BGD BASE 2

Technical data

Colours

Colours: Ice, Earth, Fire

Package

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

BGD BASE 2: love at first flight

Crazy about flying and looking for a thermalling, soaring and cross-country partner? Look no further, the Base 2 is a dashing suitor. Its colourful Aztec-inspired attire reflects its fun-loving nature, and it will instantly put you at ease. But don’t underestimate its serious side. You won’t tame its sporty, competitive streak and it’s proud to be top of the class when it comes to speed and performance. The Base 2 will work with you to achieve your shared goals, and then set new ones, expanding your potential while keeping you safe.

Target

The Base 2 is a cross-country paraglider with the perfect balance of performance, handling, comfort and safety. In short, it is utterly confidence inspiring. Its performance will guide you onwards across that tricky crossing and upwards in that weak lift, inspiring further confidence in your own performance. The Base 2 will flatter your flying, and help you get the best out of the day. Its clear feedback about the air and conditions makes it easy to fly actively, and it will respond quickly and precisely to your inputs. It’s the perfect partner for XC adventures!

Designer's notes

The new arc design and technologies in the Base 2 have allowed us to make big increases in performance, but without losing that all-important direct, playful BGD handling. We’ve upped the cell count to 57 and increased roll stability, while the sail and line tension are fine-tuned to achieve a perfectly balanced feel in the air.

Many R&D hours have gone into perfecting the smallest details. By developing a new multi-reefing brake system, we’ve sharpened the brakes in the first part of the range to give precise control with small brake movements, while the overall brake range remains long for safety.

We’ve remodelled the risers to improve the C-steering, with an additional 'speed riser’ that links into the speed system. We’ve been careful to avoid the pilot hanging from a pulley, which can be an issue for some C-steering designs.

The Base 2 has the double leading-edge design that we used in the Cure 2 which ensures the leading edge stays solid, even when you’re on full bar. Cord cut billow panel shaping means a clean, smooth and crease-free top surface. We combined our high-tech airflow simulation software with low-tech tufts and a camera, enabling us to refine the wingtip ribs for optimal aerodynamic performance.

Features

ALULA Simulation Software

The future of glider design depends largely on simulations. Instead of designing and producing prototypes one by one, BGD unique in-house structural / aero simulation program, ALULA, enables BGD to accurately simulate hundreds of virtual prototypes. They test over 200 virtual prototypes for each paraglider, using 50 million iterations of the structural / aero calculations.

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.

Speed-riser C steering

The risers are equipped with a new 'speed riser'. This is an extra riser that is attached to the back of the speed system. This speed riser is also attached to the front of the C steering handle. The idea is to balance the load on the C-steering handle, giving you more control over the glider when using the C- steering. This makes a lighter, simpler, and easier system, and also avoids a design where the pilot hangs from a pulley.

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.

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.

Multi-reefing system

An intricate brake reefing system reefs both symmetrically and asymmetrically, to give the glider really sharp handling and a neat, clean trailing edge.

Triple finger diagonals

Triple Finger Diagonals create a more solid and durable wing. Across the whole chord of the profile, three-piece diagonal supports pass through holes in the ribs. They ensure structural integrity by avoiding the cloth being loaded in the bias direction. This is particularly important near the trailing edge where the profile is thin and shallower diagonal ribs supporting high loads.

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.

Airflow tufts

During development, many small tufts of fabric attached to the top surface of the glider can help them to visualise the airflow over the surface. By filming their movement and playing the film back in slow motion, BGD can study the airflow over the surface.

BGD Feedback

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

Review

"If you are looking to move up from a low or mid-B the Base 2 would make a great choice. It won’t put too much extra demand on you in terms of flying and at the same time you will be able to get to feel the finer control on offer. The B/C-control system gives you most of the feel you will get on higher-level wings and you can get used to this method of control, confident that you can translate this knowledge as you step up. You will quickly find yourself naturally wanting to use the rear risers when not thermalling.

If you are moving down from a higher class the Base 2 will give you a lot of control, good performance, EN-B passive safety and a relaxed nature. In short this is a wing that combines experience, the latest computer modelling and carefully-crafted handling and it shows. I am sure we will see this wing showing up on the online cross-country leagues once things open up again.”

— Marcus King, XC Magazine, (full review)

Materials

Downloads

• Manual
• Platform for custom colours (.svg)