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Dudek Drift Air

Dudek Drift Air

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DriftAir
Paramotor / Free style

DriftAir

DriftAir, as its name suggests, is a wing for pilots preferring freestyle, dynamic PPG flying, those who want to fly slaloms, or just for people willing their cross-country to be fast and fun.

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Design and purpose

DriftAir is a safe paraglider for well-qualified pilots, aiming at active recreation or moderate level of competing. Most of all, the DriftAir is ideally suited for multi-canopies formation flying, requiring dynamic manoeuvering and spectacular acceleration. It is a solid vehicle for covering the ground, too. And, with its agility it will prove great at slalom tasks, or just flying curves for pleasure.

It launches flawlessly and easy, smoothly rising up. Does not stay behind, even with trimmers set at slow and nil wind. In flight it remains stable, while demonstrating intuitive steering, agility and effective lift.

Reflex airfoil of DriftAir slightly varies depending on trim setting, yet the speed system can be safely used throughout entire trimmer range. When cutting through lift or turbulence the canopy stays over your head with only slight nicking, so it doesn’t require your constant attention.

Exceptionally wide choice of DriftAir’s sizes – as many as 7! – will allow each pilot to find precisely his optimal weight range.

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Design

DriftAir is a cousin of the acclaimed Snake 1.2, but apart from the planform and flat aspect ratio, all other features are new, from the airfoil and way of its modification, through risers, to the brake handles. As a result we get an evolution on the verge of revolution – huge potential of this kind of designs appear optimally used in case of the DriftAir, while retaining large safety margin, always a priority for us.

  • 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.
  • 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 TCT+ handle (Triple Comfort Toggle), 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.
  • The canopy has the SL rigging (Sheathed Lines – meaning most of the lines are sheathed, with only some at the canopy unsheathed). The colours are assigned according to PMA standards.

DriftAir 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.

Airtakes designed and executed in Shark-nose technology meaning specific, concave shape of the reinforced profile area at its leading edge (the name comes form the very shape, reminding shark’s nose).


DRA - Dudek Reflex Airfoil

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.


CSG - Canopy Shape Guard

CSG – Canopy Shape Guard – is our unique system controlling canopy coherence. It is because of this system that our wings are equally tensioned, smooth, stable and… simply remarkable.


LR - Laser Technology

Capabilities of the laser cutter allow for serial cutting of complicated shape narrow elements in large numbers, their optimal placing in relation to structure of the textile and highest possible precision of cut.


FET - Flexi Edge Technology

The leading edge is closed to the airflow, and its precise shape is kept with laminated cloth reinforcements, incorporating synthetic rods. The rods make the leading edge stiffer and smoother, bringing improvements in many areas – from easier inflation, through stiffening the canopy in flight to improved general airflow.


MR - Mini-Ribs

Mini ribs speak for themselves – they are additionally introduced in the trailing edge between main ribs. Their task is to decrease ballooning (expanding and deformation of the cells) in this vital area af the aerofoil.

Keeping the rear part in shape reduces the drag induced behind trailing edge, thus improving general airflow and increasing airspeed.


ACS - Auto Cleaning Slots

Dedicated slots automatically removing dirt from the wing tips.


TCT - Triple Comfort Toggle

An easy conversion from hard through medium to soft brake handles. Equippped with a swivel adn Easy Keeper.
Available standard (bigger) and short (smaller) versions.


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).


TR - Trimmers

A trimming system for additional angle of attack regulation. Used mainly in PPG wings.
This system features replaceable trim straps. After prolonged or intensive operation they need to be replaced, as they get damaged by buckle edges.


SS - Speed System

A system of lines and pulleys sewn to the appropriate straps, connected to the bar hanging under the harness. It enables smooth adjustment of the angle of attack during the flight.


2D - Steering System

2D system is generally similar to the classic one – pilot has but two main steering handles to steer. However, it’s operation is significantly different.  Due to division of main steering lines (there are two for each side now, with one of them going outside of the pulley), an experienced pilot can modify steering progression according to his own preferences.


ELR - Easy Launch Riser

Split ‘A’ riser makes for easier launch and ‘big ears’.


TEA - Torque Effect Adjuster

The task of this feature is to counteract the effect of engine torque, that tends to make the paraglider turn in the direction opposite to the propeller’s rotation.

 


PA- Power Attack System

The PA (also known as Paap Kolar system) merges speed system with trimmer operation. It is devised only for competitors, understanding its effects and all difficulties involved.

The general idea is simple: pressing the speedbar simultaneously releases the trimmers (and vice versa, releasing speedbar closes the trimmers).

Colours

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Parameters

Weight ranges


TECHNICAL DETAILS

DriftAir 14 15 16 18 20 22 24
Approval – ULM identification yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Number of cells 60
Surface area (flat) [m2] 14.00 15.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00
Surface area (projected) [m2] 12,16 13,02 13,89 15,63 17,36 19,10 20,84
Span (flat) [m] 9,01 9,33 9,63 10,22 10.77 11,30 11.80
Span (projected) [m] 7,35 7,61 7,86 8,33 8,78 9,21 9,62
Aspect Ratio (flat) 5,80
Aspect Ratio (projected) 4,44
Sink rate [m/s] min = 1.2 +/- 0.2
Speed* [km/h] min = 27 ; trim = 42-52 ; max = 68 (+/- 3 km/h)*
Distance pilot to wing [m] 5,41 5,6 5,78 6,13 6,47 6,78 7,08
Total line lenght [m]  244,1 253,07 261,76 278,34 294,03 308,95 323,21
Total take-off weight** [kg]  65 – 85** 70 – 90** 80 – 100** 90 – 110** 100 – 120** 110 – 135** 120 – 150**
Max take-off weight – for experienced*** [kg]  100*** 105*** 115*** 130*** 140*** 155*** 170***
Distance betwen risers [cm]  45 45 45 45 45 45 45
Weight [kg]  3,78  3,94 4,11 4,44 4,77 5,13 5,43
Lines A-8000U: 050; 090 / Technora: 90; 140; 190; 280 / Dyneema: 350
Fabric Porcher Classic 38 g/m2; Dominico tex 34 g/m2; Porcher Hard 40 g/m2; SR Scrim, SR Laminate 180 g/m2

* Speeds are given as estimated for the middle wing size and the middle of its weight range. These speeds can vary within +/- 3 km / h depending on the size, take-off weight and additional factors such as air pressure and temperature.

** The basic rule is to choose the size of the wing so that the take-off weight is in the middle of the weight range. Less weight on the wing (lower range take-off weight) can be considered for foot take-off, when flying in calmer conditions, or when we want to improve economy. More experienced pilots who want to fly dynamically, have higher speed and fly in more demanding wind conditions can consider greater wing loading (take-off weight in the upper range). This is a common option among trike users.

*** Note – the canopy significantly changes its behavior with increasing wing loading. The greater the loads, the greater skill and concentration of the pilot are  required.