| You've been flying paramotors for some time
now. You know and appreciate performance & safety qualities of reflex profile wings.
Even if you just fly as an amateur, you are willing to try something more than
para-parking in the vicinity of the landing field. Long, lonely routes are as attractive
as your wish to compare yourself against world's best pilots in international competition
or trying to establish some new record. You are not afraid of flying in strong thermals,
and agility tasks close to the ground are fun too. The
Nucleon is an Action/ReAction class paraglider, yet designed around a different idea
(proven in Synthesis and Plasma). The new concept assumes linear characteristics of
acceleration (equally shared between trims and speed system) and limited reflexivity at
slow trim settings. It is accompanied by a number of new features, intensively tested
since 2007 and introduced to mass production for the first time.
As a result we have a 100% reflex PPG paraglider with great
performance and outstanding safety (comparable to the already legendary ReAction),
presenting handling similar to classic paragliders (at low speeds).
The Nucleon takes off perfectly, rising fast and clean after an easy inflation. In
favourable conditions inflation is possible with body movement only, without the need to
hold the risers in your hands.
DESIGN FEATURES
- The Nucleon incorporates a number of proven and
some novel features improving flight comfort and performance. A set of design tools called
Canopy Shape Guard effectively stiffens the wing along its entire span, practically
eliminating any lateral canopy movement.
CSG oversees
three crucial factors:
It forms the canopy so
that it becomes a shape as close to the original design as possible, with equally
distributed tension. No more irregular shape and bulging cells! (sadly, still quite often
noticed on paragliders from some "leading companies").
- It makes the canopy durable. It is widely known that PPG
pilots are keen on overloading their wings, seeking more speed and stability. Initially it
works, but soon deformations of excessively loaded fabric do occur. The most dangerous
ones can be seen as lateral folds on the wing's upper surface, located between suspension
line rows. With the Nucleon that danger is practically eliminated.
CSG consists
of several subsystems:
- VS (V-shaped Supports) - densely placed
diagonal supports bolster each rib on both sides (most wings have only one-sided
supports). Their size and shape make sure that no lateral folds will occur - a vital point
in preserving laminar airflow.
- RSS (Reinforcing Strap System) - an
independent reinforcement net on lower surface, strengthening and stiffening the whole
canopy.
- OCD (Optimized Crossports Design) - The
intercellar openings have carefully designed shapes and are optimally placed between
stress lines in the ribs.
- CCS (Closed Cell Structure) - This is a
number of closed cells in the most important places. Its goal is to hinder the backflow
from the cells out, thus facilitating their refill and canopy recovery in case of a
collapse.
The only CSG flaws are the increase in weight (about 1 kg),
material- and labour consumption, and of course overall cost. Yet it is well worth the
sweat, as in turn we get a no-compromise product of highest performance and quality, able
to keep its original parameters for a long, long time.
ALC -The Nucleon is our first paraglider
equipped as standard with ALC, an alternative control system. The new system replaces
previous TST, and is based on a solution developed by Michel Carnet on his ReAction since
2007, at the World Championship in China.
ALC allows for aggressive, yet effortless, turns on full
speed without influencing its reflex aerofoil. It is especially important in the case of
bigger canopies, inherently haunted by significant steering forces and low agility.
The new steering component is a red ball, easily positioned to fit various harness
hang-points and personal preferences. In addition, the ALC ball and line are routed in
such a way to be easy to use without the risk of entanglement with risers or other parts.
Of course you can use just the standard brakes if you wish, ignoring the ALC ball.
The current version of ALC is honed to perfection by long
trials of numerous designs. All signs show that it will soon become a standard in
alternative PPG control systems.
Effective brakes. Classic steering with
brakes has been redesigned too, rendering it even more effective than in our earlier
paragliders. The Nucleon's brakes work even at fastest trim and speed settings, while at
slow speeds their action is simply perfect.
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. TEA balances the
torque by adjusting the length of some wingtip lines, and it can be adjusted to match you
specific combination of paramotor/propeller. Simple to use, effective and easy to toggle
on & off in the air.
NEW! - Ball-bearing pulleys.
As a first world company we have decided to use ball-bearing pulleys as standard on our
paragliders, in order to minimize speed-system friction.
NEW! - Speed system cord. Our current speed system cord is a new, thick-woven pattern. It does
not fray, does not stretch and perfectly fits our new pulleys.
Brake handles. Our new brake handles
feature a new look, they swivel, with Easy Keeper (docking system using strong neodymium
magnets) and finally, with TCT (Triple Comfort Toggle) - an easy conversion from hard
through medium to soft brake handles.
Note: When ordering Nucleon it would be prudent to state propeller's turn
direction (looking from behind toward flight) and harness hangpoints (high or low).
Knowing these facts we will be able to prepare risers beforehand (the torque eliminating
TEA line will be placed accordingly, as well as steering balls and handles).
If we don't have any information, paraglider is configured for low hangpoints (ALC and
steering lines) and clockwise propeller (TEA). Please make sure this is your
configuration, or change the setup according to your needs. |