Gin Boomerang GTO EN / LTF D certified paraglider

Gin have created a slightly tamed version of their Boomerang 7 competiton paraglider: the Boomerang GTO is a race machine that is certified EN / LTF D, yet has “the performance of last season’s competition wings”.

Ferrari first invented the term GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) to define a racing car that had been made street-legal; that’s the idea Gin had with first the Boomerang Sport, and now the GTO. With no compromises on safety or handling, Gin say they have designed a performance glider that is a fun and confidence-inspiring ’street legal’ machine.

The Boomerang GTO is intended for experienced, high-level pilots who fly at least 80 hours per year. These pilots will be able to use its full performance potential whilst enjoying its handling. Gin believe a pilot must feel comfortable on his wing in order to fly well, so have made the Boomerang GTO easy to handle and stable with predictable reactions.

The company say there has been a huge leap in performance and behaviour of the GTO over the Sport. The new wing has a higher wingspan but smaller suface area than its predecessor. Despite having more cells, diagonals, tapes and reinforcements it is also lighter, thanks to lighter cloth being used on the undersurface and a new, lighter material for the line attachment reinforcements. Plastic battens replace Mylar in the leading edge, and the mid and upper kevlar lines are unsheathed. Being lighter aids performance, handling and feedback in the air, as well as pleasing pilots who like to walk to launch.

www.gingliders.com

Flymovies have released their trailer on Youtube for the Hang Gliding World Championships 2010 that took place at Tegelberg, Germany, this month.

Read XCmag’s writeup of the event here.

The second competition of the 2010 Paragliding World Cup tour finished today in Japan, with only two tasks flown. France’s Lucas Bernardin (Ozone) was the first-placed Open pilot, and Tomomi Masuko (JP, flying Gin) top female.

Lucas Bernardin of France and Japan's Tomomi Masuko, happy winners of PWC Japan 2010

France was also the first-placed nation, despite several of the country’s top pilots, such as Luc Armant and Charles Cazaux, competing in the Europeans instead which are still going on in Abtenau, Austria at the moment (25 May – 5 June). Japan and Korea were 2nd and 3rd nations.

The two tasks of 64 and 49 km were held yesterday and today (28 and 29 May), following an early start this morning for everyone to move to Mount Fuji.

Philippe Broers has documented the event on video in his unique way. One of his videos is above, and others can be seen on his Vimeo channel (videos 74 to 83) or on the PWC website.

A reminder of the 2010 PWC Tour dates:

PARAGLIDING WORLD CUP (AMERICA)

03-10 April – Pocos de Caldas / Brazil – Brazilian World Cup
17-24 July – Chelan / USA – American World Cup

PARAGLIDING WORLD CUP (ASIA)

22-29 May – Happo-Mt Fuji / Japan – Japanese World cup
02-09 June – Linzhou / China – Chinese World Cup

PARAGLIDING WORLD CUP (EUROPE)

19-26 June – Drama / Greece – Greek World Cup
03-10 July – San potito / Italy – Italian World Cup
07-14 August – Serra da Estrela / Portugal – Portuguese World Cup

SUPERFINAL :

21 Sept-2 Oct – Denizli / Turkey

www.paraglidingworldcup.org

APCO Chairbag Integral II reversible paraglider harness

APCO have released a new and improved version of their reversible rucksack / harness. The Chairbag Integral II is designed for hiking and long cross country flights, and as such has been made for comfort and safety, with many features including lightweight quick-lock buckles, an integral reserve pouch and airbag which extends high up to protect the pilot’s neck.

Updates include an improved carry system with ergonomic back support and compression straps to keep the contents close to the body, making hiking with it much more comfortable. There are now additional easy-access extrenal pockets on the waist belt, and walking pole holders.

Despite all of this, thanks to a new type of cloth the Chairbag Integral II is actually even lighter and more durable than its predecessor, weighing just 2.5 kg (without seat plate). A lightweight carbon seat plate will add 200g to this; a wooden one, 450g.

The chairbag is in stock with dealers now, and is offered in black and blue or black and red.

www.apcoaviation.com

Michel Guichard, winner of the Dudek Zakospeed mountain paraglider in the 2010 Transdromoise. Photo: www.transdromoise.fr

The winner of the 2010 Transdromoise hike and fly race through the Drome department of France last month was Michel Guichard, whose prize was a brand new Dudek Zako Speed mountain paraglider.

The week-long event was split into three stages, and weather conditions allowed more flying than the previous year, with almost all participants getting maximum points in the second leg and arriving in goal by paraglider in very good time. The third and final leg really split the participants, the first arriving in goal a day early, whilst others with a different plan ended up walking into goal or not making it at all.

The event’s ever-friendly atmosphere and the communal bivouac were reportedly as good as ever, and are all part of the appeal of this race.

Watch out for news of a 2011 Transdromoise on www.esprit-parapente.com or www.transdromoise.fr

Flygirls International are looking for a new co-administrator and webmaster to manage the front page content for their social networking website for women in extreme sports.

The ideal candidate will have experience of managing social networks (NING platforms), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), good written and communication skills, and 2 hours to spare per week.

Leave a message on www.flygirlsinternational.com if you are interested.

The Skynch, a one-man winch for hang glider and paraglider pilots to launch themselves

The Skynch is a solo winch that hang glider and paraglider pilots can mount on their car tow hitch, and operate by remote control to launch themselves if they find themselves alone in the tow field on a flyable day.

The hand-held remote control allows the pilot to tension the line and apply the appropriate amount of power to tow himself above the car, and then release the line. The Skynch will then reel the line back in and shut itself down when it receives the end of the line.

The transmitter is powered from a built-in rechargeable battery, and the winch and controller from a 48V battery system that can be placed on the ground close to the winch.

The Skynch can be used for step towing, but is currently only useable for pilots of up to 85 kg. The team say they may be able to offer a stronger tandem version in the future, but it will be more expensive.

The price for the Skynch, which comes with line, drogue chutes, trailer mount and autostop, transmitter, controller and antenna, charger and plywood transport box is 6,700 Euros + VAT and shipping. Batteries are 210 Euros each (plus VAT and shipping).

www.skynch.com

Further places are now available in the European Hang Gliding Championship (for Class 1, flexwings) which is to be held in Ager, Spain in July.

European countries that do not yet have a full team are asked to put forward the remaining pilots as soon as possible, and all nations may add one extra pilot. Non-European nations may also now submit a team.

www.ager2010.com