Gradient bigoldern3 - Introduction; Description; Technical Description

1.
1. Introducon
Congratulaons on buying your new GRADIENT BiGolden3! We believe that you will be very
enthusiasc about its performance and ight characteriscs and we are sure you will be fully
sased with your new paraglider.
The BiGolden2 was introduced to the market at the start of 2009 and is sll one of the best
tandem gliders on the market. It took a rather long me to make a beer tandem glider than
the BiGolden2, but we are very happy we can say we have been successful!
The BiGolden3 is lighter, faster, more compact, has beer handling and more performance.
The canopy is designed from a well-proven combinaon of dierent materials: all Porcher
Skytex premium quality. Reinforcements are made with nylon rods, which helps for beer
inaon and a clean leading edge. Line drag is reduced by using well-proven DC Dyneema
lines. In combinaon with Edelrid Dyneema and aramid lines the result is an opmal balance
of strength, durability and drag.
We are sure the BiGolden3 is a beauful tandem glider with very nice handling; a truly
worthy successor to the BiGolden2.
The BiGolden3 is cered EN-B/LTF-B and is meant for a large group of pilots: from hobby
cross-country pilots to professional tandem pilots. Anyone in fact who wants exceponal
safety and easy take-o and landing characteriscs.
This manual will help you become familiar with your new paraglider and also provides
informaon that will allow you to get the best from your glider and keep it in good condion.
If you have any further quesons aer reading this booklet, please do not hesitate to contact
our company or any authorised dealer and we will gladly answer all your quesons.
When you have become familiar with your new BiGolden3 we would welcome any feedback
that you might have.
2. Descripon
2.1. Technical descripon
The BiGolden3’s improved prole means excellent aerodynamic eciency. Its characteriscs
give the maximum resistance to premature airow separaon and opmal control forces.
For beer distribuon of forces within the canopy, diagonal segmented rib technology is
used. These segmented ribs are anchored to the aachment points of the A, B and C lines
and distribute forces to the inner-ribs. This enables the canopy to be divided into as few as
thirteen carrying ribs on each side, while sll retaining the correct aerofoil shape. Thanks
to this, the BiGolden3 has fewer lines and therefore less drag. The result to the pilot of
this reduced drag is a higher top speed and beer glide angle. Diagonal segmented ribs
(compared to non-segmented diagonals) also increase compactness and canopy stability,
especially in terms of a glider’s capacity to recover from an asymmetric collapse.
A new form of “partly triangle cell openings” helps to inate the canopy across a wide range
of angle of aack. Graduated-sized cell-openings reduce the air movements and aid pressure
distribuon within the glider.
Five rows of lines (A, B, C, D, E) are used for the upper suspension system. Rows D and E
combine into main lines so a system of four risers can be used. This method helps to reduce
drag and gives maximum simplicity, which pilots will appreciate especially during the pre-
ight checks and on launch. The BiGolden3 is cered to be own with risers with trimmers.
Careful selecon of lines and materials means the wing-loading is opmised in ight in
any situaon. Progressive line diameters along the span and chord are already standard in
Gradient wings.