Nucleon

Description

Fot. Iwona Dudek

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.

What you need is a top-drawer paraglider; a canopy that will be safe and stable both at top and low speeds, with efficient trimmers and speed systems (each of them increasing your speed over 10 km/h), sensitive controls capable of rapid 180's even when you are storming over 50 km/h with 30 m2 of cloth over your head. On top of that it has to be robust, so that high loads connected with aggressive PPG flying will not deform your wing after the first 150 hours.

Looks like a pipe dream?
Don't worry, the anti-drug team won't be sniffing around you - The Nucleon is real 

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).
Nucleon is certified EN, LTF, DULV and EAPR (see Technical Data and Download sections).
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.

NEW! WRC version available!

For 2012 season there is a lifting of the Nucleon available, created primarily for the competitors. The WRC version (With Rod Concept) incorporates Dudek Flexi Egde technology.

Some minor modifications in the design (improving curvature among others) caused the wing to be more agile. Exchanging mylar reinforcements for elastic rods (as in other our recent designs: Hadron, Optic, Colt, Orca2) results in easier inflation and stiffens the leading edge. Increased speed ranges are another advantage of that improvement.
Those modifications should be welcomed especially by the competitors, seeking both for faultless launches and agility. Unfortunately despite relatively minor changes,  Nucleon WRC is not covered by the certificate issued for standard version. Anybody wishing to use certified paraglider will have to stay with regular Nucleons, which due to constant demand will remain in production for the foreseeable future.

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:

1. 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").
2. It stabilizes the canopy in flight. Any wing that behaves like an accordion is detested by pilots and suffers fatal losses in performance.
3. 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.

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. Now we have our own Dudek Smart Pulley

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.

Trim usage information:

Note!

On leaving the factory, paraglider risers are equipped with a plastic buckle blocking trimmer use. As such, the paraglider conforms to the EN norm. However, if you want to get that additional angle of attack regulation, all you have to do is move the buckle toward black loop which pulls the trimmer in. Remember still, the paraglider was NOT certified in any other configuration than fully closed trims. Plastic buckle allows you to restore the certified canopy version in any moment.
All details concerning full trimmer range option can be found in the manual.

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.

Data

Nazwa - rozmiar	23	25	27	29	31	34
Certification EN	pending	C	C	C	C	C
Certification LTF						C
Certification DULV		Advanced	Advanced	Advanced
Certification EAPR			yes	yes
Number of cells	62
Surface area (flat) [m2]	23,00	25,00	27,00	29,00	31,00	34,00
Surface area (projected) [m2]	19,58	21,28	22,99	24,69	26,39	28,95
Span (flat) [m]	11,14	11,62	12,07	12,51	12,94	13,55
Span (projected)	8,93	9,31	9,68	10,03	10,37	10,86
Aspect ratio (flat)	5,40
Aspect ratio (projected)	4,07
Sink rate [m/s]	min = 1,1 ; trim = 1,2-2,0 ; max = 3,0
Speed [km/h]	min = 23 ; trim = 37-50 ; max = 62
Max cord [cm]	245,69	256,15	266,20	275,88	285,23	298,72
Minimum cord [cm]	49,14	51,23	53,24	55,18	57,05	59,74
Distance pilot to wing [cm]	713,25	743,62	772,79	800,90	828,05	867,20
Total lines lenght [m]	375,67	391,67	407,03	421,84	436,14	456,76
Weight range* EN/LTF [kg]	65-80	75-95	90-110	100-130	120-145	140-175
Weight range* DGAC [kg]	65-90	75-115	90-130	100-150	120-165	140-195
Weight range* EAPR [kg]			100-125	120-150		156-195
Load test at 8G [kg]	154				190	213
Weight of the wing [kg]	-	6,6	6,9	7,3	7,8	8,2
Lines	Technora 1,2 & 1,3 & 1,5 & 1,8 & 2,3
Fabric	SkyTex Evolution 40 g/m2 SkyTex Classic 40 g/m2 SkyTex Hard 40 g/m2 SR Scrim, SR Laminate 180 g/m2

* include equipment: empty engine (without fuel), harness, wing and pilot itself

Colours/Photos

To see one of the colour schemes just click one of the icons below:

Other colours for special order

Download

Leaflet

Certificates

Certificates EN/C:
Dudek Paragliders Nucleon 25
Dudek Paragliders Nucleon 27
Dudek Paragliders Nucleon 29
Dudek Paragliders Nucleon 31
Dudek Paragliders Nucleon 34

Certificates DULV:

Nucleon-25-dulv.pdf
Nucleon-27-dulv.pdf
Nucleon-29-dulv.pdf

Certificates LTF:

Zertifikat_Nucleon_34s.pdf

Certificates EAPR:

Nucleon 27
 Nucleon 29

Manual

 English version
 German version

Logo

 Corel Draw 11 (.cdr) 21.91 KB
 Corel Draw 5 (.cdr) 19.70 KB
 JPG (.jpg) 20.38 KB
 Windows metafile (.wmf) 6.64 KB
 Acrobat Reader (.pdf) 4.01 KB
 Adobe Illustrator (.ai) 12.11 KB

Passive safety test

More about REFLEX PROFILE

Video

Highlights

Pilots flying Nucleon have been taking top places in competitions and breaking many records, with more to come.

Competitions:

• 1st - Mika Schwach (FIN) - Finnish Paramotor Open 2011 (PF1)
• 1st - Ben Moers (BE) -Belgian Paramotor Open 2011 (PL1) - Nucleon 34
• 3rd - Michel Carnet (GB) - Belgian Paramotor Open 2011 (PF1) - Nucleon 31
• 2nd - David Muzellec - Belgian Paramotor Open 2011 (PF1) - Nucleon 31
• 1st - Michel Carnet (GB) - Czech Paramotor Open 2011 (PF1) - Nucleon 31
• 2nd - Paul Jackson (RSA) - Barberton Pyramid Open 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 27
• 3rd - Jorg Maas (DE) - Czech Paramotor Open 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 25
• 1st - Alfonso Redondo (ESP) - Spain Paramotor Champs 2010 (PL1) - Nucleon
• 3rd - Jose Maria Sola (ESP) - Spain Paramotor Champs 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon
• 1st - David Musellec (FR) - British Open Championships 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 31
• 2nd - Raido Paimre (EST) - Estonian Open Championship 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 29
• 1st - Raido Paimre (EST) - Baltic Open Championship 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 29
• 1st - Laura Turner (GB) - British Paramotor League 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon
• 2nd - David Muzellec (FRA) - French Open 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 31
• 2nd - Raido Paimre (EST) - Estonian Open Cup 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 29
• 2nd - Mantas Sakaitis (LT) - Lithuanian Open Championship 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 27
• 3rd - Raido Paimre (EST) - Lithuanian Open Championship 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 29
• 1st - Raido Paimre (EST) - Finnish Open Championship 2010 (PF1) - Nucleon 29
• 1st - Tomek Kudaszewicz - World Paramotor Championships 2009 (PL1) - Nucleon 29
• 1st. - Michel Carnet - World Paramotor Championships 2009 (PF1) - Nucleon 31

see details >>

Records:

• Michel Carnet (GB) - Speed over a straight 15/25 km course (RPF1Tm) - 75.0 km/h - Nucleon 25
• Michel Carnet (GB) - Speed over a closed circuit of 50 km without landing (RPF1Tm) - 72.8 km/h - Nucleon 25
• Peter Schulz (GER) - Speed over a closed circuit of 500 km (RPF1Tm) - 52.06 km/h - Nucleon

• Peter Schulz (GER) - Distance over a closed circuit without landing (RPF1Tm) - 504.2 km - Nucleon
• Henrik Jacobus Theron (RSA) - Distance over a closed circuit without landing (RPL1T) - 207.8 km - Nucleon
• Edina Sz. Koleszár (HUN) - Distance in a closed circuit with limited fuel (RPF1Tf) - 130.3 km - Nucleon 23
• Edina Sz. Koleszár (HUN) - Distance over a closed circuit without landing (RPF1Tf) - 130.3 km - Nucleon 23
• Michel Carnet (GB) - Distance in a closed circuit with limited fuel (RPF1Tm) - 127.7 km/h - Nucleon
• Laura Turner (GB) - Speed over a straight 15/25 km course - 56.92 km/h - Nucleon
• Tomek Kudaszewicz (PL) - Precision Circuit in the Shortest Time ("Clover leaf Slalom") - 52,235 s - Nucleon 29
• Michel Carnet (GB) - Speed over a closed circuit of 100 km without landing (RPF1Tm) - 51.9 km/h - Nucleon 29

see details >>

Reviews

If you would like to share you opinion on the paraglider, please send a couple of words to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Your thoughts will be published on our website.

 Nucleon review in Paramotor Magazine 20

Nucleon review in Ojovolador.com: http://www.ojovolador.com/eng/read/tests/nucleon/
Here the same in Spain: http://www.ojovolador.com/es/lee/tests/nucleon/