untangling the lines.
UV damage
Avoid leaving the glider out in the sun unnecessarily. UV rays from the sun degrade glider cloth.
Packing instructions
We advise you to pack the glider “accordion wise” as shown in the drawing. This packing
procedure takes slightly longer and is easier to do with an assistant, but it conserves the
rigidity in the profile reinforcements.
Since folding the glider weakens the materials, pack the glider as loosely as possible.
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Transport and Storage
Moisture is the worst enemy of your glider, adversel y affecting the ageing of fabric, lin es and
reinforcements. The YAK 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 ent ered the cells. Always
allow it to dry naturally before storage in a dry room. Leave the rucksack zi p open whenever
possible to allow residual moisture to evaporate, and do not transp ort or sto re the g lid er in the
proximity of chemicals such as gasoline, paints or other solvents.
Cleaning
Use only lukewarm water and a soft cloth to clean your wing. Never use any abrasive materials
or detergents. Only clean the wing if it is absolutely necessary e.g. after a landing in salt water.
Maintenance Inspections
GIN Gliders recommend that the YAK is inspected by an authorized Gin agent after every 50
hours flying time or every year, whichever is sooner.
The maintenance instructions, which can be downloaded from our homepage
www.gingliders.com, have to be observed.
A full inspection will give you peace of mind and extend your glider's lifetime. Additional
inspections should be performed by a qualified person following a crash or violent landing on
the leading edge, or if you note a deterioration of perfor m ance or behavi our .
You should also check for any damage to your lines, sail, risers and connectors before each
flight.
Repairs
Very small holes in the sail can be repaired with th e sticky-backed ripstop tape provided with
your glider. Damaged lines should be replaced by your GIN dealer. Before fitting a replacement
line, check it for length against its counterpart on the other side of the wing. When a line has
been replaced, always inflate the glider on flat ground to check that everything is in order
before flying.
Major repairs, such as replacing panels, should only be carried out by the distributor or
manufacturer.
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7. Referance
Technical data YAK
SIZE 15 16.5 18
AREA 15m² 16.5m² 18 m²
FLAT
PROJECTED
CHORD
SPAN 7.65m 8.0m 8.36m
A.R 3.9 3.9 3.9
AREA 12.69m² 13.96m² 15.23 m²
SPAN 6.12m 6.42m 6.7m
A.R 2.95 2.95 2.95
ROOT 2.30m 2.41m 2.52m
TIP 0.96m 1.01m 1.05m
CELL NUMBER 26 26 26
GLIDER WEIGHT 2.1 kg 2.3 kg 2.5 kg
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Line Plan
ST main
stA
14
13
a6
12
main A3
11
10
a5
a3
a2
a4
b5 b6
b4
b3
b2
b1
9
8
7
main A2
6
5
4
3
main A1
2
a1
1
stC
stB
stD
c6
main C3
c5
c4
main C2
c3
c2
main C1
c1
d1
d4
e6
d3
d2
e5
e1
br1
e2
e3
e4
br6
br2
br3
br mid2
br4
br5
br mid3
br main
br mid1
Line material
Upper line
Main line
STB Main
Brake Main
PPSL120, DSL70
PPSL200
PPSL200
TGL220
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
main D1
main D2
d5
main D3
d6
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Description
FABRIC OF CANOPY
NAME PORCHER NCV Industries
SUPPLIER
ADDRESS
TYPE OF FINISH SIDE COATED(POLYURETH ANE)
TYPE OF YARN
FABRIC CODE
PATTERN Rip Stop Rip Stop
Coated fabric’s weight (g/sqm) 27 +/-1.5 36 +/-1.5
WARP (DaN) 2.5 mini 2 mini
L’Isle d’Abeau, Parc de Chesnes, 75, rue du Ruisseau 38070
SAINT QUENTIN FALLAVIER Cedex / France
PA 6.6 HIGH TENACITY – 22
dtex
70000 E71A
( Top, Bottom surface rear)
PA 6.6 HIGH TENACITY – 33
dtex
9017 E68A
(Rip, Top, Bottom surface
front)
Tear Strength
WEFT (DaN) 2.28 mini 2 mini
Elongation on bias 3 Ibs (%) 5.99+/-2 5+/-2
Elongation on bias 5 Ibs (%) 13.85+/-4 11+/-4
Elongation on bias 10 Ibs (%) 27.23+/- 24+/-
WARP
Break
Strength
AIR Permeability p=2000Pa
(l/SQMXMN)
(DaN/5cm)
WEFT
(DaN/5cm)
30 mini 38 mini (average 41.6)
26 mini 33 mini (average 38.4)
- 20 maxi (average 5)
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Suspension line
MATERIAL Dyneema line
NAME LIROS Flightsport technique
SUPPLIER
ADDRESS
Line type des ignation
Diameter(mm) 0.95 1.15 1.42
Strength min (daN) 70 120 200
Strength eff. (daN) 92 159 241
Elongation at strength eff. (%) 2.8 1.59
Elongation / Line creep at 10 daN
(%)
Elongation / Line creep at 30 daN
(%)
Rosenberger Tauwerk GmbH
Poststrasse 11, 95192 Lichtenberg
GERMANY
DSL 70
(Top)
0.36/0.04 0.20/0.036 0.24/0.128
1.0/0.25 0.58/0.13 0.55/0.26
PPSL 120
(Middle)
PPSL 200
(Main)
Weight (g/m) 0.67 1.00 1.60
Reinforcement
FABRIC CODE W420 SCRIM
SUPPLIER
MATERIAL POLYERTER SCRIM
WEIGHT(GR/M²) 180
BREAKING
STRENGTH
(KG/5Cm)
TEAR STRENGTH
(KG/5Cm)
NAME
ADDRESS
WARP 137
WEFT 118
WARP 4.2
WEFT 4.1
L’Isle d’Abeau, Parc de Chesnes, 75, rue du Ruisseau
38070 SAINT QUENTIN FALLAVIER Cedex / France
PORCHER NCV Industries
WEAVE DESIGN RIPSTOP
18
Riser
MATERIAL DYNEEMA 4mm
NAME BAINBRIDGE
SUPPLIER
ADDRESS
WEIGHT(GR/M) 11
BREAKING STRENGTH 4,000DAN
8 Flanders Park, Flanders Road, Hedge End,
Southampto n, SO30 2FZ
DIAMETER(mm) 4mm
Bridle (Attachement line)
MATERIAL NYLON
SUPPLIER
WEIGHT(GR/M) 6.1
NAME SUKWANG FABRICS.
ADDRESS
52-2 Yujungri, Dochukmyun, Kwangjusi,
Kyungkido, Korea
BREAKING STRENGTH (kg) 135
WIDTH(mm) 12
19
Thread
SUPPLIER
BREAKING STRENGTH 2.9kg 3.2kg
MATERIAL
NAME AMANN & SOHNE GMBH & CO.
ADDRESS
DENIER 150D/2 250D/3
HIGH TENACITY POLYESTER YARN
INDUSTRIESTRASE 1, D-74391 ERLIGHEIM,
GERMANY
WEIGHT(GR/M) 0.05G 0.083G
20
“Designing gliders is a personal jou rney of challenge and discovery, an ongoing
search for perfection."
- Gin Seok Song
Every effort ha s been mad e to prov ide you wi th 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.gingliders.com for all the latest information regarding the BOBCAT and all
GIN gliders’ products.
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