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The Aerodyne Jumbe is a series of French single-place and two-place, paragliders that was designed by Michel Le Blanc and produced by Aerodyne Technologies of Talloires.

Design and development

The Jumbe was designed as an intermediate glider, with the five models each named for their relative size. The Jumbe XL is also known as the Shani and can be used for two-place flight training.

The brake travel on the Jumbe was increased over the Spirit and this also increased performance of the design.

Operational history

In a 2003 report, South African paraglider reviewer Jaco Wolmarans describes flying the Jumbe and how he was impressed enough with the design to become a dealer for the company. He evaluated many gliders in use at the time and rated the Jumbe as the best. "When I arrived in Annecy, the shop had only a small Jumbe available, so I took it anyway and flew from the lower launch at Plan Fait. Since it is usually difficult to get up from here, and me being 5kg over the top, I wasn't expecting much so early in the day. In the light conditions, I was not surprised to find myself low over a hill upwind from the landing with not much height left over, but clinging tenaciously to a thermal. A Sky Bronte flying with me earlier had gone down, and the only other traffic was a super-fast UP Gambit, a guy leading an XC course who saw me circling and who came rushing over. We fought bravely, but, well, he landed before me. He landed and apparently muttered to Nicky, who helped me fold the glider (do this in your best French accent): "Djour friend, he flies well!" Imagine my surprise when on my next flight, I went on a little XC jaunt, and found myself low again, on the same hill, with the same UP for company! Poor guy must have felt rotten after that because I outclimbed him by 300m!"

Jumbes were flown by seven pilots in 15 Paragliding World Cup competition races, between March 2007 and June 2010.

Variants

Jumbe XS

Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.1 m (36.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 23.70 m (255.1 sq ft), 55 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1. The pilot weight range is 57 to 68 kg (126 to 150 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 and AFNOR St certified.

Jumbe S

Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its 11.5 m (37.7 ft) span wing has a wing area of 25.30 m (272.3 sq ft), 55 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1. The pilot weight range is 64 to 84 kg (141 to 185 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 and AFNOR St certified.

Jumbe M

Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its 12 m (39.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 27.55 m (296.5 sq ft), 55 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1. The pilot weight range is 82 to 98 kg (181 to 216 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 and AFNOR St certified.

Jumbe L

Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its 12.6 m (41.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 29.90 m (321.8 sq ft), 55 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1. The pilot weight range is 92 to 116 kg (203 to 256 lb). The glider model is DHV 1-2 and AFNOR St certified.

Jumbe XL/Shani

Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots and for lighter two-seat flights. It is also known as the Shani. Its 13.2 m (43.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 33 m (360 sq ft), 55 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.2:1. The pilot weight range is 105 to 150 kg (231 to 331 lb). The glider model is AFNOR St certified.

Specifications (Jumbe M)

Data from Bertrand

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 27.55 m (296.5 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 5.2:1

References

1. ^ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 10. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
2. ^ "Aerodyne Jumbe/Shani". All Aero. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
3. Wolmarans, Jaco (23 June 2003). "Aerodyne Paragliders". home.global.co.za. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
4. "Gliders from this manufacturer in results database". Paragliding World Cup. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

• Aerodyne Technologies aircraft
• Paragliders