Gin BOBCAT User manual

BOBCATowner’smanual –English
Thankyoufortakingthetimetoreadthismanualbefore using the BOBCAT.

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Thankyou…
Thank you for choosing the BOBCAT. We are confident that this 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
enablingyoutomaximiseyourfullpotential.
Pleasepasson this manual to the new ownerifyoueverresellyour glider.
Havefun!
TheGINTeam
SafetyNotice
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 or
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 the use or safety
ofthis equipment then it should notbe 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
ThankYou…..........................................................................................................................................2
SafetyNotice........................................................................................................................................2
1. Gin Gliders ........................................................................................................................4
2. Introducing Speedflying....................................................................................................5
3. Introducing the BOBCAT.....................................................................................................5
Speedflyingfieldofuse….....................................................................................................................5
ForPilotsWho…...................................................................................................................................6
Manufacturing......................................................................................................................................6
4. Before you Fly...................................................................................................................7
Pre-deliveryInspection........................................................................................................................7
Trim Risers..........................................................................................................................................7
Brakelineadjustment...........................................................................................................................8
Rucksack...............................................................................................................................................8
Yourharness........................................................................................................................................8
Certified weight range..........................................................................................................................9
Essential..............................................................................................................................................9
5. Flying the BOBCAT...........................................................................................................10
Preparation for launch........................................................................................................................10
Takeoff..............................................................................................................................................10
MinSink/ bestglide ...........................................................................................................................11
Acceleratedflight...............................................................................................................................11
Activeflying.......................................................................................................................................11
Inturbulence......................................................................................................................................11
Landingwith the BOBCAT....................................................................................................................12
6. Care, maintenance and repairs........................................................................................13
Groundhandling.................................................................................................................................13
UVdamage .........................................................................................................................................13
Packinginstructions...........................................................................................................................13
Transportand storage........................................................................................................................14
Cleaning.............................................................................................................................................14
Inspections.........................................................................................................................................14
Repairs...............................................................................................................................................14
7. Reference........................................................................................................................15
Technical specifications......................................................................................................................16
Lineplan ............................................................................................................................................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
histeam of engineersand testpilots.
Gin’s philosophy is simple: To design gliders that he, and any other pilot, will love to fly. This
philosophy applies equally fora speedflying glider such as the BOBCAT,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 experienced team, both within the company in Korea and throughout a
worldwide network ofdistributors anddealers.
This high level of expertise provided by dedicated professionals ensures that you get the best
possible productsupportand aftersalesservice.

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2.Introducing Speed Flying
Speedflying,a newflyingconcept.
Anew flyingcraze is here: Speedflying;flyingfast downhill.
Over the lastfew years,Gin Glidershavebeendevelopingspeedgliders for speedriding(launch
byski).
Now,GinGliders introducesaspeedglider designed for foot launch, theBobcat.
Speedgliders, a new design concept.
Speedridingand speedflyingarebothbased on a new designconcept developed by Gin Gliders.
Speedgliders are not small paragliders,like forexamplethe«Yeti19»whichisa mini-
paragliderand part of our paragliderrange.
Speedglidersare dedicated to fly withlowglideratio, stabilityand speed.
TheSpeedgliders’conceptisbased on :
- PitchStability
-Angleof attackcontrol
-Variable glide ratio
-Speedcontrol
3.Introducing the BOBCAT,the Speedflying wing
The Bobcat isopening new horizons ofpiloting for expertand careful pilots with alotof flying
experience.
Theair, the speedand thefun are joined for a new dimension offlight… the possibilities are
growing!
Theplayof trajectories and speedagainstthe relief opensnewpilotingpotential,asyet
unexploredusingsoftcanopies.
TheBobcat willgiveyouthepossibility to return to the originalsoul of flight and also to open
upnew fieldsof practice.Youwillbeabletoflydown the mountainin wider aerological
conditionswith this simpleand solidglider.Youwill have fun with strong windgroundhandling
andsoaring…
Speedflyingfieldsof use…
"Traditional"Speedflying
Unlikemodernparagliders, the Bobcatwillgive you an adrenaline-poweredridedowna
mountain,following the slopesandridges. This is due to a lower glideratioand higher trim

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speed. You'll reach thebottom faster, butwith a huge grin on your face.
Soaringin stronger winds
Howmany pilots confronted with "strong"winds of30-45 km/h, have dreamed ofthe
Bobcat?Here it is!
Onthe coast,in themountains, oronyourfavouritehill, when it is impossible to take
yourparaglider from its bag, the Bobcat is ready to takeover.
Ground training
Howmany paragliding schoolshave dreamed of theBobcat?Here it is.
Tolearn in safety on school slopes the basisofinflation and to becomefamiliarwith
techniques forstrongerwinds,the Bobcatis a wonderfuleducational tool.
Mountaineering
Howmany mountaineers climbing down from a summit havedreamed of the Bobcat?
Hereit is!
TheBobcat will allowyouto take off andfly instronger winds than would be possible
witha paraglider.TheBobcat is compact, light and willeasily fit into the bottom of an
experiencedmountaineer’sbackpack.Its instantaneousinflationandits high stability
inturbulencewillallow you to experiencemountains in a thrilling new way.
For pilots who…
TheBobcat is a speedgliderdesignedforhighlyexperiencedandresponsiblepilots thathave
enoughknowledge toadapt to thespeedglider’s dynamichandling.The higherwing loading
increasesthe speed and theresponsiveness ofthe handling. The glideanglesaremuch lower
thanwith modernparagliders. The landingapproach and landingitself are considerably
different.
TheBobcat is notrecommended for busy flying sites and training in aprofessional paragliding
schoolisstrongly recommended. Regularpracticeontheground is veryuseful. Take special
carewhendecidingwhenandwheretofly, and respect other flyers andflying machines.
Manufacturing
All GIN gliders are produced in the company's own facilities 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. Beforeyoufly
Pre-deliveryInspection
The BOBCAT is delivered with a rucksack, the Bobcat harness (designed specifically for the
Bobcat), inner bag, compression strap, repair tape and this manual. Your instructor or dealer
shouldhavemadeatestinflation followedbya testflight beforedelivery.
Risersand trimmers
The back risers of the BOBCAT are fitted with trimmers that enable the pilot to adapt the
glider’sbehaviour to matchhislevel and the chosen slope.Trimming down (shortening) the back
risers makes the glider slower, the handling less responsive and more forgiving, so suitable for
pilots that have less experience. Trimming up the risers accelerates the glider, see accelerated
flight for more details. Ask for the advice of an instructor who specialises in Speedflying in
orderto betterunderstandandexploitthetrimmingsystem.
#13.5,#15,#16,5 A C D
TurnDown 50cm 49cm 48cm
Neutral 50cm 50Cm 50cm
Turnup 50cm 53cm 56cm
Trim down Neutral Trim up

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Brakeline adjustment
The main brake line lengths of the BOBCAT 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
benecessaryto adjust them.
In soaring flight, it is common to fly with half a wrap on the brakes and hold the handles on the
knot.However, care should betaken to releasethe wrapsin anyextreme 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
doublesheepshank or a bowline knot forthe brake handle attachment as shown in the diagram.
Rucksack
The BOBCAT is delivered with a rucksack and a harness specifically designed for carrying
comfortandease of use.
Yourharness
The BOBCAT was developed with the BOBCAT harness, specific to Speedflying. We recommend
thatyouusethe BOBCATsolelywith this harness.
Adjusting the chest strap controls the distance between the carabiners of the two risers, which
hasan influence on theglider’s behaviour.
There is no need to use the BOBCAT with a tight chest strap adjustment, as there is no tendency
tofeelunstable.

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Weightrange
The BOBCAT should be used in the weight range for which it was designed. The weight range is
defined according tothe pilot’s weight, including clothes.
BOBCAT #13,5 #15 #16,5
Weight/piloting
level expert Advanced
≤80kg
Advanced
80kg ≥
Essential
Inorder to fly withthisequipment,you should:
*Havereceived theoretical andpractical tuition for Speedflying.
*Have sufficient practice, the knowledge and the experience necessary to use this glider
correctlyand safely.
*Havesubscribedtothe licences and insurances necessaryforthe practice of this sport.
*Be in normalphysical and mental health, not be underthe influenceof alcoholor otherdrugs.
*Fly only in meteorological conditions fit for the practice of Speedflying (and adapted to your
leveland experience).
*Weara helmet andallsafetyequipmentnecessary to thepractice of speedflying.
*Havethoroughlycheckedallyourequipment.
*Beawareofalltheinformationcontainedinthis manual.

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5.Flying withtheBOBCAT
We recommend that you first practice inflating your glider on a small training slope. Make your
first flights with your new speedflyingglider ingentleconditions in a familiararea.
Preparationforlaunch
Following a consistent method of preparation and pre-flight checks is vital for safe flying. We
recommendthe following:
On arrival at the flying site, assess the suitability of the conditions: wind speed and
direction,airspace.
Inspectyour glider,harness,helmet and any otherequipment.
Chooseasufficientlylargetake-off areawith even ground and noobstacles.
Laytheglideroutaccordingtotheplanform,and getthe lines and risers sortedout.
Putyour helmeton.Secureyourself in yourharness and don't forget the leg loops!
Connect the risers to your harness carabiners, ensuring there are no twists or loops
aroundthelines.
Do a final line check by pulling gently on the risers or lines to ensure there are no new
knots,tanglesorinterfering branches or rocks. Take extra care in nil or lightwinds.
Pre-flight check list
Helmetand harnessbuckles closed.
Linesfree.
Canopyopen and into wind.
Airspaceclear.
Takeoff
Thekeytoasuccessful launchtechnique istopracticeground handling wheneveryou can.
Keeping your brake handles in your hands, the BOBCAT inflates very easily, with front risers in
hand. Keep your arms slightly bent and hands at shoulder height. While using the front risers,
yourarmsshouldrise inacurve. It isnotnecessary to pullhard on the risers.
Make a visual check on your glider before taking off to see if it is correctly inflated and that
there are noknots or tangles.If something is wrong, abortthe take off.
A slight pressure on the brakes always makes the take off easier. Don’t forget to run fast with
longstrides!
Trimposition fortakeoffat normalaltitude innormal conditions is : “neutral”

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Minimum sinkrate andmax glide ratio.
Theminimum sinkratecan be foundby pullingthe brakes on byabout 20 cm. the theoretical
maxglideratio isobtainedby trimmingthe back risersby1cm.
Acceleratedflight
Once you have become accustomed to flying the BOBCAT, 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 better match
their glide to the angle of the slope. Caution: when flying accelerated, your wing will react in a
quicker, more responsive manner in turns and the glide angle will be a lot steeper. Learn and
takeadvicefroma qualified instructor.
ActiveFlying
The BOBCAT has a high internal pressure, high resistance to collapses 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 remember to
keepsufficient air-speedand avoidover-piloting.
In turbulentconditions
The BOBCAT is a very stable glider and collapses on one or both of the front risers are
extremely rare. Extreme turbulence could generate a collapse but the BOBCAT will resume
normal flight in almost all configurations. In case of any doubt, keep your hands at shoulder
heightand let theglider 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,
withoutbeingout of time with thewing’smovements.
Caution :
The BOBCAT 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
recommendednottoflyany aerobatics with theBOBCAT.

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Landingwith the BOBCAT
Choose a landing area freeof obstacles.It is recommended to landwithafullflair; it willenable
youto obtain a zerovertical speedandaneasy run at the endof the flair. Donotmakeyourlast
turnat low height, or makearadical turn close totheground.Donotapproachtooslowlywith
the back trimmer onand a lot ofbrake. The best landingapproachiswiththe trimmers set to
neutralandthen use a proper flairtobleedof yourspeed.
Youcan land with the trimmerin eitherneutralpositionoratfull speed trim positionprovided
youmanageyourflaircorrectly.Landingin low speedtrim position is not recommended.

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6.Care, Maintenance andRepairs
The materials used in the BOBCAT 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
handlingandpacking,unnecessaryexposure to UV light, chemicals,heatandmoisture.
Groundhandling
Becareful of the following:
Violentshocks to the upper surface(e.g.when the canopy crashes tothe ground leading
edgefirstwhilstgroundhandling).
Dragging the glideralong the ground.
Dyneema,the corematerialof thelines,is very strong and cantakehighloadswithout
stretching,butit is sensitivetoheat.
Opening your wingin strong winds without first untangling the lines.
UVdamage
Avoid leaving the glider outinthe sun unnecessarily.UVrays fromthesun degrade glider cloth.
Packinginstructions
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
rigidityinthe profile reinforcements.
Since folding the glider weakens thematerials, pack the glider as looselyas possible.

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TransportandStorage
Moisture is the worst enemy of your glider, adversely affecting the ageing of fabric, lines and
reinforcements. The BOBCAT 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 dry room. Leave the rucksack zip open
whenever possible to allow residual moisture to evaporate, and do not transport or store the
gliderinthe proximityof chemicals such as gasoline, paintsor other solvents.
Cleaning
Use only lukewarm water and a soft cloth to clean your wing. Never use any abrasive materials
ordetergents.Only clean the wingif it isabsolutely necessary e.g. aftera landing insaltwater.
MaintenanceInspections
GIN Gliders recommend that the BOBCAT isinspected by anauthorized Gin agentafter every 100
hoursflying 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
theleadingedge,orif you noteadeterioration of performance orbehaviour.
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 the 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
beforeflying.
Major repairs, such as replacing panels, should only be carried out by the distributor or
manufacturer.

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7. Technical data BOBCAT
TechnicaldataBOBCAT
SIZE 13.5 15 16.5
FLAT
AREA 13.5m² 15m² 16.5m²
SPAN 7.25m 7.65m 8.0m
A.R 3.9 3.9 3.9
PROJECTED
AREA 11.42m² 12.69m² 13.96m²
SPAN 5.8m 6.12m 6.42m
A.R 2.95 2.95 2.95
CHORD ROOT 2.18m 2.30m 2.41m
TIP 0.91m 0.96m 1.01m
CELLNUMBER 26 26 26
GLIDERWEIGHT 3.2kg 3.5 kg 3.8 kg

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LinePlan
a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 stA b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 c1 c2 c3 c4 c5 c6
stB
stC stD
main A1 main A2
main A3
main C1 main C2 ST main
main C3
2345678910 11 12 13 14
d1
d2
d3
d4
d5
d6
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6 main D1
main D2
main D3
br mid1
br2
br3
br4
br5
br6
br mid2
br mid3
br main
br1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
STB Main
Brake Main
Main line
Line material
Upper line
TGL200
TGL140
TGL140, TGL80
TGL280

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Description
FABRICOFCANOPY
SUPPLIER NAME DOMINICOTEX
ADDRESS 641-11 Dungchondong Kangseogu Seoul Korea
TYPEOF FINISH SIDECOATED
TYPEOF YARN NYLON6.6 HIGHTENACITY–
30Denier NYLON6.6HIGHTENACITY– 30Denier
FABRICCODE 3RS ME
(Topand Bottom surface) 3RSFM (Rib)
PATTERN Rip Stop Rip Stop
Coatedfabric’s weight(g/sqm) 43+2 43+2
Tear
Strength WARP(DaN) 3.6Max 3.6Max
WEFT(DaN) 4.1Max 4.1Max
Elongationonbias3Ibs(%) 11.5Max 11.5Max
Elongationonbias5Ibs(%) 17.5Max 17.5Max
Elongationonbias10 Ibs (%) 25.5Max 25.5Max
Break
Strength
WARP(DaN/5cm) 42 Max 42Max
WEFT(DaN/5cm) 43Max 43Max
AIRPermeability p=2000Pa
(l/SQMXMN) 40Max 40 Max

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Suspension line
MATERIAL ARAMID(TECHNORA)
SUPPLIER NAME TEIJIN LIMITED,JAPAN
ADDRESS 1- 1,UCHISAIWAI-CHO2-CHOME,CHIYODA-KU,
2- TOKYO100,JAPAN
DIAMETER(mm) TGL80(Top) TGL140(Top) TGL280(Main)
DIAMETER(mm) 1.1 1.4 1.8
YARNCOUNT 1,000D 1,000D 1,000D
NUMBER OF CORE 4 7 14
BREAKINGSTRENGTH 80kg 140KG 280kg
Reinforcement
FABRICCODE W420 SCRIM
SUPPLIER NAME PORCHERNCVIndustries
ADDRESS L’Isled’Abeau, Parcde Chesnes, 75,rueduRuisseau
38070SAINT QUENTINFALLAVIERCedex/ France
MATERIAL POLYERTERSCRIM
WEIGHT(GR/M²) 180
BREAKING
STRENGTH
(KG/5Cm)
WARP 137
WEFT 118
TEARSTRENGTH
(KG/5Cm) WARP 4.2
WEFT 4.1
WEAVEDESIGN RIPSTOP

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Riser
MATERIAL POLYERSTERTAPE
SUPPLIER NAME Güth& Wolf GmbH
ADDRESS Herzebrockerstr.1-3 D-33330Gütersloh
GERMANY
WEIGHT(GR/M) 34
BREAKING STRENGTH 1,100DAN
WIDTH(mm) 20mm
Maillon
MATERIAL STAINLESSSTEEL
SUPPLIER NAME SUBOTECHCO.
ADDRESS 981-1CHAGOK-RIPALTAN-GU,HWASUNG-CITY,KYUNGKI-DO,
KOREA
WEIGHT(GR) 12
BREAKINGSTRENGTH 1,000kg
DIAMETER(mm) 4.3

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Bridle (Attachement line)
MATERIAL NYLON
SUPPLIER
NAME SUPPLIER
ADDRESS 45MU KYODONGJUNG –GU,
SEOUL, KOREA
WEIGHT(GR/M) 7.2
BREAKINGSTRENGTH (kg) 110
WIDTH(mm) 13
Thread MATERIAL HIGHTENACITYPOLYESTER YARN
SUPPLIER
NAME AMANN&SOHNEGMBH&CO.
ADDRESS INDUSTRIESTRASE1,D-74391ERLIGHEIM,
GERMANY
DENIER 150D/2 250D/3
BREAKINGSTRENGTH 2.9kg 3.2kg
WEIGHT(GR/M) 0.05G 0.083G