Rev.1.0, 05/06/2012 Mirage Owner’s Manual 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, gin@gingliders.
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.
Contents Thank You… .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Safety Notice ........................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Gin Gliders ........................................................................................................................ 4 2. Introducing the Mirage ..........................
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.
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.
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 best qualities.
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.
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 at the back of this manual. The weight range is quoted as the total weight in flight, i.e. the weight of the pilot, motor, glider, harness and accessories.
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.
settings reduce internal air pressure and consequently give a lighter feel to the brakes and a better sink rate. The main difference in the Mirage compared with other paragliders is the increased resistance to tucking, both on launch and in flight; its greater speed range and stability means that generally, it can be flown in stronger conditions safely. Basically the glider becomes more stable the faster you fly.
In Flight In flight the greater speed range of the Mirage may require some management. But once you have mastered how to use the speed to your advantage it becomes pure fun. Its tight handling allows you to make the best use of thermal cores, and its glide at speed means less time is spent in sinking air masses before reaching the next thermal. Limits have been provided to the range of the trim settings to avoid the danger of stalling when flying with the trim pulled right down and with maximum brake.
concerned. Gin Gliders cannot be held responsible for the multitude of combinations that may be used, however if you wish to contact us we can offer some advice. Forward Launching in Nil Wind While there may appear to be no wind this is rarely the case and it is essential for aircraft of this type to take off and make the initial climb out to a safe height (depending on the surrounding terrain) into wind.
* Don’t attempt to take off if the canopy isn’t roughly level overhead. Dangerous oscillations may result if you apply full power with it too far off to one side. * Keep your undercarriage down until you are definitely flying! * The faster the trim setting, the more brake the glider will need to get off the ground.
using the brakes and then easing off into the climb out. The other reasons for not climbing out too steeply are the risks involved when having engine failure, i.e. a stall and diving recovery. Although the Mirage will not sit back behind you the way that some gliders may, a slow forward speed and high angle of attack is still likely to put you into a near stalled attitude if your power source suddenly goes on strike.
hands-off flight capability, the Mirage is good at letting you do this. With a sound understanding of the current wind conditions at different altitudes and intelligent use of any thermal activity, wave, convergence, ridge or frontal lift it is possible to conserve your fuel and greatly extend your operating range. The engine of course makes it easy to put you in the right place at the right time to exploit the conditions.
even full trim (maximum lift configuration). This will hardly alter your glide angle but will decrease your sink rate; these decisions become more critical at higher wing loadings. Power-on Landings At a steady tick over, lose height at a shallow angle, then as you near the ground level out and bleed off speed before flaring to touch down. Kill the motor as your feet touch the ground. The advantage of this method of course is that if you get it wrong you can power up and go round again at any time.
to active piloting is keeping the glider above your head at all times. If it falls back behind you, let up the brakes. If it surges in front of you, counter brake until the surge is controlled. If you sense a loss of pressure on one side of the canopy, smoothly apply brake and/or weight shift on the appropriate side until you feel pressure return. In all cases, maintain adequate airspeed and avoid overreaction. In turbulence Deflations of the canopy can occur in strong turbulence.
Cascade of events Many reserve deployments are a result of a cascade of over-corrections by the pilot. Please note that over-corrections are often worse than no input at all. Flat spin In normal thermalling flight, you are very far from the limits of a flat spin. Nevertheless, should this occur, just let up the brakes and wait for the glider to surge forward. Full stall, dynamic stall This is an extreme manoeuvre and there should never be any need to perform one.
Although the noise of the wind around your ears may indicate the airspeed improves, the airspeed does not improve with big ears. You may use the speed bar in combination with big ears to maintain your forward speed but increase the sink. The glider can be steered while in big ears using weight shift alone. When releasing the lines, the Mirage’s ears will come out on their own. Release the big ears at least 100m above the ground.
steer the glider in a normal towing situation. Make sure you use proper equipment, experienced personnel, the recommended techniques and all relevant safety precautions for towing. GOLDEN RULES!!! * Never place your engine downwind of your wing. * Check, check and re-check the fuel system for leaks. * Have you enough fuel to get you there? Better too much than too little! * Check for any loose articles that could trail or fall into the propeller while flying and fasten them securely.
5. Care, Maintenance and Repairs The materials used in the Mirage have been carefully selected for maximum durability. Nevertheless, following the guidelines below will 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 The following should be avoided: Violent shocks to the upper surface (e.g.
Transport and Storage Moisture is the worst enemy for your glider, adversely affecting the ageing of fabric, lines and reinforcements. The Mirage 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 entered the cells. Always allow it to dry naturally before storage, in a cool, dry room.
6. Reference Testing and Certification The Gin Gliders Mirage has been certified to the EN-926 standard. This is the safest class of paraglider. The Mirage has also passed load tests and shock tests with a load exceeding 8G of the maximum weight in flight.
Technical Specification Data SIZE 24 26 28 AREA 24.0 m² 26.0 m² 28.5 m² SPAN 11.49m 11.96m 12.52m A.R 5.5 5.5 5.5 AREA 20.07 m² 21.75 m² 23.84 m² SPAN 8.95m 9.32m 9.76m A.R 3.99 3.99 3.99 ROOT 2.59m 2.69m 2.83m TIP 0.66m 0.69m 0.72m CELL NUMBER 54 54 54 GLIDER WEIGHT 6.1kg 6.6kg 7.
H/ MI D01 BR D- 0 1 BR BR 02 DMI L/ H/ MI D03 BR H/ MI D05 BR 04 DMI L/ 07 DMI H/ H/ MI D04 BR 09 DMI H/ BR L/ M I 02 DMI H/ D- 0 5 H/ MI D08 BR D- 0 6 BR H/ M I 06 DMI L/ H/ MI D10 BR - 11 / MI D BR H BR L/ M I BR BR BR BR BR 13 DMI H/ Lineplan BR 03 DMI L/ 27 D- 1 2 BR H/ M I
Material List Model Mirage Top Dominico 30D ME Bottom Dominico 20D ME Profile Dominico 30D FM/20D ME Reinforcement W420 Bridle Nylon 12mm Fabric of Canopy Suspension Line Upper : TGL 80 Middle : TGL280, TGL220, TGL 80 Main : TGL400,TGL280, TGL220,TGL140 Riser Guth & Wolf - Polyester 20mm Maillons Stainless Steel 4.3mm Thread HT Polyester Yarn 150D/3, 225D/3 “Designing paragliders is a personal journey of challenge and discovery, an ongoing search for perfection.
WARNING: All gliders have to be inflated on flat ground before the first flight. The first flight has to be done by the Gin Gliders official agent before delivery to the final pilot. Motor paragliding or paramotoring is an extremely dangerous activity that can and sometimes does result in serious injury or death.
