Dudek FreeWay User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction .......................................................................................3

2. The wing................................................................................................4

For whom the FreeWay
THE PROJECT
DESIGN
CLOTH
RIGGING
RISERS
SPEED SYSTEM
WHICH HARNESS

3. Flight.....................................................................................................8

PRE-FLIGHT CHECK
LAUNCH
TURNS
THERMALLING AND SOARING
FLYING WITH SPEED SYSTEM ENGAGED
LANDING
WINCHING AND MOTOPARAGLIDING
RAPID DESCENDS
AEROBATICS
WINGOVER
EXTREME FLYING MANOEUVRES

4. Canopy care........................................................................................16

STORAGE
CLEANING
REPAIRS
INSPECTIONS
DETERIORATION: A FEW TIPS!

5. Technical data.....................................................................................18

6. Warranty, AeroCasco..........................................................................19

7. What have you bought........................................................................21

8. Rigging scheme...................................................................................22

9. Risers: design and accessories .........................................................25

Page

NOTE!
Please read this manual before your first flight

Important: Trimmer Tape Lock

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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.

All details concerning full trimmer range option can be found in the manual.
Plastic buckle allows you to restore the certified canopy version in any moment.
In order to move the buckle, you have to loosen the tape - see pictures:

1. INTRODUCTION

CONGRATULATIONS!

We are pleased to welcome you among constantly growing number of
Dudek pilots. The Freeway is a freestyle wing, meaning it’s a paraglider
characterised by nice manageability enabling good pilots to try acro
manoeuvres, while retaining reasonable performance for thermal and
dynamic flight.

Main reason for this wing was to give a pilot something to play with and find
pure piloting pleasure, so we are sure you will make a lot of safe and
enjoyable airtime with it.

DISCLAIMER
Please read this manual carefully and note following details:

+Purpose of this manual is to offer guidelines for pilots using Dudek

FREEWAY wing and it is by no means intended to be used as a
training handbook for this or any other paraglider in general.

+You may only fly a paraglider when qualified to do so or when

undergoing training by an accredited school or instructor.

+Acro flying is dangerous, requiring an expert pilot for successful

performing maneouvres. We advise that you learn acro flying at
specialized school in safe environment.

+Pilots are responsible for their own safety and their paraglider's

airworthiness.

+Use of this paraglider is solely at the user's own risk! Manufacturer and

distributor do not accept any liabilities.

+This paraglider on delivery meets all requirements of the EN-926/1 and

926/2 norms or is certified as airworthy by the manufacturer. Any
alterations to the paraglider will render its certification invalid.

Note

Due to constant perfecting of our designs it is possible that actual paraglider
can slightly differ from the one described in manual.

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USER MANUAL

2. ABOUT THE WING

Who should fly the Freeway?

Freeway is a small universal canopy designed for those who like to have good fun
in the air, including some aerobatics. It is versatile enough to use a few thermals
for a small xc, try some acro, have some fun on the dunes, make a couple of
hops from small hill or simply... indulge in groundhandling for a while.

THE PROJECT

The goal of the Freeway was to focus on its manoeuvrability, thus presenting
pilot with perfect feeling and fun, while keeping good performance so that
staying in the air will be easy when thermalling or soaring. In order to achieve
all that we had to meet several points:

+easy and playful character in ground training,
+good pitch stability accompanied with dynamic roll behaviour,
+120% of usable steering range (brakes operational below stall point),
+good behaviour in basic acro manoeuvres (SAT, helicopter etc).
+clean design resulting in good performance data.

The Freeway was to be simultaneously fun and safe – that’s why we
preferred small size for dynamic behaviour and kept modest aspect ratio, so
that it could be certified with really wide weight range (55-100 kg ).

DESIGN

Entire body of the FREEWAY was designed under our
Canopy Shape Guard scheme, combining multiple
subsystems and resulting in exceptionally coherent
and durable body. For more details on individual
subsystems, read on.

Every second chamber is divided in two cells, and the ribs are additionally
supported by VSS (V-shaped supports). Such design practically guarantees
smooth top surface, exact aerofoil reproduction across the entire wingspan,
better load distribution and yet more importantly, as few suspension points as
possible.

All along lower surface there is RSS (Reinforcing Strap System) employed -

a different (than usual ballooning scheme) way of
making the wing more rigid and stable.

On the leading edge we applied the FET (FlexiEdge
Technology). Elastic rods make the leading edge

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stiffer and smoother, bringing improvements in many areas - from easier
inflation through stiffening the canopy in flight to generally improved airflow.
Last but not least, the leading is cleaner for better performance.

The cell openings are located on the undersurface of the canopy, close to its
leading edge. Their exact position has been chosen so that point of
maximum impact pressure stays within intake area as long as possible. We
designed them to keep tension of the leading edge in normal flight and to
improve paragliders' behaviour in in case of big collapse.

Each wingtip is built of several fully closed cells
creating stabilizers. Their task is to keep the wing
properly tensioned, true on course and regular in
turns. They are also equipped with ACS (Auto

Cleaning Slots), openings that clean otherwise locked 'dead-ends' of dirt and

sand.
FREEWAY is produced in new technology, utilizing

capabilities of precise laser cutter. All stages of the

production process take place as our Polish plant
under close supervision of the designer himself, thus ensuring highest
European quality.

Due to carefully chosen mix of modern design and best materials available
the FREEWAY has already shown great durability. All materials used come
from registered batches and each production stage can be verified (by
identifying individual worker and quality inspector).

CLOTH

Each cloth has its own characteristics, so they must be properly matched in

order to create a harmoniously behaving paraglider.
Inside the wing the Ribs, D-ribs, straps and pockets

are made of Dominico Tex DOKDO 30DFM (hard
finish) (41g/m2), ensuring good durability and load

distribution.
The rest of the wing is made of Dominico Tex DOKDO 30DMF (41g/m2) for

the neutral colors and Dominico Tex DOKDO N20DMF-HD38 (38g/m2) for
the color part.

RIGGING

All suspension lines have coloured polyester sheath
covering a core inside. Due to resist to the G-force
lines we made sure they are strong enough by
employing brown TECHNORA cores. As a result is

we have lines that are both strong and offer high stretch resistance.

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USER MANUAL

Rigging system consists of individual lines looped and stitched at each end.
The upper level (gallery) lines start at the suspension points of the canopy.
These lines connect to middle level ones, and these in turn adjoin by twos and
threes to single main suspension line. Main lines are attached to risers

with quick links (maillons). An additional 'O-ring' is installed there to keep lines
together.

All maillons are made of polished stainless steel, ensuring great strength,
durability and resistance to corrosion.

Wingtip lines connect outer suspension points with maillons in similar stepsas
above. The same story goes for steering lines. With consecutive cascades
they lead from trailing edge down to main brake lines, which then go through
pulleys connected to the C-riser and finish at the brake handles. Those lines
do not carry any suspension loads.

Some of the steering lines in upper level additionally go through a metal loop
at the trailing edge. Due to their presence when the line is pulled, the edge
gets shortened, thus improving steering effectiveness.

Suspension lines are coloured depending on their strength and diameter as
follows:

+diameter: 2,3 mm; strength: 420 daN; colour: sea-green
+diameter: 1,8 mm; strength: 280 daN; colour: red and orange (big ears

feature)

+diameter: 1,5 mm; strength: 190 daN; colour: violet
+diameter: 1,3 mm; strength: 140 daN; colour: green
+diameter: 1,2 mm; strength: 90 daN; colour: blue

(colour code can differ slightly)

RISERS

There are 3-way risers in freeway, equipped with:

+trimmers of red band designed for have a choice of speed position.
+speed system affecting A and B risers

Risers are coloured for easy distinction:
A - yellow - launch,
B - red - B-stall
C - grey - deflating the canopy in strong winds (aborting launch)
Main suspension lines of A row connect to A riser (yellow ribbon). B row and

stabilizer lines go to B riser (red), and C risers (grey, with pulleys added)
gather C and steering lines.

Brake handles are attached to steering lines at optimal point, guaranteeing
best safety and performance.

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FREEWAY features our recent brake toggles, distinguished (beside its more
robust yet lighter design) by application of two systems:

+STC (Sport Comfort Toggle) with swivel,
+EK (Easy Keeper)

SPEED SYSTEM

The heart of speed system is a line sewn into A riser, running through two
pulleys and finished with a loop with small hook. There you attach the speed
bar line. In normal flight all risers have an overall length of 580 mm. Speed
system affects risers A and B. When the bar is being pushed, A and B risers
gradually shorten, until there is a 20 mm difference between them.

Their minimal length is respectively 480 and 500 mm. C-riser retains its
original dimensions.

NOTE: An improperly adjusted speed system leads to loss of certification!
Speed system adjustment and usage

Most of modern harnesses are equipped with special speed system pulleys
and sometimes even its own integrated speedbar.

If it's not the case, first you need to have some pulleys attached (at best sewn
into harness) in such a way that will allow the pilot maximize the output of
his/her legs with correct power vector, without effect of pushing the harness
back. The speed system cord must be firmly attached (with bowline or other
non-slipping knot) to the speed bar. The other end of the cord must be ran
upward through the harness pulleys, to be finished with hooks or small
carabiners. Overall length of speed system cord should allow pilot to put
his/her feet easily into the bar when in flight, and yet should be short enough
to cover the full speed range.

Make sure that both cords on the speed bar are equal, as even slight
difference can result in constant turning of the paraglider. Test your speed
system thoroughly on the ground before flying with it!

The maximum action is reached when speed system pulleys touch.
Before take-off attach paraglider risers to the harness with main carabiners.

Then connect speed system cords with hooks or quick-links. Finally make sure
that speed system is not tangled and runs freely.

To use the speed system simply place your feet on the speed bar and push
forward in a horizontal plane. If you notice loss of pressure on the bar, it can
be a sign of imminent frontal collapse. In this case release the bar
immediately. Watch out for such things - quick wits can spare you most
collapses and in general you will increase your awareness of the air around
you. Slight speed-bar operation can also optimize your flight, i. e. when
entering a thermal.

USER MANUAL

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Speed system activation diminishes your paraglider's angle of attack, so that
its airspeed is increased. Yet simultaneously canopy becomes less stable ­that's why you should avoid using speedsystem in turbulent conditions,
close to the ground or near other airspace users!

Do not use speed system in any extreme manoeuvres! If the canopy does
collapse, release the speed bar immediately and correct the situation as
usual.

WHICH HARNESS?

You can use any certified harness with hang point between 35 cm and 49
cm from the seat (the safest distance being 40 cm). Width between
carabiners should remain between 37 cm and 45 cm.

Please note that any modification of seat/hang point distance changes the
position of the brakes in relation to the pilot's body. You must remember that
in each configuration the effect of your hands' movement will be different.

Caution! Too tight cross straps can dramatically affect the handling, so
tightening them actually may not contribute to higher safety. Have
them tightened just the correct amount.

3. FLIGHT

PRE-FLIGHT CHECK

A thorough pre-flight check is essential for any aircraft; the Dudek
FREEWAY is no exception.

Having unpacked and laid out the paraglider, following checks must be
made:

+Canopy, lines and risers condition. Do not launch if the slightest

damage is noticed,

+Paraglider should be arranged in such a way that the centre section A

lines (gold risers) will strain earlier that the outer ones. This ensures
easy and symmetrical launch.

+Central cells have to be laid out carefully, with leading edge even and

pre-tensioned.

+All lines and risers should be separated. Make sure they are not

tangled and pay special attention to the A-lines, which should run free
from the A (gold) to the canopy.

+It is equally important to untangle the brake lines so that they will not

catch anything on the ground during launch. They must be firmly
attached to brake handles and run freely through pulleys to the trailing
edge.