I was out at the Flying Cloud airshow yesterday and met a guy who was selling tandem power parasailing rigs. Very cool indeed. He said they go 30mph, can reach altitudes of 10,000 ft., and can be launched and landed from any decent size field. The downside is that they cost about 14k:
http://www.infinitypowerchutes.com
I wonder if anyone has tried the single person backpack-type setup? This would seem to offer many of the same thrills but in a more portable package at a much lower price. Anyone know anything about these?
Herein lies the ultimate cure to the light wind blues.
Power Parasailing
Moderator: MK
FOIL B-HIND BOAT?
i'VE OFTEN wondered if a foil would work as a parasail, or if one could be towed behind a boat like you see at resorts. I know there's a little ultra lite airfield off 94 towards Hudson. They like to fly over my house, and I like watching them. As far as being up there....I'm not so sure...I'll bet Coach , Holmes, or "FLYHI" could tell us more. 
JN
JNMike,
The guy you saw out there with the fiberglass cockpit model was Mike Revier (I talked to him out there today) http://www.destinypowerchutes.com, he lives across the bay from me and they make a little strip and fly powered chutes off the ice/snow all winter. I've talked shop with him out on the ice, his machines look really enticing for those no-wind days. A few of them fly off of a grass strip in Maple Plaine and they fly over Tonka sightseeing often in the summer.
I also have a friend who flys the powered backpack types. I know he had to practice a lot of groundhandling since combining an engine and a 23m foil at ground level with wind currents can result in disaster. He flew my Psycho 9.5 last winter on the snow and said they were very similar in technique. I will email him and see if he can give some suggestions for websites to checkout. He is a purist and did not like the bigger machines like you saw out at Flying Cloud. I'll let you know what info he gives me.
I have often thought that flying would be the solution for my urge to get a wing in my hands during all these light wind days. I have a bunch of hours logged in single engine aircraft, and passed the written, but never got my license. The FAA just last week authorized a new license called a "Sport Pilot license" which is has less stringent requirements. With that you can take one passenger up in an aircraft. I think if you want to fly solo you need no license in the powered chutes. Seeing those powered chutes up close always gets me to thinking about trying a few test flights....looks like a lot of fun.
The guy you saw out there with the fiberglass cockpit model was Mike Revier (I talked to him out there today) http://www.destinypowerchutes.com, he lives across the bay from me and they make a little strip and fly powered chutes off the ice/snow all winter. I've talked shop with him out on the ice, his machines look really enticing for those no-wind days. A few of them fly off of a grass strip in Maple Plaine and they fly over Tonka sightseeing often in the summer.
I also have a friend who flys the powered backpack types. I know he had to practice a lot of groundhandling since combining an engine and a 23m foil at ground level with wind currents can result in disaster. He flew my Psycho 9.5 last winter on the snow and said they were very similar in technique. I will email him and see if he can give some suggestions for websites to checkout. He is a purist and did not like the bigger machines like you saw out at Flying Cloud. I'll let you know what info he gives me.
I have often thought that flying would be the solution for my urge to get a wing in my hands during all these light wind days. I have a bunch of hours logged in single engine aircraft, and passed the written, but never got my license. The FAA just last week authorized a new license called a "Sport Pilot license" which is has less stringent requirements. With that you can take one passenger up in an aircraft. I think if you want to fly solo you need no license in the powered chutes. Seeing those powered chutes up close always gets me to thinking about trying a few test flights....looks like a lot of fun.
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rudeboysaude
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:14 am
- Location: Sandstone, MN
- Contact:
there is a guy up here about 2 miles from my house that is a certified instructor too. A big burley guy that also runs Mountain Man Tattoo. He's also a dealer and yeah, they're expensive. He didn't think so though, he compared it to a Harley and well, they are much cheaper then owning a Harley! He gives a half hour ride for pretty cheap and always wanted to try it out.. Good luck!
A.
A.
Powered chutes
Mike
I don't know to much about powered parasailing but I have some experience being higher than I'd want to fall in less-than-optimum conditions. I would pick the type that has a trike-like chassis, rather than the backpack style. It seems that they would offer more protection if you were forced to land on poor terrain and/or in weather that had turned bumpy.
As for the 14K, I bought my 1st real airplane for $11,000. A 1946 Taylorcraft and I flew it for 3 years. That airplane will also conform to the new sportpilot regs.
Jud and I are going to Oshkosh this week. We'll look around over at the powered chute and ultralight grounds for some more info.
Dave H
I don't know to much about powered parasailing but I have some experience being higher than I'd want to fall in less-than-optimum conditions. I would pick the type that has a trike-like chassis, rather than the backpack style. It seems that they would offer more protection if you were forced to land on poor terrain and/or in weather that had turned bumpy.
As for the 14K, I bought my 1st real airplane for $11,000. A 1946 Taylorcraft and I flew it for 3 years. That airplane will also conform to the new sportpilot regs.
Jud and I are going to Oshkosh this week. We'll look around over at the powered chute and ultralight grounds for some more info.
Dave H
Mike,
My friend finally got back to me, he's been too busy flying to email I think. Here is what he gave me, hope this is a start. If you want to call him, email me at: tom at loweprofile.com
My friend finally got back to me, he's been too busy flying to email I think. Here is what he gave me, hope this is a start. If you want to call him, email me at: tom at loweprofile.com
I have been doing a lot of flying this summer. Both powered and unpowered. I spent several weeks this spring in San Diego getting a P3 Paragliding certificate. Thermaling in the mountains was absolutely amazing.
If your friend wants some help or training he’s welcome to call me up. I’ve helped a few people into the sport this summer. I also know a great instructor about five hours from here. The hardest part of the sport is ground handling the wing. Once that’s under your belt the flying part is quite simple. All you need to get started is a glider and a park that is large enough to have unrotored wind.
Here are a few helpful web sites:
http://www.usppa.org/
http://www.flyppg.com/
http://www.poweredparaglider.com/
http://flyohio.com/