- What Makes The Powered Parachute So Stable?
The pendulum effect (pilot and airframe suspended by an airfoil) provides
self-compensating stability.
- How Fast Does It Fly?
The Powered Parachute flies at between 26 & 32mph through the air. This
is determined by the type of wing, (rectangular or elliptical) & wing
loading. The heavier your payload, the faster you will fly. The ground speed
is determined by the speed of the wind relative to the flight direction.
- How Does The Parachute Deploy?
Simply lay the parachute out behind the airframe and start the engine. As
the pilot and aircraft start rolling forward for takeoff, the parachute will
kite overhead. Upon reaching flying speed, the parachute will lift the pilot
and aircraft up into the sky.
- What if the engine quits?
It gets very quiet. In the unlikely event that the engine should fail, the
pilot can safely steer the unpowered gliding Powered Parachute back to a landing
site. You will have a glide ratio of anywhere between 3:1 to 5 or 6:1, depending
on the type of wing you’re flying. (rectangular or elliptical)
- How Is The Powered Parachute Transported?
All that is required is a small trailer. Of course, there are many trailer
options available, including fully enclosed models that will sleep 6, has
full kitchen and bathroom facilities, and can carry a Powrachute Pegasus easily.
- Why a Powered Parachute?
Why a powered parachute? Boy is this a broad question – you sure you
want to go with this question? OK, OK, well, because:
- It is probably the most fun you can have with your
clothes on.
- It is the easiest flying vehicle we know about –
only two airborn controls. One to control your rise and decent through the
skies, and the other to make turns (via your feet and the foot rudder bars).
- Besides keeping the unit sturdy, clean & dry, you only need to change
the oil and the plugs to maintain it.
- It takes very little room to store it – a single car garage can hold three
units. And hence it is also very easy to transport – a common utility trailer
can easily carry your PPC to any fly-in. Heck, some people just add an extended
shelf to the rear of their pick-up trucks and put the PPC there (without
any trailer).
- You can complete your basic training in 3 days.
- You can fly year round.
- It requires no ground crew, you can easily unpack,
take-off, land, and re-load your PPC all by yourself.
- It has an incredible safety record (despite the
fact that mere humans are allowed to fly it).
- And, as a true 103 ultralight – it requires no medical; there is no age
limit, and no bureaucratic paperwork (i.e., no license or registration).
- What does it feel like?
Flying a powered parachute is the closest you may ever come to actualizing
those childhood flying dreams. It is the closest you will ever come to soaring
with the eagles. Another aircraft may never match the slow & low abilities
of the PPC. It is an incredibly safe and fun way to sail-the-skies!
- What is the ceiling of the PPC? (How high can you go?)
From the factory, the 2-seat PPC with a 65hp engine will normally obtain around
12,000 feet with just an average size pilot, and around 8,000 feet with 450
lbs of occupants. As of July 2001, the altitude record is over 17,700 feet
(I believe by Bud Gish of Alaska).
- Can I train myself?
Since there is considerably more to flying a PPC, than pulling an elevator
control back, or pushing a foot (steering) rudder bar – I would have to say
"NO" for safety’s sake!
- What kind of license do I need to fly a Powered Parachutes?
This is going to have to be a 2-part answer: one part for true 103 PPC’s,
and one for the 2-seat trainers.
Relative to true 103 PPC’s: No license or registration is needed – HEY!
[Note: a true 103 ultralight will weigh under 254 lbs, have a single seat,
fuel capacity that does not exceed 5 gallons, go slower than 55 knots (63
mph) and have a stall speed less than 24 knots.]
Relative to a 2-seat trainer: Yes, you will need to become a UFI (Ultralight
Flight Instructor). To become a UFI, you will need to:
Have 25 hours of flight time in a PPC, then
[Please note that some of the FAA approved associations, may require
100 hours, as opposed to the 25 hours, stated in line #1.]
Spend 10 hours with a current UFI to cover Ground and Flight tasks associated
to a 2-place trainer, then
Have a UFI administer 2 written tests:
A practical UFI exam
A FOI (Fundamentals of Instruction) exam
Pass the two tests (70% on the practical, and 70% on the FOI)
Have a UFI endorse you for your UFIE (Ultralight Flight Instructor Examiner)
checkout flight and exam.
Pass the UFIE checkout flight, and have the UFIE endorse you for your
UFI certification.
Become a member of the EAA and send in your:
Application and Membership dues, ($40.00 annually)
Signed contract for your UFI, along with the written endorsement of
your UFI & UFIE, your original test sheets, and dues for your UFI
exemption ($100 per year).
- What winds can a Powered Parachute safely fly in?
You should never fly in winds that exceed your flight skills. And, it
is recommended that all PPC pilots should avoid flying in winds above 15 mph.
- Do I need to own a plane, before I take lessons?
No, most training centers will have PPC’s that you can rent for training.
And it is recommended that you take lessons before purchasing a PPC, so that
you can learn the pluses and minuses of each PPC design.
- What is the maximum weight you can carry?
There are quite a few factors that come into play when considering this answer.
The strength of the PPC frame
The size and strength of the canopy
On average however, I will venture to say that around 450-500 lbs of payload
is workable for a 2-seat trainer.
- How much room do you need for take-off and landing?
Again, weight, weather and faith come into play here. But for two people,
you will need about 300 to 400 feet for take-off and around 50-100 to safely
land.
- Are ballistic or emergency parachutes used on PPC’s
No. When you have an aircraft with the safely record of the PPC, it is extraordinary
to find one with an emergency chute. Besides, you’re already flying your recovery
system, the ram air parachute wing on your plane.
- Are PPC’s useful in aiding Search & Rescue operations?
The PPC is so ‘right’, so usefulness when it comes to search & rescue
operations, that sometimes, the Civil Air Patrol will get a little jealous
about the PPC. Except for getting to the ‘lost’ sight quickly, there is no
better aircraft than the PPC for aiding in the search of the lost. (Heck,
you could find a lost rabbit with a PPC!)
- Can you fly at night?
No, you cannot fly at night without a waiver from the FAA.
- What are the age limits of a PPC pilot?
For a true 103, there is no age limit; for the 2-seat trainer, the pilot must
be at least 16 years old.
- Is a medical required to fly the PPC?
No; currently there is no medical certification requirements. However, in
the near future, the FAA may require a State Driver’s license, as proof of
the medical standard for the pilot.
- Can I fly in or over a National Park?
There has always been confusion over this question. Except for hazardous areas
like the Grand Canyon, the FAA has no restrictions on the air space over National
Parks – it is only strongly requested that you maintain 2000 AGL (Above the
Ground Level) when over a National Park. However, the Park Service will probably
ticket (and yell) at you for violating Noise & Disturbance laws, if you
fly too low!
- If a 2-seat PPC is: "To be used for training purposes only", can it
ever be flown just for fun?
There are times (beyond) training that a 2-seat PPC is legal to fly:
- To transport or ferry the unit to the student
- To check-out mechanical conditions of the PPC (especially for the maiden
voyage, and to verify other mechanical services)
- To maintain the Instructor’s Currency
- To maintain the Instructor’s Proficiency
(Note: It is for proficiency that allows competitions of 2-seat PPC’s.)
With the new sport pilot rule, once you have obtained your sport pilot
license & have had your plane N numbered, you will be able to fly for
fun & take friends & family for rides.
- Do I have to be a ‘mechanical’ type, to maintain my PPC?
No, if you can change the plugs and change the gear oil, you will be fine.
- Are we required to register the PPC with the FAA?
You are not required to register your single seat true 103 PPC, but you are
required to register your 2-place trainer.
During the December 1996 meeting of all the exemption holders, a uniform
agreement that all exempt vehicles must be registered was adopted. The FAA
accepted that agreement without incorporating it directly into the exemption,
as long as the exemption administrators (ASC, EAA & USUA) require registration.
The annual/100 hour condition inspection and the limitation against endorsing
those under 16 for solo requirements were imposed at the same meeting.
