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If you were to ask someone what a parachute was
for,
the answer would generally be "they are used by sky divers" or
"used by test pilots, or glider pilots to bail out of a disabled
aircraft."
Well today one of the most popular
uses for parachutes is to become airborne, to take off from the ground
and get into the sky! These new parachutes are called, powered paragliders,
and powered parachutes.
A powered paraglider is a unit that is strapped
to a pilots back - thus the pilot is
the "airframe", while a powered parachute uses an airframe
with wheels and an engine.
Several reasons for their appeal are, they are
compact to store, and trailer,
relatively inexpensive to own operate and maintain, and easy to fly in
calm conditions. They can be trailered to a site on a simple 4 by
4 trailer, or in the back of a pickup truck. They set them up, in
minutes by spreading out the chute, and powering up the engine. The
controls are as straight forward, full power to climb, back on
power to cruise, and idle for descent. Turns are accomplished by pushing
left to go left - right to go right.
Over the past 4 or 5 years the amount of powered
parachute and paraglider manufactures displaying their wares at Sun N
Fun has increased by two or three fold. This year was no exception with
most of the major manufacturers on display, and with a number of new
designs.
Destiny
Powered Parachutes is one of the new kids on the block in the ppc
market. Destiny offers factory assembled quality, a one year airframe
warranty, and financing. All Destiny powerchutes come fully
assembled and test flown, at no additional cost to the customer.
Click here for more information:
Emerald
Coast Aircraft XL2 - XL2 Sport- Factory representative describe the
Emerald Coast powered parachute as the "model T of powered
parachutes." Offering a complete powered
parachute fuselage, ready to have an engine and chute installed on it
for just under $3,000.
Click here for more information:
Sixchuter
introduces Discovery Powerhawk - While not quite completed the new
Discovery Powerhawk by Sixchuter is "not another powered parchute."
according to factory representatives this is "a next generation
powerchute." The frame has been completely redesigned. A new
frame style is being introduced in the Powerhawk that is,
"stronger, lighter, and more durable."
Click here for more information:
Paladin Industries- New for 2000 from Paladin
Industries is the Paladin SPARROW. The Sparrow is a lightweight
(145 pounds), Part 103 compliant single seat powered parachuted designed
with all of the features and technology of larger ppc's!
Click here for more information:
Powrachute Corporation - Showed
up in a big way at Sun N Fun this year, with their PC 2000 model. The
"new guy on the block" has been in the "R & D"
stages for the last year. "The idea behind the PC 2000 is to build
a simple, clean, strong flying machine." One of the ways of
accomplishing this is by increasing the size of tubing used on the
craft.
Click here for more information:
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