Description
Snake is designed for experienced pilots excelling in slalom tasks, or those just loving dynamic manouevres and rapid speed changes.
As standard it is fitted with 2D steering and PA system (Power Attack, also known as the Paap Kolar system).
Basic difference between Snake and Hadron is profile geometry that can be altered with trimmers, speed and Power Attack system, like it was in the Nucleon and Plasma.
At 5,9 aspect ratio its 59 cells look relatively modest, allowing for easy inflation and perfect internal pressure distribution. Synthetic rods on its leading edge (Flexi Edge Technology) bring considerably better launch characteristics and stability at high speeds.
The paraglider has the SL rigging (mostly sheathed lines, with some bare threads in the upper gallery).
2D steering system (featured as standard) is well known to the competitors, who have been using it with sport version of the rigging in some of our paragliders. It consists of two main steering going out of one handle, i.e. inner line, led through the pulley and affecting middle 2/3 of the trailing edge, and the outer one (outside of the pulley), connected directly to the outer 1/3 of the canopy.
Due to such division, experienced pilot can modify steering progression according to his own preferences. Everything depends on the pilot’s wit and experience. Those, for whom the Snake is intended, will be able to customize the steering system to their own liking.
Although Snake was designed as retaining features of the classic paraglider, use of the reflex airfoil added a couple of new traits. First of all, reflex airfoil means that stability of the canopy is no longer tied to the pilot only. The paraglider remains stable, rising or sinking when passing through lift or turbulence it stays over pilot’s head and does not require any action.
Action of the trimmer and speed systems brings lowering of the attack angle and uplifting the trailing edge, resulting in reduction of projected surface and chord of the wing by ca. 15%. This in turn increases paraglider’s wingload and speed. Accompanying forward travel of the centre of pressure adds better longitudinal stability. Such a change of loads makes the Snake collapse-resistant and simultaneously increases its projected aspect ratio, thus increasing its performance too (especially at high speeds).
Reduced reflexivity of the Snake with closed trimmers is at least partly compensated by its reduced size as related to maximum take-off weight, resulting with increased load factor.
Snake, as all other paragliders by Dudek is manufactured wholly in Europe, at our Polish production plant. In addition to our standing policy "quality first", this allows the designer to directly control complicated production process (Laser technology) from the very beginning to the very end.
Snake’s canopy features Dudek Flexi Egde technology. Precise shape of the leading edge is closed to airflow, and its precise shape is guarded by reinforcements of laminated cloth combined with synthetic rods, which significantly improve launch performance and protect the paraglider against collapses at high speeds.
Entire body of the Snake was designed under our CSG (Canopy Shape Guard) system, comprised of many subsystems resulting in exceptional coherence and durability of the canopy.
The Snake has an elliptical planform with slightly rearward swept tips. The cells are divided with ribs additionally supported by diagonal VSS (V-shaped supports) system. Such arrangement ensures a smooth top surface, exact aerofoil reproduction across the entire wingspan and yet more importantly,
minimal number of suspension points.
The lower surface features RSS (Reinforcing Strap System) applied in the wing’s interior. RSS is an ballooning-independent reinforcements system, made entirely of paragliding fabric, stiffening and stabilizing entire canopy structure.
Most of all, the CSG oversees three key factors:
- it forms the canopy, so that its shape remains as close to design as possible, with equally distributed loads. Lack of attention here would result in irregular surface with balloons instead of flat cells (unfortunately, stil quite a frequent sight, even on wings of ‘renowned’ manufacturers).
- CSG stabilizes canopy in flight. Not a single pilot likes to see his wing moving like an accordion, especially as it does significantly hamper its performance.
- CSG improves durability of the paraglider. Simple designs fairly quickly pay for locally accumulated stress with deformations – the most dangerous are those visible as lateral faults on the upper surface between suspension line rows. With the Nucleon Cabrio WRC that danger is practically eliminated.
Snake’s aerofoil is another product of our DRA (Dudek Reflex Airfoil) technology. It was calculated with our previous experiences in mind and thoroughly tested with numerical methods. It is a full bred reflex profile, with accordign characteristics.
Areas close to suspension points are reinforced with laminated cloth, and the cloads are equally distributed on three planes: vertical (through the ribs), diagonal through the VSS system and level through the RSS.
All crossports have been prepared using OCD (Optimised Crossports Design) technology. Carefully designed shapes of the openings and their optimal placement between stress lines guarantee very efficient pressure distribution in the canopy and its quick inflation. These openings are scaled together with the ribs, so that their replicability is flawless and they do not disturb the aerofoil in any way.
Snake is manufactured in new technology, utilising capabilities of precise laser cutter. The enitre production process takes place in Poland under strict supervision of the designer, ensuring highest European quality.
The upper surface is made of Dominico Tex, 41 g/m2 weight.
The lower surface sports the same cloth, but weighing 34 g/m2
Ribs are made of Dominico Tex 41 Hard.
Reinforcements of the suspesion points and the leading edge use Porcher SR-Scrim cloth.
Almost all suspension lines have coloured polyester sheath, with but a few of them unsheathed. Due to low number of lines we’ve made sure they are strong enough by choosing brown Technora inner core. In this way rigging remains strong and reliable.
All quick-links between risers and suspension lines are made of polished stainless-steel, with proven durability and resistance to corrosion. We use exclusively the attested quicklinks of French Peguet company.
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