It is the perfect partner for vol-biv: light to carry with the performance to fly far, yet safe and easy to fly. The light sail rises easily to launch, and its super-safe stall behavior makes it perfect for top-landing in the mountains.

It is very reassuring in turbulent air, thanks to its excellent pitch stability and low surge tendency. The all-important pilot feedback is there, and the BREEZE has BGD’s characteristic progressive stability: all our gliders have a very stable, solid centers with progressively softer tips; this means the tips warn about turbulence first, so the pilot can predict and avoid deflations and stay aware of the air.

The BREEZE will make you feel good in the air, and ready to tackle your most ambitious objectives. It’s a natural step up from a low-B like the ECHO 2 – you’ll notice the performance gains, but won’t be overwhelmed with extra workload. So what’s stopping you? Get planning some vol-biv adventures, pack a BREEZE and ride the wind!

Target
A lightweight EN-B, the BREEZE is a safe and performant glider for intermediate pilots with a love of hiking and adventure. It has all the design features, glide and stability advantages of the BASE 3, in a 25% lighter package, weighing just 3.3kg in the XS.

Designer’s notes
Weighing 3.3kg to 3.9kg across the four sizes, the BREEZE is significantly lighter than the BASE 3. We used Porcher Skytex 27 cloth on both top and bottom surfaces, chosen for its light weight and proven longevity. 32g/m2 cloth on the leading edge adds durability in high-wear areas.

It is a 2.5-liner design: 3 line levels in the center, two at the tips. The advantages of this are reduced line drag compared to a 3-liner, further emphasized by the choice of unsheathed Edelrid Magix Pro Dry lines. It also has a really nice two-liner feel when using the B/C steering.

The BREEZE has BGD Performance Project traits of a high arc, short lines, tapered shape and raked wingtips. Together these increase performance without compromising safety. It has the same excellent slow-speed behaviour as the BASE 3, which makes it a breeze (pun intended!) to top-land. The winglets ensure easy exit from a spiral dive.

Specifications

Colors

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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 behavior. 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 plan-form 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.

Specifications

Colors

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Target
Remember that feeling, the first time your feet leave the ground and you are soaring, feet in the clouds, viewing the world from a different perspective? If you could bottle that feeling and share it around … that’s what the DUAL 2 is for – sharing the joy of flight!

A clean take-off is absolutely critical to a safe and successful tandem flight. The DUAL 2 takes the load quickly and the short run required is a huge step forward for passenger safety. We’ve made the Dual 2 in three sizes: the 42m², 40m² and the 38m² covering all-up weights 100-220kg.

Designer’s notes
With this project I wanted to make a tandem that is ridiculously easy to launch as not all passengers are willing runners, but I didn’t want to sacrifice that light and sensitive handling that was so highly praised in the original DUAL. To achieve this we designed a whole new single plastic shark nose just for this wing. In the air the handling is a delight and thermalling is outstanding. The whole team are very happy with the outcome. It’s a pleasure to fly, and a dream to launch: two steps and away!

Colors

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BRUCE’S NOTES

Just after Tyr was born I was trying to convince Arna that paragliders are as nice as hang gliders. I wanted to charm her into the sport with a lovely XC flight. We took off one sunny morning from Séderon, France and headed into the heart of the Vercors. It was a glorious flying day. We soared low and slow along cliffs and over grazing deer. We caressed the cumulus clouds with our wing tip. I wanted to show her that flying a slow aircraft could be really rewarding. She enjoyed it so much she was constantly attempting to back/front-seat-pilot the tandem. She soon realised it was best to just let go and enjoy the strong thermals.

80km and five hours later, slightly sore but glowing, we landed in La Chapelle-en-Vercors next to a perfect little restaurant where we had dinner. Arna now flies an EN-B Wasp and is a part owner of BGD. I think I convinced her.

I designed the Dual LITE to help convince friends/partners/spouses that paragliding is a convenient, adventurous sport. Whether it is a simple hike and fly or a long Vol-bivouac expedition the Dual LITE delivers.

Like the Dual, the Dual LITE is a wing that has a very clean leading edge (Cord Cut Billow) making the low cell count (50 cells) feasible thus reducing the weight, line consumption and complexity of the paraglider. I think the Dual LITE really benefits from the Dual’s renowned light handling. Its launching characteristics even surprised me – the wing floats up with very little effort from the pilot.

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BRUCE’S NOTES

I designed the SEED as simple as possible, while keeping the most essential and up-to-date designs features. A strong shark nose, CCB, 3D panel shaping on the lower surface and countless other features make the SEED feel like a normal paraglider. I always say, “good ground handlers make good pilots” so the SEED was produced to teach the most essential skills in a glider small enough to manage even in strong winds.

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DESIGNER’S NOTES
At BGD we believe in Progressive Stability. Our new simulation program enabled us to tune the span-wise tensions of the CURE 2 in order to achieve the perfect balance between structural rigidity and the wing’s ability to communicate to the pilot about what is happening in the air. This understanding of the air empowers pilots to fly appropriately for the conditions. Of course the CURE 2 has good inherent stability too. We opted to use full chord plastics in the central area of the wing to give it good structural stability, but towards the tips the plastic is in the leading-edge only. This reduces tip cravats, enhancing safety.

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DESIGNER’S NOTES
With the ECHO 2 we wanted to make something nice and light, that is easy to fold and carry. At the same time, it had to be user-friendly, not too fragile and have really usable performance.

The ECHO 2 is made entirely from high quality and industry proven Porcher cloth, mostly in 27g/m2 weight for both surfaces. On the leading edge there is sturdy 38g/m2 cloth in the center where it is needed for additional strength and to ensure longevity.

There are small rods in the leading edge, but none are very long, and there are no rods in the back of the sail so it’s easily foldable and can be packed small.

We opted for the same risers as are on the EPIC 2, because they are much easier to handle than Dyneema ‘rope’ style risers, and this wing is designed to be accessible to lower-airtime pilots. We also kept to sheathed lower lines for the same reason, especially for rocky or awkward launches. They are easier to see, so you can spot if they are caught around anything before you try to launch, and it means they can be color coded so you can easily tell the lines apart.

We worked a LOT on perfecting the launch, and from the feedback we’re getting we reckon we got it right. The light sail comes up like a dream and settles over your head till you decide to go. No holding back or over-flying, and no hurtling forwards at high speed in strong winds. It’s easy and relaxing, just the way we like it!

While safety is always a priority with a low-B wing, the ECHO 2 included, we also wanted the ECHO 2 to have really usable performance. It is a bit faster than the original, and we’ve used a similar B/C steering system to that on the BASE 2, on the EPIC 2 and ECHO 2. You can safely explore the whole bar travel, and learn to correct your direction with the rear risers. There won’t be a lot of pitch-correction to manage with the ECHO 2, and rear-riser steering is a good method to get used to if you’re a newer pilot moving up through the glider levels. If you’d rather not use it yet, that’s fine. The way it’s designed it does not clutter the risers, and can be ignored until you’re ready.

Long brake travel helps avoid an accidental stall or spin, and the brakes are beautifully precise and direct. The handling is BGD through and through – playful and fun and the colors have crept onto the undersurface too for even more pzazz. (And as the pilot you get to see them too, bonus!)

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We’ve improved the launch behavior – the wing comes up smoothly and easily without overshooting. In flight, it’s slightly faster than its predecessor (+1km/h at trim, +3km/h top speed) and has improved glide. It’s also a great climber, especially in weak lift.

Long brake travel means you won’t accidentally stall or spin, but it is precise on the brakes with direct, playful handling. The EPIC 2 is safe and reassuring in strong air, but does not hide the bumps. At BGD we think feedback is really important: the wing tells the pilot about the conditions, and the pilot can anticipate and avoid collapses.

Like on the BASE 2, the new EPIC 2 risers have a B/C steering system for piloting the wing while pushing the bar and flying at speed.

TARGET
A safe, fun wing that’s a joy to fly. We’ve improved the performance while maximizing safety, and the EPIC 2 is a versatile wing. It’s perfect for first cross-countries or a go-anywhere glider for weekend pilots. And, like the original Epic, it’s a great tool for getting to grips with your first freestyle moves. The test team can confirm it’s loads of fun for wingovers, SATs, heli’s and the like.

DESIGNER’S NOTES
The EPIC has been a very successful Low B wing. It was important to us to keep the accessibility and handling it was known and loved for, while improving performance. It has great glide and climbing ability, and a bit more speed than the original.

While it might look quite similar at a glance, design-wise a lot has changed. It now has 45 cells and an aspect ratio of 5.2, both slightly higher than on the original EPIC. The internal supporting structure is more intricate, but despite all this the glider weighs the same, 4.9kg for the M. The riser set is new, and the lines are a mixture of unsheathed higher up, and sheathed at the bottom.

The Epic 2 has short rods in the leading edge and none in the trailing edge, so it is easy to pack. The single-piece leading edge plastics are made of different materials: stiffer purlin in the central section with softer, more flexible supports towards the tips. It’s a light, elegant and effective method for shaping the leading edge.

As on the BASE 2 and CURE 2, there is a double skin on the lower surface of the leading edge. The internal pressure of the wing pushes on this lower skin which helps pressure it to maintain a clean and stable leading edge.

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BRUCE’S NOTES

With the Magic I wanted to design the perfect glider for a student to learn on and then to continue to progress with after school, a One Glider concept. The Magic has the safety beginners need, and will continue to look after them as they grow in confidence and become more adventurous. Its spiral behaviour is astounding – spiral stability can be a problem with low aspect-ratio beginner wings, but we have tested the Magic extensively, with different inclinations and sink rates, and never, ever has it stayed in a spiral, once! This is very unusual for a school glider and is a big safety bonus. The brake travel to the stall point is long (72cm) so pilots won’t find themselves accidentally stalling or spinning the wing either. In short I am very excited about the Magic and sure it will bring ‘that feeling’ to whoever flies it.

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