Skymaster Excel
{{Short description|American powered parachute}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Excel | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Powered parachute | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Skymaster Powered Parachutes | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed (2008) | primary user= | more users= | produced= 2001-2008 | number built=at least ten | developed from= | variants with their own articles=Skymaster Single Seater }} |
The Skymaster Excel is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Skymaster Powered Parachutes of Hartland, Wisconsin. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 85. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
The aircraft was introduced in 2001 and production ended when the company went out of business in late 2008.{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.flyskymaster.com/ |title=Fly Skymaster |website=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |access-date=12 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flyskymaster.com/Company-History.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011349/http://www.flyskymaster.com/Company-History.htm|title=Company History|archive-date=14 May 2008 |work=flyskymaster.com|access-date=12 August 2015}}
Design and development
The aircraft complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and also the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|385|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It features a {{convert|550|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Hirth 2706 engine in pusher configuration. The {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine was also offered.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyskymaster.com/STAND-EQ.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011445/http://www.flyskymaster.com/STAND-EQ.htm|title=Price For The Skymaster Excel|archive-date=14 May 2008|work=flyskymaster.com|access-date=12 August 2015}}
The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing. 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.
The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|421|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|850|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|429|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|10|u.s.gal}} the payload for crew and baggage is {{convert|369|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
In August 2015 ten examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=EXCEL&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 12 August 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 12 August 2015}}
The design won many awards, including 2001 Sun 'n Fun Grand Champion, 2001 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2002 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 Sun 'n Fun Innovations and 2004 Sun 'n Fun Best Trike.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyskymaster.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014132742/http://www.flyskymaster.com/|title=Skymaster|archive-date=14 October 2008|work=flyskymaster.com|access-date=12 August 2015}} It was later developed into a smaller single seat design, the Skymaster Single Seater.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyskymaster.com/SINGLE%20SEAT.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318233256/http://www.flyskymaster.com/SINGLE%20SEAT.htm|title=Single seater|archive-date=18 March 2008|work=flyskymaster.com|access-date=18 August 2015}}
Specifications (version)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bertrand and manufacturer{{cite web|url=http://www.flyskymaster.com/SPECIFICATION.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011405/http://www.flyskymaster.com/SPECIFICATION.htm|title= Skymaster Excel Specifications|archive-date=14 May 2008|work=flyskymaster.com|access-date=12 August 2015}}
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=10
|length in=0
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=7
|height in=1.5
|height note=
|width m=
|width ft=6
|width in=0
|width note= carriage width
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=550
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=191
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=385
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|10|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Hirth 2706
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=65
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=composite, ground adjustable
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=47
|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=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=800
|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=1.5
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.flyskymaster.com/ Company website archives] on Archive.org
Category:2000s United States sport aircraft
Category:2000s United States ultralight aircraft