Powered Parachutes Take Flight

by Woody Minar

Going into this “assignment” at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014, July 28 – August 3, with no knowledge of powered parachutes, I came away wanting one.

These three-wheeled “carts” are sturdily built unlike some ultralights that use light tubular steel. Based in Hastings, Michigan, Powrachute started in 1999, experimenting with various designs, culminating with two affordable and very safe designs today – the Airwolf 912 and the Pegasus 582. They fall in the Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and Special LSA categories.

From a safety standpoint, powered parachutes have frontal fuselage bars to protect the occupants from fences, power lines, tree limbs, etc. They also have roll over protection and trussing of the frame from the pylon to the nose wheel for added strength.

With 500-550 square feet of canopy that is 13 x 39 feet, the 4-stroke 100 hp Rotax 912ULS with a three-blade propeller can take off in 50 to 300 feet, and land in 10 to 100 feet. A powered parachute can climb at 700 to 1,200 feet per minute, and will cruise from 32 to 36 mph. The only restriction is that LSAs are limited to 10,000 feet. They come with many options, but most have a 10-gallon tank and burn 5 to 6 gallons per hour. The maximum payload is 575 to 700 pounds, depending on the model. Steering is straight-forward with the left rudder “pedal” pulling down the left trailing edge of the canopy and vice versa for turning right. Weighing 390 to 462 pounds, a powered parachute can easily be trailered.

New powered parachutes by Powrachute can be purchased from the low $20s to high $30s, depending on accessories.

Since these are LSAs, only a Sport Pilot Certificate is needed. For those of us currently certified, it is an add-on rating needing only about three hours of training, most of which is ground school to learn about the aircraft.

For more information about PowrAChute, go to www.PowrAChute.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Woody Minar is a master certified flight instructor and designated pilot examiner at the Osceola, Wisconsin airport (KOEO).

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