Serac RS

• RAST - for maximum control; On paragliders with RAST the canopy is divided into different internal pressurised sections by one or more fabric panels, some with valves running crossways to the direction of flight. This makes it possible to influence the air flows within the canopy.

With RAST, the air equalisation flows within the paraglider canopy can be regulated through defined openings. This applies both when filling,(during take-off) and when emptying. In the case of pressure loss, e.g. caused by canopy collapse in turbulent air, the relative internal pressure of the CORE section increases, while the BUFFER section absorbs the introduced energy by deformation. Furthermore, RAST can be used as an additional support to the leading and trailing edge, which has a positive effect on flight comfort. As RAST connects the ribs over the entire profile height, the construction has a stiffening effect and reinforcements and/or stiffening elements can be saved or even completely replaced by this special construction method.

In the SERAC RS, RAST has been optimised for the following characteristics:

Very easy and steady wind-up behaviour with no tendency to overshoot and no tendency to lever out. The SERAC RS literally “parks” above the pilot
High canopy stiffness with reduced internal volume
Maximum flight stability and control even for less experienced pilots in turbulent air.

• Intelligent lightweight design - lightness for everyday use; This new approach for the design of the SERAC RS uses far fewer internal components.
This was possible because of the innovative way we combined the use of reinforcement tape and diagonal rib-tapes, by the optimisation of the line geometry and the positioning of the RAST system.

In doing so, we have set a high value on durability. For example, the top sail of the leading edge, which is subjected to more stress, is made of a paragliding nylon cloth with a stronger base fabric than for the rest of the canopy, which is subjected to less stress. A particularly low-stretch material has been used for the profiles and the positions of the cross-ports have been optimised in elaborate spiral tests to help prevent irreversible over-stretching of the ribs.

This means that the SERAC RS can withstand the normal stresses of everyday flying, despite its low weight and minimal packing volume.

• Nitinol Wires - for maximum profile stability with minimum weight; Nitinol is a high-strength, temperature- and corrosion-resistant shape memory alloy. The name Nitinol is an acronym for Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory. This material is well-known in medical technology, and for a long time Swing has been using it as leading edge reinforcement in paraglider design, one of the first paraglider manufacturers to do so.

In the SERAC RS, the Nitinol reinforcements are inserted into nylon tubes. This has made it possible to increase the cross-section – and thus the contact area for the topsail material – without having to sacrifice the positive benefits (resistance to deformation, length and dimensional stability) of the memory material. The leading edge is therefore less sensitive to premature abrasion and keeps its shape over the long term.

• Mini ribs - for a homogenous trailing edge; Ballooning on the trailing edge has a considerable influence on a paraglider’s control pressure and handling. Mini ribs split the cell spacing in half in this area, reducing ballooning for a more homogeneous trailing edge.

The trick here is that the mini ribs have internal stitching on the top surface so that none of the threads can get caught up on the ground and pulled out, even when launching in difficult terrain.

• 3D-Shaping - for optimised aerodynamics; The targeted control of tension by 3D shaping at the leading edge of the upper sail has become standard in paraglider construction. This is in order to make the airflow-relevant areas as crease-free as possible. Depending on the model, 3D shaping is either single or double in its construction.

We have supplemented the standard shaping with another 3D shaping at the leading edge to optimise the aerodynamic effect of the mini ribs.

• Pro Dry Aramid-Lines - maximum performance with low weight and easy handling; In the SERAC RS we are using the latest generation of unsheathed aramid lines. The special Pro Dry coating reduces the moisture absorption of the line by -60%, and also increases both the UV resistance as well as the dirt resistance.

The lines are easily visible and easy to sort even without a sheath due to their magenta, blue and orange colouring. The high rigidity of the line material leads to a reduction in the formation of knots during use.

• Coloured Riser Connections - for minimised risk of mistakes; To avoid mistakes when attaching the harness, the attachment loops are colour-coded. This means you can see at a glance whether the risers are correctly attached to the harness.

• Sizes: XS, S, SM, ML, L
• LTF Certification: B
• CEN Certification: B
• Permissible weight range (kg) min./max. incl. equipment: 55-80, 70-90, 75-100, 85-110, 95-119
• Recommended weight range (kg) min./max. incl. equipment: 60-72, 70-85, 75-95, 85-105, 95-115
• Cells: 42
• Wing area (m²): 20.1, 22.3, 24.6, 27, 29
• Wing area projected (m²): 17.5, 19.4, 21.4, 23.5, 25.2
• Wing span (m): 10.3, 10.8, 11.4, 11.9, 12.4
• Projected Wing span (m): 8.4, 8.9, 9.3, 9.6, 10.1
• Aspect Ratio: 5.3
• Projected Aspect Ratio: 4.9
• Glider weight (kg): 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.8, 4.0