Summit Steel Breeze
{{Short description|American powered parachute}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Steel Breeze | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Powered parachute | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Summit Aerosports | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Summit Steel Breeze is an American powered parachute, designed and produced by Summit Aerosports of Yale, Michigan. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.Bernard, Mary and Suzanne B. Bopp: Summit Aerosports: Summit 2, Steel Breeze and Mini Breeze, Kitplanes, Volume 29, Number 12, December 2012, pages 27-28. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
Design and development
The Steel Breeze is intended as a light-sport aircraft compliant design. It features a parachute-style high-wing, two seats in tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. Engines available include the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503, the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} liquid-cooled Rotax 582, the {{convert|70|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Hirth 3503 two-strokes and the four-stroke {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} HKS 700E.{{cite web|url = http://www.steelbreezeppc.com/steel-breeze.htm|title = Steel Breeze|accessdate = 27 November 2012|last = Summit Aerosports|year = 2012}}
The Steel Breeze's airframe is built from {{convert|1.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} TIG-welded, powder coated 4130 steel tubing. The standard rectangular Mustang S-500 canopy has an area of {{convert|500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and is attached at four points to increase stability. The Mustang S-500 allows a gross weight of {{convert|850|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. Optional canopies include the rectangular Mustang S-550 which allows a gross weight of {{convert|950|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and the elliptical Thunderbolt E-340 which allows a gross weight of {{convert|900|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. In-flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has nosewheel steering controlled by a butterfly steering wheel and the main landing gear incorporates bungee suspension.
As of August 2012, the design does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft.{{cite web|url = http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xls|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|accessdate = 21 November 2012|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 27 October 2012}}
Specifications (Steel Breeze)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Kitplanes and Summit Aerosports
|prime units?=imp
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|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=10
|length in=3
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=500
|wing area note=
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|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=323
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=850
|gross weight note=with Mustang S-500 wing
|fuel capacity={{convert|14|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=3
|prop name=GSC Systems ground adjustable Tech 3 propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=5
|prop dia in=4
|prop note=
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|cruise speed mph=25
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|ceiling m=
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|roll rate=
|glide ratio=4:1
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=400
|climb rate note=
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|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=1.7
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.steelbreezeppc.com/steel-breeze.htm}}
{{Aircraft Sales And Parts}}
Category:2000s United States ultralight aircraft