gnuLAB  is a basic paraglider of 28 cells, moderate aspect ratio of 4,1, and maximum glide ratio of 6.5:1.
The studied size is the “M” of 70 to 90 kg of gross weight in flight.

Name:	gnuLAB
Area	25.75 m2
Total weight range	70-90 kg
Span	10.28 m
Aspect ratio	4.1
Cells number	28
Closed cells	4
Aifoil tickness	14%
Max glide estimation	6.5:1
Homologation	none

The planes for its free study and construction are attached here:

-  format PDF  gnuLAB-20070815.pdf   PDF
-  format CAD gnuLAB-20070815.zip    CAD  (includes the full 3D model of the paraglider )

Because it is an experimental prototype not homologated and never to have flown no model until now (15 of August 2007), I cannot assure nor guarantee nothing. I cannot either guarantee that the geometric model is correct (the subroutine of flat development of the panels will work correctly?). I believe that it will fly as planned, but surely will be necessary to correct experimentally some small of the trim and the angle of incidence of the tips of the wing. The improvements introduced on the first prototype will be incorporated to the following planes.

I have taken 6 months, working in free short whiles, until obtaining the project. The used tools have been the program XFOIL for the study of the profiles, a program of CAD in 3D to draw the model, and several subroutines of calculation and drawing written in language Fortran 77 and compiled with g77 in an operating system Kanotix GNU/Linux. The process has been the following one:

• Election of the planform
• Distribution of the profiles
• Definition of the wing in frontal view
• Variation of the torsion along the span (whasin)
• Election of the profiles (XFOIL)
• Calculation of the air intakes (XFOIL)
• Reinforcements in leading edge
• Model 3D of the wing (CAD)
• Subroutine of flat development of the panels (Fortran)
• Law of ovalization on the panels (CAD, but I will incorporate it to Fortran)
• Study of the longitudinal equilibrium of paraglider (subroutines Fortran, spreadsheets, and analysis of other paragliders)
• Calculation of suspension lines (subroutines in Fortran and CAD)
• Model 3D of whole paraglider (CAD)
• Calculation and drawing of internal charge straps (subroutine Fortran)
• Delineation of planes (CAD)

License: The planes are under license type GNU General Public Licence 2.0 employee in free software  http://www.gnu.org . With this type of license, anyone is free to copy the code (=planes), to study it, to modify it, and to distribute it, with the only condition for maintaining the license GPL, for putting in public domain the introduced modifications, and for naming the authors of each version.


Fig 1. Model 3D


Fig 2. Detail model 3D. Very basic model, but with tecnology of internal load straps (in grey).


Fig 3. Upper view


Fig 4. Lateral view

The 32 planes in format .png:

	01. Index and general data
	02. Plant
	03. Front view
	04-01. Profiles
	04-02
	04-03
	04-04
	04-05
	04-06
	04-07
	04-08
	05-01. Panels
	05-02
	05-03
	05-04
	05-05
	05-06
	05-07
	05-08
	05-09
	05-10
	05-11
	05-12
	05-13
	05-14
	05-15
	05-16
	05-17
	06-01. Mylars reinforcements in leading edge
	06-02. Internal load straps
	07. Lines
	08. Model 3D