Dudek Paragliders
06.05.2026
Paraglider wing Warp 3
From the date of publication
We have received information about an accident involving a pilot during familiarization flights on a Warp 3 wing. First and foremost, we are relieved that the pilot is recovering after surgery, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
According to the preliminary information available, the wing had approximately 10 hours of flight time. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced an asymmetric stall and sustained a lumbar spine injury. The wing is currently being held for official inspection.
At this stage, we do not yet have access to the final findings and therefore cannot draw any conclusions regarding the cause of the accident.
However, additional information received after the initial reports indicates that during takeoff, the trimmers may have been set to approximately -3 cm below the neutral (0) position. The takeoff also took place early in the morning on dew-covered grass, which may have affected the launch procedure.
Therefore, we remind all Warp 3 pilots that during takeoff, the trimmers must be set at the neutral (0) position or more. Any setting below 0 is a special configuration intended only for experienced pilots and for specific flight conditions, such as thermal or economy flying. It must not be used for takeoff. Launching with trimmers set below 0 may slow the wing’s inflation, increase its tendency to lag behind the pilot, and reduce the safety margin—especially if the wing is out of trim tolerance, damp, or if the launch technique is not precise.
If, during takeoff, the wing inflates slowly, remains behind the pilot, appears unusually slow, or shows any other abnormal behavior, the launch must be immediately aborted, and the wing must be checked before further use.
The use of unsheathed lines may also affect the wing’s behavior during inflation. During use, the main lines in the A rows may stretch, while the lines in the C and D rows may slightly shrink if they are not subjected to comparable loads. This can gradually alter the wing’s trim and increase the angle of attack. The rate of this process may vary depending on usage, storage conditions, humidity, temperature, and other factors.
We remind about line length checks mainly of Warp 3 wings in versions 1 and 2, identified by serial numbers ending in 1 or 2. It does not apply to version 3 wings, identified by serial numbers ending in 3, which are produced in the standard configuration with sheathed AP1 and AP2 lines. Versions 1 and 2 were the initial high-performance configurations prepared for the World Championships and were equipped with selected thin, unsheathed main lines.
If you own a version 1 or 2 wing whose lines have not yet been re-trimmed after initial use, and the wing has not been upgraded to version 3 with sheathed lines, we recommend checking the line lengths before the next flight, in accordance with the technical notice issued on December 25, 2025. Under normal use, a trim check is recommended after approximately 50 hours of flight, but it should be carried out earlier if any of the symptoms described above occur.
For pilots who do not require the original maximum-performance configuration and prefer greater dimensional stability with less frequent trim monitoring, we offer the option of replacing selected unsheathed main lines with sheathed lines corresponding to the current version 3 configuration. This option may increase drag but improves line length stability. More information can be obtained from your local Dudek dealer.
If pilots are unsure about their line lengths or the trim condition of their wing, we offer a free line length inspection and, if necessary, trimming at our factory in Poland. Pilots who feel competent to perform the inspection themselves or prefer to use a local paragliding service center may follow the procedure described in the technical notice (PDF), available on our website.
