Design and purpose
The Snake 3 is a challenging slalom wing for top competitors. Very fast and dynamic turns with exceptional resistance to collapses.
The design and testing process lasted a record 5 years. It took so much time and effort to meet the design goals while keeping the self-imposed principle of “no compromises”.
During this time, Snake 3 was extensively tested by the world’s best slalom pilots. They achieved excellent results, often winning the PF1 and PL1 classes.
The Snake 3 is recommended for pilots already familiar with at least DriftAir-class, or more demanding wings. Experienced pilots will appreciate the Snake 3 as an advanced and precise tool to help them win competitions.
SEE MOVIEConstruction
Snake 3 is structurally derived from DriftAir, but its parameters are similar to its predecessor – Snake XX. Here are the most important new design elements:
- LE3D on the leading edge
- new aerodynamic profile
- modified aspect ratio
- new risers with greater range of speed system operation
- modified rigging
- optimization of the attachment points distribution (fixing suspension lines to the canopy)
- change of attachment points for the brake lines
Leading Edge 3D system enables a better real representation of the aerodynamic profile and reduces the amount of wrinkles on the fabric in the most important place in terms of lift and air resistance.
Rigging modifications increase trailing edge stability at high speeds. These elements, together with a carefully selected profile and aspect ratio, create a coherent structure meeting all the design goals.
More construction details
- Shark-nose (SN) on the leading edge takes care of better aerodynamics of this part of the canopy, as well as higher inner pressure at wide range of the attack angles (meaning airspeed).
- The leading edge is stiffened with synthetic rods of the FET (Flexi Edge Technology), distinctly improving launch quality and guarding against collapses at high speeds.
- In addition Leading Edge 3D system enables a better real representation of the aerodynamic profile and reduces the amount of wrinkles on the fabric in the most important place in terms of lift and air resistance.
- The design features also other effective methods of canopy loads distribution, mediated by most modern sewing technologies.
- Four rows of suspension lines are joined at the risers, equipped with compact yet very efficient tools like trimmers, speed and Power Attack (PA) system.
- Steering system of the DriftAir is our well known, original solution of 2D steering, this time with new adjustable CHR handle, combining features of both the TCT and TST (Tip Steering Toggle).
- As per our standard, the risers are equipped with three optional positions for the steering pulleys and magnets to choose from. Thanks to all these features, steering operation is straightforward and intuitive.
- Obviously, in some powerpack/canopy configurations considerable amount of torque can appear. To counter this, there is proven in our Warp an automatic TEA system (Torque Effect Adjuster). It works on its own after placing the line on proper side, depending on the torque direction.
- Due to the small number of lines, they were carefully selected to obtain the lowest possible air resistance, while ensuring high strength and resistance to stretching. The upper layer lines, attached to the wing’s suspension points are unsheathed, in the lower layers we use regular sheathed lines.
Snake 3 is manufactured entirely in Europe, at our Polish plant, so that we have total control over its sophisticated production process (using among else the advanced LT (Laser Technology) cutting.
Design solutions, technologies and other functionalities are listed below in the Technologies section.
Construction Solution LE3D - Leading Edge 3D
EK - Easy Keeper
Indigenous way to hold the brake handles at the risers that keeps them firmly in place, while both attaching and releasing goes smoothly and easily. Used in most of our handles (TCT, ACT, SCT).
World is in constant progress. Paraglider design is no different. Accumulating years of experience we arrived at a number of proven solutions…
DRA - Dudek Reflex Airfoil
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DRA – Dudek Reflex Airfoil -applied in PPG wings fully autostabilised arofoil, based on long years of research and experience. In our variant we managed to get rid of typical flaws associated with these aerofoils.
Simply put, it is an aerofoil which – in case of decreased angle of attack – automatically tends to have it increased again. In other words, it always stays in neutral position regarding its load. On drawings it’s an aerofoil that has its tail turned upwards
Dudek Optimized Airfoil It incorporates all our experiences stemming form previous designs and as a special feature is optimized with dedicated engineering software.
P&R - Push & Relax Technology
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Push&Relax technology – PPG canopies marked with this symbol demonstrate exceptionally stable flight on full speed bar, that is at high speeds.
Why stability at high speeds is so important?
In free-flying speedbar is used time to time, most often as a radical measure to escape from sink area or as a defence against being blown back into lee. Still, there are many pilots who do not use speed bar at all. That’s why designers so far paid little attention to paragliders stability in such configuration. On the contrary, in PPG flying a speed bar is used commonly. It is only a pilot who decides the route, not the thermals location or terrain characteristics. It is nothing uncommon when a pilot takes off, opens the trimmers, engages speed system and gets on an umpty kilometers route. In such case lack of stability and comfort would be really distressing.
How does lack of stability manifest itself?
Good stability of your canopy can be compared to proper balancing wheels in your car. When you drive slowly, this is not much of a problem, but the faster you drive the more evident vibration you get. Badly stabilized canopy will move accordion-style, quiver and resonate, causing pilot to be afraid of using speed system (and rightly so).
Why the canopy becomes unstable?
It’s really all about balancing – a canopy can be trusted when the tensions run evenly all along its surface. While great majority of designers take pains to make sure their paragliders are evenly tensioned at trim speed, they are neglecting stability at max speed. That’s a big mistake since increased ram effect, air pressure inside the wing and increased lift in individual areas can drastically alter distribution of loads and tensions. If it was not taken into account, the paraglider will quiver and behave accordion-wise.
How did we succeed in effective stabilising the canopy?
Push&Relax Technology is centered around fully reflex aerofoil. Basically that’s why it is tuck-resistant and self stabilizing in all directions. Still, just using the reflex aerofoil is not enough. Structure of inner reinforcements, precise shape of individual surface panels tensioning all aerodynamical surfaces together with leading and trailing edges have to be carefully combined, so that canopy will remain properly tensioned not only at 40 km/h, but also at 60. In order to succeed you have to include research, a lot of trials, sophisticated software and first of all huge practical experience.
We did all of that and even more. In effect when flying Dudek paragliders marked with Push&Relax Technology sign you can safely put the pedal to the metal and enjoy fast flight.
Makes possible to have your brake handles as you like them, in stiff or soft configuration. Used in older models of wings.