BGD BASE 3 S (65-85kg) Flame 1302011A

Bruce Goldsmith Design BASE 3 (general info)

Technical data

Colours

Standard Colours: Flame, Glacier, Terra.

Package

• Paraglider
• Manual card
• BGD stickers
• BGD gift
• Rucksack
• Repair cloth
• Stuff sack
• Riser bag
• Compression strap

Optional extras (Related Products)

• Paragliding Backpacks
• Concertina Packing Bags
• Fast Packing Bags
• Speed Systems
• Clothing

BGD BASE 3: TOP OF THE STACK

The BASE 3 is BGD’s sports-intermediate high-B. Their optimisation software allowed them to increase the performance without increasing the aspect ratio compared to its predecessor. The BASE 3 is born from the BGD Performance Quest project, whose first offspring was the DIVA 2. It clearly shares some family traits: the high arc, short lines, tapered shape, and raked wingtips give it a very distinctive silhouette, as well as multiple performance and stability advantages.

Like the LYNX 2, it is a 2.5-liner. The performance gains from the lower line consumption are enhanced by the lines being unsheathed micro-lines. The 2.5-line layout also gives a really nice two-liner feel with the rear-riser steering.

The BASE 3 has excellent pitch stability and very low surge tendency, yet it remains a talkative glider, giving the pilot good feedback at all times. And something new for BGD – the BASE 3 has winglets. A safety feature, they help the glider exit from steep spiral dives.

The BASE 3 is a real feel-good glider with excellent glide performance, the tool for pilots to break their personal XC bests while feeling safe and at ease.

Target

The BASE 3 is for cross-country pilots who have started flying XC on a low-B and are looking for more performance to push their distances. It is stable but informative, and has some secret ninja skills: it’s slow-speed handling make it a top-landing demon, and it’s really easy to launch in strong winds because it is so pitch stable and does not surge forward. Performance-wise it is top of the EN-B class, but safety-wise it could be a low-B.

Designer’s notes

Like the DIVA 2, the BASE 3 has a high arc and short lines. The high arc came about on the DIVA 2 primarily to improve the glide ratio, but we noticed this also resulted in extremely gentle collapse behaviour. Short lines reduce drag and also increase pitch stability, while leaving some roll for a fun and lively feel.

It has a reflex profile. This design is often associated with paramotor wings, and it means the profile has a natural pitch-up tendency. With a reflex profile, a lot of lift is produced near the leading edge, creating a force that acts against collapses and improves both active and passive safety. It makes the glider very stable on full bar, and collapses are very easy to anticipate and stop.

The tapered planform gives very good slow-speed characteristics, a slow stall speed and a wide margin for pilot error. The raked wingtips very effectively reduce drag.

The C-riser steering allows very effective pitch control, and the neoprene ‘cradle’ which serves as a handle is comfortable to hold and easy to use. Unlike a bar-style handle, there are no bits sticking out that could catch in your lines.

We have chosen to use cloths that are durable and hard wearing, for real-life abrasion-resistance. The unsheathed Aramid lines are Edelrid 8001U. They have a waterproof coating, and are very dimensionally stable so your glider will stay in trim.

Features

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.

Tapered wing

Originally there to maximise glide performance, the sharp taper also reduces the stall speed giving incredible stall safety.

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.

Unsheathed aramid lines

The Edelrid 8001U waterproof lines are dimensionally stable so your glider will stay in trim.

Progressive stability

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

Chord cut billow (CCB)

Chord Cut Billow technology has been developed to improve the form friction, glider stability and overall performance of BGD 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 centimeters 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.

2.5-liner

The 2.5-line design not only reduces line drag significantly, but also gives an incredible feeling of two-liner pitch control on the rear risers

Integrated Line Layout

The line layout of BGD gliders is fully integrated into the wing design. Sail and lines are designed together, holistically. The cell widths and the internal straps that transfer the load though the sail are all designed according to the line layout. Even the panel shaping is matched with the line layout though detailed CAD simulation. The result is simple: fewer lines and stronger, faster, safer gliders.

Materials