Independence Raptor
{{Short description|German paraglider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Raptor | 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 Raptor 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, pages 20 and 30. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
The aircraft is not related to the Skif Raptor.
Design and development
The Raptor was designed as a competition glider, with an unusually low price as a method of assisting completion pilots. 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 Raptor.
Variants
;Raptor S
:Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its {{convert|12.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|25.0|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.34:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|70|to|95|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
;Raptor M
:Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its {{convert|13.49|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|28.3|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.34:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|80|to|105|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
;Raptor L
:Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its {{convert|13.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has a wing area of {{convert|30.0|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, 75 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.34:1. The pilot weight range is {{convert|100|to|125|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
Specifications (Raptor L)
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