Technical Description
Section 03
17
RAST
The MIURA RS features
Swing’s unique Ram Air
Section Technology, known
as ‘RAST’ for short.
This system divides the interior of the
paraglider into several chambers
crossways to the flight direction.
Fig. 2
Sketch RAST
Defined openings regulate the
inflowing and outflowing air in such a
way that they can influence the way
the canopy fills (when launching) and
also how it empties (in the event of
canopy stability problems).
Inflation behaviour
RAST slows down the inflowing air
when the paraglider is inflating. The
front part of the profile which is
relevant for flow thus takes shape
much more quickly and the glider
immediately begins to rise up from the
ground. The back part of the canopy is
filled with air only slowly during the
subsequent stage of inflation, which
results in very harmonious and smooth
launch behaviour without any
tendency to overshoot or launch the
pilot unintentionally.
Flight behaviour
It is in turbulent air that RAST really
puts its strengths into play, effectively
stabilising the canopy and gently
calming turbulent air.
This makes the MIURA RS extremely
stable and forgiving, which results in
noticeably improved precision and
comfort during flight, and
consequently also more control and
better performance for the pilot.
Collapse behaviour
If there are any stability problems,
RAST prevents the canopy from
suddenly and/or completely emptying
because the air is not able to escape as
quickly from the rear section.
A paraglider equipped with the RAST
system empties more slowly, has less
tendency to turn and opens more
quickly.
This means that there is much less loss
of height than for the same design
without RAST.
However, it allows a sufficiently large
area of the glider to collapse to
dampen and dissipate energy.
TIP
Do not be tempted by the increased
safety offered by RAST into taking
greater risks. Instead, you should use
RAST as your personal crumple zone
if there is ever a situation where you
have misjudged conditions.
With RAST technology, collapses more
than 50% of the wing depth can only
be simulated with great difficulty and
to date have not been experienced in
practice even in very thermic and
turbulent conditions.
