Parascender II
{{Short description|American powered parachute}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Parascender II | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Powered parachute | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Parascender Technologies | designer= | first flight=1990 | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed (2004) | primary user= | more users= | produced= 1990-2004 | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Parascender II is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Parascender Technologies of Kissimmee, Florida. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 340. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}{{cite web|url = http://all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/63-hang-glider-paraglider/7626-parascender-technologies-parascender-ii|title = Parascender Technologies Parascender II|accessdate = 9 April 2015|author = All-Aero|year = 2015}}
Design and development
The Parascender II was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles trainer exemption and also the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a {{convert|520.0|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing, with a unique octagonal dual-tube propeller guard. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension and was changed to composite suspension in 1993. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of {{convert|250|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|720|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|470|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|10|u.s.gal}} the payload for the pilot, passengers and baggage is {{convert|410|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|150|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|50|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 20 hours.
Operational history
In April 2015 six examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of eight had been registered at one time.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=PARASCENDER+II&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 9 April 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 9 April 2015}}
Specifications (Parascender II)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=9
|length in=0
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=38
|span in=6
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=520
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=3.0:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=250
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=720
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|10|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 503
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=50
|prop blade number=w
|prop name=composite, ground adjustable
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=26
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=26
|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=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=7500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=550
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=1.4
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
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|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://flightability.bizland.com/parascender.jpg Photo of a Parascender II in flight]
{{Parascender aircraft}}
Category:1990s United States sport aircraft
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft