Gradient Aspen
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Aspen
| image=File:GradientAspen2.jpg
| caption=Aspen 2
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type=[[Paraglider]]
| national origin=[[Czech Republic]]
| manufacturer=[[Gradient sro]]
| designer=
| first flight=
| introduced=2003
| retired=
| status=In production (2016)
| primary user=
| more users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
| produced= 2003-present
| program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
| unit cost= [[Euro|€]]2,567 (Aspen 26, 2004)
| developed from=
| variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Gradient Aspen''' is a [[Czech Republic|Czech]] single-place, [[paraglider]] designed and produced by [[Gradient sro]] of [[Prague]]. Introduced in 2003, it remained in production in 2016 as the Aspen 5.<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 19. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>
==Design and development==
The Aspen was designed as an intermediate sport glider.<ref name="WDLA04" />
The design has progressed through five generations of models, the Aspen, Aspen 2, 3, 4 and 5, each improving on the last. The models are each named for their approximate wing area in square metres.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
<!-- ==Operational history== -->
==Variants==
;Aspen 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.57|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|22.62|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the [[Aspect ratio (aeronautics)|aspect ratio]] is 5.58:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|70|to|85|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Aspen 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|12.12|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|26.24|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.58:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|80|to|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Aspen 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.64|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|29.30|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.58:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|90|to|120|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Aspen 3 22
:Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.35|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|21.87|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 60 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|65|to|75|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C2 certified and has a [[glide ratio]] of 9:1.<ref name="Aspen3">{{cite web|url = http://www.gradient.cx/en/Aspen3/tech|title = Aspen 3 Technical Data|accessdate = 28 May 2016|author = [[Gradient sro]]|date = }}</ref>
;Aspen 3 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.87|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|23.90|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 60 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|70|to|85|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C2 certified and has a glide ratio of 9:1.<ref name="Aspen3"/>
;Aspen 3 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|12.40|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|26.03|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 60 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|80|to|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C2 certified and has a glide ratio of 9:1.<ref name="Aspen3"/>
;Aspen 3 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.90|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|28.24|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 60 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|90|to|115|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C2 certified and has a glide ratio of 9:1.<ref name="Aspen3"/>
;Aspen 3 30
:Extra large-sized model for much heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.55|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|31.14|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 60 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.9:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|105|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C2 certified and has a glide ratio of 9:1.<ref name="Aspen3"/>
;Aspen 4 22
:Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.50|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|22.06|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 62 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.99:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|67|to|80|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C certified and has a glide ratio of 10:1.<ref name="Aspen4">{{cite web|url = http://www.gradient.cx/en/Aspen4/tech|title = Aspen 4 Technical Data|accessdate = 28 May 2016|author = [[Gradient sro]]|date = }}</ref>
;Aspen 4 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|12.02|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|24.10|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 62 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.99:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|75|to|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C certified and has a glide ratio of 10:1.<ref name="Aspen4"/>
;Aspen 4 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|12.46|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|25.94|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 62 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.99:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|85|to|105|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C certified and has a glide ratio of 10:1.<ref name="Aspen4"/>
;Aspen 4 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.92|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|27.86|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 62 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.99:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|95|to|115|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C certified and has a glide ratio of 10:1.<ref name="Aspen4"/>
;Aspen 4 30
:Extra large-sized model for much heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.50|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|30.42|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 62 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.99:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|105|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF-C certified and has a glide ratio of 10:1.<ref name="Aspen4"/>
;Aspen 5 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|12.63|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|23.30|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 64 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|77|to|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN-C certified.<ref name="Aspen5">{{cite web|url = http://www.gradient.cx/en/Aspen5/tech|title = Aspen 5 Technical Data|accessdate = 28 May 2016|author = [[Gradient sro]]|date = }}</ref>
;Aspen 5 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|12.12|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|25.50|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 64 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|85|to|103|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN-C certified.<ref name="Aspen5"/>
;Aspen 5 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.17|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|27.74|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 64 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|98|to|118|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN-C certified.<ref name="Aspen5"/>
<!-- ==Aircraft on display== -->
==Specifications (Aspen 26) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bertrand<ref name="WDLA04" />
|prime units?=met<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=12.12
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=26.24
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=5.58
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|more general=
<!--
Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=50
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=<!-- at {{convert|XX|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} -->
|sink rate ms=1.0
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=<!-- at {{convert|XX|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} -->
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Gradient Aspen}}
*{{Official website|http://www.gradient.cx/enAspen5}}
{{Gradient aircraft}}
[[Category:Gradient aircraft|Aspen]]
[[Category:Paragliders]]