BGD CURE 3

Technical data

* collapse lines used

Colours

Standard colours: Halogen, Alkaline, Enzyme.

Package

• Paraglider
• Giveaway
• Manual card
• Sticker
• Rucksack
• Repair material
• Stuff sack
• Riser bag
• Compression strap

CURE 3: THE MIRACLE

• High performance
• EN-C two-liner
• Serial class comp wing
• Precise handling
• Superb glide

The CURE 3 is their cutting-edge, high-performance two-liner EN-C. A product of the BGD Performance project research, it shares family traits and a design philosophy with the DIVA 2, BASE 3 and BREEZE, which means top-of-class performance combined with excellent passive safety and feeling.

It was designed to take on the best of the EN-C serial-class racing machines, so speed and glide are high priorities. What makes it stand out is that it does this, and has great handling. Small brake inputs have an immediate effect, and the CURE 3 has a really nice turn.

It has a very fast top speed and excellent stability at speed, with that satisfying and reassuring ‘tightening-up’ feeling when you push the bar. It’s great for thermalling! It can make flat, efficient turns but also loves to be banked up, to dig into those ripper cores and climb out like a rocket.

And boy, this wing can glide … Bruce described it as having a ‘never-landing feeling’. You know, when it’s late in the day, the last rays of sun on the hills, you’re soaring the ridges, sniffing out lift, but with the CURE 3 it’s relaxing as you just don’t feel like you’ll go down.

Target

The CURE 3 is BGD’s high-performance EN-C two-liner, made for big XCs and serial-class racing. It’s the miracle cure for those who are hardest bitten by the flying bug!

Designer’s notes

The shape of the CURE 3 has been optimised for efficiency and to streamline performance, using our aerodynamics expertise and Parasim, their in-house simulation software.

It bears a strong resemblance to the DIVA 2 and the BASE 3, but each design is different, adapted to the specific line layout, aspect ratio etc. The CURE 3 has a high arc and short lines, and elegant swept-back and tapered, drag-reducing wingtips. The raked wingtips are particularly pronounced on the CURE 3.

The stabilo is integrated into the AR3 line, offering a line drag reduction because there are fewer lines. Big Ears are done using the AR3 lines. The winglets help the glider to recover automatically from even the steepest spiral dive.

The test team hammer the prototypes with repeated tests at different weights and harnesses, in the toughest conditions. Their job is to make sure it passes the certification of course, but it’s much more than this: they dial up the fun-factor and tighten up the handling, making sure it is an absolute joy to fly and ensuring safe and easy launch and landing behaviour.

Technology

Raked Wingtips

The wingtip shape is key for performance. It has been optimised during countless numerical simulations.

Winglets

Winglets help the glider to exit from steep spiral dives. Incorporating winglets in the design gave us good spiral behaviour without compromising any performance or handling.

Snap Locks

BGD developed the first snaplocks for paragliding with Fidlock a decade ago. They have been refined and improved over the years and have now been widely adopted in the industry. A small focused magnet inside the catch with an internal locking system holds the handles in place. They release only when the handles are pulled down towards the pilot, so they don’t fall off while kiting, packing, or performing manoeuvres.

Short lines

Short lines in combination with a high arc, give the pilot a unique, intuitive and very connected feel to the glider

Reflex profile

The reflex in the wing means a lot of lift is generated near the leading edge and a force which opposes collapses. It gives excellent top-speed stability, and collapses are easy to anticipate and stop.

BGD Parasim

BGD’s in-house simulation program: high-fidelity aerodynamic simulations (CFD) predict flow characteristics around the wing, allowing us to optimise the shape to maximise performance.

Maximised unsupported cells

Optimised unsupported cell groups are designed to match the span-wise load distribution influenced by the line layout. Coupled with a strong internal structure, the line layouts that create more span-wise tension can support more unsupported cells. While maintaining a homogenous wing, this helps to minimise line consumption reducing drag thus improving performance.

High Arc

The high arc is optimised for sharp handling and high stability.

Chord Cut Billow (CCB)

Chord Cut Billow technology has been developed to improve the form friction, glider stability and overall performance of our paragliders. Two seams run chord-wise across the top panels of the leading edge. They accommodate the panel ballooning that happens when the wing is inflated. Without CCB, up to five centimetres of excess material is created on the sides of an inflated flat panel when it bends over a wing profile. This results in wrinkles. Chord Cut Billow technology removes this excess material and the 3D panel has fewer ripples and improved rib profile shape and stability.

Carbon handles

Carbon handles for the rear-riser steering are comfortable, easy to use and facilitate flying fast.

BGD Performance Project

The BGD Performance Project applies advanced aerodynamic shape optimisation techniques for conventional aircraft to paragliders, and has resulted in new shapes, profiles, and innovation.

BGD Feedback

Safer gliders make pilots perform better. Better performing pilots fly further. Further flying pilots are happier pilots. BGD Feedback produces happier pilots!

2 – Liner

Fewer lines = less line drag, and the rear-riser steering is light, precise and direct.

Progressive Stability

Using our Parasim simulation program, BGD gliders are designed to have a stable and solid centre with progressively softer tips. This teaches pilots to predict and avoid deflations and stay aware of the air.

Materials