Soaring Concepts Sky Trek
{{Short description|American powered parachute}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name= Sky Trek | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Powered parachute | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Soaring Concepts | designer= | first flight= | introduced=2000 | retired= | status=In production (2015) | primary user= | more users= | produced= 2000-present | number built=at least 25 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Soaring Concepts Sky Trek is an American powered parachute, designed and produced by Soaring Concepts Inc of Sturgis, Michigan and introduced in 2000. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft or as a kit for amateur construction.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 86. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X{{cite web|url=http://soaringconcepts.com/aboutus.html|title=About Us|work=soaringconcepts.com|accessdate=20 August 2015}}
Design and development
The Sky Trek was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules and is on the list of Federal Aviation Administration accepted LSAs. It features a {{convert|500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration.{{cite web|url = http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xls|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|accessdate = 20 August 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 30 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://soaringconcepts.com/specifications.html|title=Specifications|work=soaringconcepts.com|accessdate=20 August 2015}}
The aircraft carriage is built from large-diameter 4130 steel 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 adjustable gas shock suspension.{{cite web|url=http://soaringconcepts.com/|title=Soaring Concepts|work=soaringconcepts.com|accessdate=20 August 2015}}
The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|384|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|566|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|10|u.s.gal}} the payload for crew and baggage is {{convert|506|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|200|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
In August 2015, 24 examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of 25 had been registered at one time.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SKY+TREK&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 20 August 2015|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 20 August 2015}}
Specifications (Sky Trek)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bertrand and manufacturer
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=10
|length in=2
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=32.9
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=7
|height in=0
|height note=carriage only
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=500
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=2.17:1
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=385
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=950
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|10|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 582
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=64
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=PowerFin ground adjustable, composite
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=5
|prop dia in=3
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=32
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=30
|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=4:1
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=900
|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=1.9
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://soaringconcepts.com/}}
Category:2000s United States sport aircraft
Category:2000s United States ultralight aircraft