Independence Akron
{{Short description|German paraglider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name= Akron | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Paraglider | national origin=Germany | manufacturer=Independence Paragliding | designer=Michaël Nesler | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= early 2000s | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Independence Akron is a German single-place paraglider that was designed by Michaël Nesler and produced by Independence Paragliding of Eisenberg, Thuringia. It is now out of production.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 20. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The Akron was designed as an intermediate glider. The models are each named for their relative size.
Company test pilot Christian Amon was also involved in the development as well as flight testing of the Akron.
Variants
;Akron S
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|12|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|24.1|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|65|to|85|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.
;Akron M
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|12.9|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|27.9|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|80|to|105|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.
;Akron L
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.6|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|30.8|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 59 cells and the aspect ratio is 6:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|95|to|125|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The glider model is DHV 2 certified.
Specifications (Akron L)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=13.6
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=30.8
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=6:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|more general=
|perfhide=Y
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
}}