With effortless launching and a smooth, relaxed feel, the DUAL 2 performs in harmony with pilot and passenger
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 two sizes: the 42m² will suit most, and the 37m² is for all-up weights below 200kg.
DESCRIPTION
The DUAL 2 is an entirely new design. It took us years of development and many prototypes to perfect, but we believe it is a significant leap forward from the original Dual, which itself was a benchmark EN-B tandem. It’s a pleasure to launch and to fly, with light, intuitive BGD handling and an outstanding sink rate, making it a ‘top of the stack’ performer. Big ears are effective and easy to use, and we’ve added a new big-ears locking system. We know commercial pilots need tandems that last well so we’ve made the DUAL 2 robust and strong, with durable cloth throughout and all-sheathed Kevlar lines. The trimmers have easy-grab plastic balls and easy to replace webbing.
BRUCE’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!
SPECIFICATIONS
PACKAGE INCLUDES
Paraglider
Rucksack
Replacement trimmers
BGD T-shirt
Repair kit
USB stick with manuals
BGD stickers
Stuff sack
Riser bag
Compression strap
FLYING STYLE
MATERIALS
COLOR OPTIONS
IrisOrchidPoppy
DESIGN FEATURES
Eyes Wide-Open Safety
Gliders that talk are safer. Safer gliders make pilots perform better. Better performing pilots fly further. Further flying pilots are happier pilots. Eyes Wide-open Safety produces happier pilots.
Progressive Stability
Designed to warn pilots of light-to-moderate turbulence, rather than suddenly collapsing when things get really unruly. Bruce’s article in Cross Country magazine, ‘Shifting Our Thinking on Safety’, explains how, “A wing that is super stable and almost never collapses can lead to more accidents, because when it does collapse the pilot is not prepared and has little experience of how to deal with the situation”. Any wing will collapse given enough turbulence. A small deflation in medium turbulence is easier to deal with, and therefore safer, than a big collapse in strong turbulence.
Cord Cut Billow (CCB)
Shaped panels in the leading edge reduce creasing along the ribs. The creases are more pronounced on larger cells, and CCB technology therefore makes a bigger difference to gliders with bigger cells .
Webbed Profiles
Using our cutting edge software we have maintained the strength and rigidity of the profiles while maximizing the amount of non-load bearing material we could remove. This reduces weight and without increasing the cost or reducing the strength of the wing as a whole. Hole positioning and size is highly dependent on the loads taken locally by the sail and this can only be done correctly with recent innovations in our software.
Post C Band
We have added a ‘Post C’ band running along the top surface which seamlessly moves down to the bottom surface at the tip connecting directly to the last line cascade. Instead of putting heavy plastic rods above the C lines we use this band to counter the common flip up ripple caused when adding a little brake. The problem with paragliders is when a little brake is applied the cupping of the trailing edge creates lift which often buckles the profile near the C’s. We have solved this problem with the “Post C Band” an eloquent, lightweight, clean, and volume-reducing solution.
Baby-A Riser
We have added a ‘big ears’ A riser which is also on a ½ ratio with the rest of the A lines. This facilitates easy use of “big ears” while helping speed and stability while on bar. The speed system is light and simple without reflex really helping glide at speed.
Triple Finger Diagonals
Across the whole chord of the profile we have designed three-piece diagonal supports that pass through the holes in other ribs. They ensure structural integrity by avoiding cloth bias from the ribs and creating a more solid wing even when brake is applied. This is particularly important near the trailing edge since the profile is thin and the diagonal ribs are shallow supporting higher loads.
Maximized Unsupported Cells
Optimized 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 minimize line consumption reducing drag thus improving performance.
Snap Locks
Snap Locks are lightweight compact attachments that effortlessly connect brakes to the risers with a small focused magnet inside the catch and an internal locking system that holds the handle in every direction except down toward the pilot. This unique design feature means the handles don’t fall off while kiting, packing, or performing manoeuvres. The Snap Lock system solves many of the problems associated with press-studs and magnets.
Optimized Line Layout
Over the years we have perfected our system of optimizing the line layout of our wings. We use numerous equations, software, and the plain old guess and check method to build our line layout. The result is simple: fewer lines making stronger, faster gliders.
Single Plastic Shark Nose
Results in a very easy launch with minimal running required, without increasing the brake pressure.
Big Ears Blocker
A cam cleat system that allows the pilot to pull big ears on, in the size required, and then lock them in place. A neoprene cover prevents lines from unintentionally catching in the system, and the ears are easy to release.
Trimmers
Trimmers have 10cm travel and a plastic puller ball on the end to make them easier to operate. Trimmer webbing wears, but is easily replaceable by untying a knot inside the puller ball. A spare set of webbings are delivered with the glider.
