Gradient Golden
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Golden
| image=
| caption=
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type=[[Paraglider]]
| national origin=[[Czech Republic]]
| manufacturer=[[Gradient sro]]
| designer=
| first flight=
| introduced=
| retired=
| status=In production (Golden 4, 2016)
| primary user=
| more users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
| produced=
| program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
| unit cost= [[Euro|€]]2,270 (Golden 26, 2004)
| developed from=
| variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Gradient Golden''' is a [[Czech Republic|Czech]] single-place, [[paraglider]] designed and produced by [[Gradient sro]] of [[Prague]]. Originally produced in the mid-2000s, it was still in production in 2016 as the Golden 4.<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 Golden was designed as an intermediate glider and is the manufacturer's best selling model. The models are each named for their approximate wing area in square metres.<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="Golden4">{{cite web|url=http://www.gradient.cx/en/Golden4|title=Gradient Golden 4|work=[[Gradient sro]]|accessdate=2 June 2016}}</ref>
The Golden 4 is made from Porcher Marine Everlast fabric.<ref name="Golden4"/>
<!-- ==Operational history== -->
==Variants==
;Golden 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.34|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|24.28|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 42 cells and the [[Aspect ratio (aeronautics)|aspect ratio]] is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|65|to|85|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Golden 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11.93|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|26.86|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|75|to|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Golden 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.52|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|29.58|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|85|to|110|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Golden 30
:Extra large-sized model for much heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.02|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|31.99|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 42 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|100|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 1-2 certified.<ref name="WDLA04"/>
;Golden 3 22
:Extra small-sized model for very light pilots. Its {{convert|10.96|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|22.40|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.37:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|62|to|77|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B/1-2 certified and has a [[glide ratio]] of 8.5:1.<ref name="gradient.cx1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gradient.cx/en/Golden3/tech|title=Gradient Golden 3 Technical Data|work=[[Gradient sro]]|accessdate=2 June 2016}}</ref>
;Golden 3 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.44|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|24.37|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.37:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|75|to|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B/1-2 certified and has a glide ratio of 8.5:1.<ref name="gradient.cx1"/>
;Golden 3 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11.88|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|26.54|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.37:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|85|to|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B/1-2 certified and has a glide ratio of 8.5:1.<ref name="gradient.cx1"/>
;Golden 3 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.46|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|29.92|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.37:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|95|to|115|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B/1-2 certified and has a glide ratio of 8.5:1.<ref name="gradient.cx1"/>
;Golden 3 30
:Extra large-sized model for much heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.96|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|31.28|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 50 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.37:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|110|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B/1-2 certified and has a glide ratio of 8.5:1.<ref name="gradient.cx1"/>
;Golden 4 22
:Extra small-sized model for very light pilots. Its {{convert|10.89|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|22.42|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|62|to|77|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.<ref name="gradient.cx">{{cite web|url=http://www.gradient.cx/en/Golden4/tech|title=Gradient Golden 4 Technical Data|work=[[Gradient sro]]|accessdate=2 June 2016}}</ref>
;Golden 4 24
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|11.35|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|24.40|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|75|to|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.<ref name="gradient.cx"/>
;Golden 4 26
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|11.86|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|26.57|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|85|to|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.<ref name="gradient.cx"/>
;Golden 4 28
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.38|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|28.95|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|95|to|115|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.<ref name="gradient.cx"/>
;Golden 4 30
:Extra large-sized model for much heavier pilots. Its {{convert|12.88|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|31.30|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 51 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.3:1. The takeoff weight range is {{convert|100|to|130|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is EN/LTF B certified.<ref name="gradient.cx"/>
<!-- ==Aircraft on display== -->
==Specifications (Golden 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=11.93
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=26.86
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=5.3:1
|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=1.1
|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==
*{{Official website|http://www.gradient.cx/en/Golden4}}
{{Gradient aircraft}}
[[Category:Gradient aircraft|Golden]]
[[Category:Paragliders]]