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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat happens if the engine quits?This has got to be the most frequently asked question. Unfortunately we just don’t have time to go in to it here. OK,
just kidding, I will make time. The simple truth – it gets real quiet! Life seems good again. Stress is removed. You truly begin to soar with the birds. Well, this what happens when you intentionally shut-off the engine. (And you may find that the Instructor’s and formal students do that a lot here, at the training center.) If you have an engine failure (not a very common occurrence), then you will find that the PPC is actually more stable and more maneuverable with the off, then with the engine running. So, you will have an easy time gliding your PPC to your previously picked out landing zone, and sitting it down safely. Why a Powered Parachute?Why a powered
parachute? Boy is this a broad
question – you sure you want to go with this question?
OK, OK, well, because: ·
It is probably the most fun you can
have with your clothes on. ·
It is the easiest flying vehicle we
know about – only two airborne controls.
One to control your rise and decent through the skies, and the other to
make turns (via your feet and the foot rudder bars). ·
Besides keeping the unit sturdy, clean
& dry, you only need to change the oil and the plugs to maintain it. ·
It takes very little room to store it
– a single car garage can hold three units.
And hence it is also very easy to transport – a common utility trailer
can easily carry your PPC to any fly-in. Hec, some people just add an extended
shelf to the rear of their pick-up trucks and put the PPC there (without any
trailer). ·
You can complete your basic training in
3 days. ·
You can fly year round. ·
It requires no ground crew, you can
easily unpack, take-off, land, and re-load your PPC all by yourself. ·
It has an incredible safety record (despite
the fact that mere humans are allowed to fly it). ·
And, as a true 103 ultralight – it
requires no medical; there is no age limit, and no bureaucratic paperwork (i.e.,
no license or registration). What does it feel like?Flying a powered parachute is the
closest you may ever come to actualizing those childhood flying dreams.
It is the closest you will ever come to soaring with the eagles.
Another aircraft may never match the slow & low abilities of the PPC.
It is an incredibly safe and fun way to sail-the-skies!
How fast do you fly? What is the ceiling of the PPC? (How high can you go?)From the factory, the 2-seat PPC with a 65hp engine, will normally obtain around 12,000 feet with just an average size pilot, and around 8,000 feet with 450 lbs of occupants. As of July 2001, the altitude record is over 17,700 feet (I believe by Bud Gish of Alaska). Can I train myself?Since there is considerably more to flying a PPC, than pulling an elevator control back, or pushing a foot (steering) rudder bar – I would have to say “NO” for safety’s sake! And honestly, anyone that says that they can safely train you in under 6 hours to fly solo – is not giving you the complete picture; too much information would have to be skipped - go elsewhere for your training! What kind of license do I need to fly a Powered Parachutes?This is going to have to be a 2-part answer: one part for true 103 PPC’s, and one for the 2-seat trainers. Relative to true 103 PPC’s:
No license or registration is needed – HEY! Relative to a 2-seat trainer: Yes, you will need to become a BFI (Basic Flight Instructor). To become a BFI, you will need to: 1.
Have 25 hours of flight time in a PPC, then 2. Spend 10 hours with a current BFI to cover Ground and Flight tasks associated to a 2-place trainer, then 3. Have a BFI administer 2 written tests: · A practical BFI exam · A FOI (Fundamentals of Instruction) exam 4. Pass the two tests (80% on the practical, and 70% on the FOI) 5. Have a BFI endorse you for your AFI (Advanced Flight Instructor) check-out flight and exam. 6. Pass the AFI check-out flight, and have the AFI endorse you for your BFI certification. 7. Become a member of the ASC, EAA or USUA, and send in your: · Application and · Signed contract for your BFI, · Along with the written endorsment of your BFI & AFI, · Your original test sheets, and ·
Dues for your BFI (usually $100 per year or $200 for two years). How fast does the PPC fly?The weight of the unit and the occupants determines the air speed of the PPC (along with the drag of the chute). On average, a single occupant PPC will cruise around 26 mph and a loaded 2-seat machine around 32 mph. What winds can a Powered Parachute safely fly in?You should never fly in winds that exceed your flight skills. And, it is recommended that all PPC pilots should avoid flying in winds above 15 mph. Do I need to own a plane, before I take lessons?No, most training centers will have PPC’s that you can rent for training. And it is recommended that you take lessons before purchasing a PPC, so that you can learn the pluses and minuses of each PPC design. What makes the powered parachute so safe & stable?The sound principles of flying a machine in a pendulum configuration are what contribute to the safe and stable facets of the PPC. How long can it fly on one tank of gas?Due to various flying techniques, we can obviously only deal with averages here, but easy to say that the single seat true 103 PPC can stay airborne around an hour and a half with 5 gallons of gas, and the 2-seat trainer, about 2 hours with 10 gallons of gas. What is the maximum weight you can carry?There are quite a few factors that come into play when considering this answer. · The strength of the PPC frame · The size and strength of the canopy On average however, I will venture to say that around 450-500 lbs of payload is workable for a 2-seat trainer. How much room do you need for take-off and landing?Again, weight, weather and faith come into play here. But for two people, you will need about 300 to 400 feet for take-off and around 50-100 to safely land. Are balistic or emergency parachutes used on PPC’s?No. When you have an aircraft with the safely record of the PPC, it is extraordinary to find one with an emergency chute. Are PPC’s useful in aiding Search & Rescue operations?The PPC is so ‘right’, so usefulness when it comes to search & rescue operations, that sometimes, the Civil Air Patrol will get a little jealous about the PPC. Except for getting to the ‘lost’ sight quickly, there is no better aircraft than the PPC for aiding in the search of the lost. (Hec, you could find a lost rabbit with a PPC!) Can you fly at night?No, you can not fly at night without a waiver from the FAA. What are the age limits of a PPC pilot?For a true 103, there is no age limit; for the 2-seat trainer, the pilot must be at least 16 years old. Is a medical required to fly the PPC?No; currently there is no medical certification requirements. However, in the near future, the FAA may require a State Driver’s license, as proof of the medical standard for the pilot. Can I fly in or over a National Park?There has always been confusion over this question. Except for hazardous areas like the Grand Canyon, the FAA has no restrictions on the air space over National Parks – it is only strongly requested that you maintain 2000 AGL (Above the Ground Level) when over a National Park. However, the Park Service will probably ticket (and yell) at you for violating Noise & Disturbance laws, if you fly too low! If a 2-seat PPC is: “To be used for training purposes only”, can it ever be flown just for fun?There are times (beyond) training that a 2-seat PPC is legal to fly. · To transport or ferry the unit to the student · To check-out mechanical conditions of the PPC (especially for the maiden voyage, and to verify other mechanical services) · To maintain the Instructor’s Currency ·
To maintain the Instructor’s Proficiency Do I have to be a ‘mechanical’ type, to maintain my PPC?No, if you can change the plugs and change the gear oil, you will be fine. Are we required to register the PPC with the FAA?
You are not required to register your single seat true 103 PPC, but you are required to register your 2-place trainer. During the December 1996 meeting of all the exemption holders, a uniform agreement that all exempt vehicles must be registered was adopted. The FAA accepted that agreement without incorporating it directly into the exemption, as long as the exemption administrators (ASC, EAA & USUA) require registration. The annual/100 hour condition inspection and the limitation against endorsing those under 16 for solo requirements were imposed at the same meeting.
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