ChApter 1—Introduction to the powered
parachute
History of the Powered Parachute ......................1-1
Powered Parachute Terms ............................1-2
Introduction to the Powered Parachute ..............1-2
Powered Parachute Pilot Certificate
Eligibility Requirements .................................1-2
Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) .............1-4
Resource Management .......................................1-4
Use of Checklists ...............................................1-5
Situational Awareness ........................................1-5
Stress Management ............................................1-5
Medical Factors Related to the PPC ..................1-5
Alcohol .........................................................1-6
Anxiety .........................................................1-6
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning .......................1-6
Dehydration ..................................................1-6
Drugs ............................................................1-6
Middle Ear and Sinus Problems ...................1-6
Fatigue ..........................................................1-7
Hyperventilation...........................................1-7
Hypoxia ........................................................1-7
Motion Sickness ...........................................1-7
Scuba Diving ................................................1-8
Spatial Disorientation ...................................1-8
Stress ............................................................1-8
Stroke and Heart Attack ...............................1-8
Medical Summary —
“The Bottom Line”.....................................1-9
ChApter 2—Aerodynamics of Flight
Aerodynamic Terms ...........................................2-1
Powered Parachute Wing Pressurization
and Flexibility .................................................2-3
Forces in Flight ..................................................2-4
Lift ................................................................2-5
Drag ..............................................................2-6
Weight ..........................................................2-7
Thrust ...........................................................2-7
Center of Gravity ...............................................2-8
Axes of Rotation ................................................2-9
Ground Effect .....................................................2-9
Moments ............................................................2-9
Thrust Line Moments .................................2-10
Gravity Moment .........................................2-10
Wing Attachment to Cart ...........................2-10
Stability ............................................................2-12
PPC Angle of Attack Characteristics ...............2-12
Normal Flying Conditions .........................2-12
Flaring Increases Angle of Attack ..............2-13
Porpoising Creates Variations in AOA .......2-14
Stalls: Exceeding the Critical
Angle of Attack ................................................2-14
Turning Effect ..................................................2-15
Weight, Load and Speed Changes ....................2-15
PPC Aerodynamics Summary ..........................2-16
ChApter 3 — Components and Systems
The Airframe ......................................................3-1
Center of Gravity Adjustments ..........................3-2
Multiple Attachment Points Bracket ............3-3
Center of Gravity Adjuster Tubes ................3-3
Instrument Panel ................................................3-3
Additional Equipment ........................................3-4
Electrical System ...............................................3-4
The Steering Bars ...............................................3-5
Wings and Components .....................................3-5
Risers..................................................................3-7
The Fuel Tank ....................................................3-7
Throttle System ..................................................3-8
The Powerplant ..................................................3-8
The Propeller ......................................................3-8
Axle and Wheel Assembly .................................3-9
ChApter 4 —powerplants
Reciprocating Engines .......................................4-1
Two-Stroke Engines ...........................................4-1
Two-Stroke Process ......................................4-1
Four-Stroke Engines ..........................................4-4
Exhaust Systems ................................................4-4
Two-Stroke Tuned Exhaust Systems ............4-4
Four-Stroke Engine Exhaust Systems ..........4-4
Two-Stroke Engine Warming .............................4-4
Four-Stroke Engine Warming ............................4-5
Gearboxes ..........................................................4-5
Certrifugal Clutch ........................................4-6
Propeller .............................................................4-6
ContentS
Fixed-Pitch Propeller ...................................4-6
Ground Adjustable-Pitch Propeller ..............4-6
Induction Systems ..............................................4-6
Carburetor Systems ............................................4-6
Two-Stroke Carburetor Jetting .....................4-7
Four-Stroke Mixture Settings .......................4-8
Carburetor Icing ...........................................4-8
Fuel Injection Systems .................................4-8
Ignition System ..................................................4-9
Combustion ........................................................4-9
Fuel Systems ....................................................4-10
Fuel Pumps .................................................4-10
Fuel Plunger Primer ...................................4-10
Choke .........................................................4-10
Fuel Bulb Primer ........................................4-10
Fuel Gauges ................................................4-11
Fuel Filter ...................................................4-11
Fuel ..................................................................4-11
Fuel Contamination ....................................4-12
Bad Gasoline ..............................................4-12
Refueling Procedures .................................4-12
Mixing Two-Stroke Oil and Fuel ...............4-13
Starting System ................................................4-13
Oil Systems ......................................................4-13
Engine Cooling Systems ..................................4-13
Chapter 5 —Preflight and Ground
Operations
Get Ready to Fly ................................................5-1
Trailering ............................................................5-1
Where to Fly ......................................................5-2
Weather ..............................................................5-3
Weight and Loading ...........................................5-3
The Preflight Checklist ......................................5-5
Certificates and Documents ...............................5-5
Visual Inspection ................................................5-6
Cart Inspection ...................................................5-6
Fuel and Oil ........................................................5-8
Powerplant Inspection ........................................5-8
Engine Starting ...................................................5-9
Engine Warm-Up .............................................5-10
Taxiing .............................................................5-10
Wing Inspection ...............................................5-12
Line Tangles, Twists, and Line-Overs ..............5-14
Line Twists .................................................5-15
Line-Overs .................................................5-16
Preparing for Takeoff .......................................5-16
After Landing ...................................................5-16
Clearing the Runway ........................................5-17
Parking .............................................................5-17
Postflight ..........................................................5-17
Packing the Wing .............................................5-17
Chapter 6 —Basic Flight Maneuvers
The Four Fundamentals .....................................6-1
Flight Controls ...................................................6-1
Throttle ...............................................................6-1
Claring Turns .....................................................6-2
Turning the Powered Parachute .........................6-2
Feel of the PPC ..................................................6-2
Attitude Flying ...................................................6-3
Straight-and Level Flight ...................................6-3
Level Turns ........................................................6-5
Climbing and Climbing Turns, Descents
and Descending Turns .....................................6-7
Gliding ...............................................................6-8
Wing Trim ..........................................................6-8
Chapter 7 —Takeoffs and Departure
Climbs
Terms and Definitions ........................................7-1
Laying Out the Wing ..........................................7-1
The Inverted Method ....................................7-1
The Stacked (or Accordion) Method ............7-2
Cockpit Management .........................................7-2
Before Takeoff Check ........................................7-3
Start the Engine/Initial Rollout ..........................7-3
Wing Inflation and Kiting ..................................7-3
Normal Takeoff ..................................................7-5
Takeoff Roll .................................................7-5
Rotation ........................................................7-5
Lift-Off .........................................................7-5
Initial Climb .................................................7-5
Centering the Wing ............................................7-6
Encourage Cell Openings ..................................7-6
“Lock-out” Avoidance........................................7-6
Crosswind Takeoff .............................................7-6
Positioning the Cart ......................................7-6
Wing Inflation and Kiting ............................7-6
Takeoff Roll .................................................7-7
Lift-Off .........................................................7-7
Initial Climb .................................................7-7
Rejected Takeoff/Engine Failure ........................7-7
Runway Surface and Gradient ...........................7-8
Takeoff Performance ..........................................7-8
Noise Abatement ................................................7-9
Chapter 8 —Airspace Classification
and Requirements
Controlled Airspace ...........................................8-1
Class A Airspace ................................................8-1
Class B Airspace ................................................8-2
Class C Airspace ................................................8-3
Class D Airspace ................................................8-3
Class E Airspace ................................................8-3
Uncontrolled Airspace: Class G
Airspace ..........................................................8-4
Special Use Airspace ..........................................8-4
Prohibited Areas .................................................8-4
Restricted Areas .................................................8-4
Warning Areas ....................................................8-4
Military Operation Areas ...................................8-5
Alert Areas .........................................................8-5
Controlled Firing Areas ......................................8-5
Other Airspace Areas .........................................8-5
Airport Advisory Areas ......................................8-5
Military Training Routes ....................................8-5
Temporary Flight Restrictions ...........................8-5
Parachute Jump Areas ........................................8-5
Published VFR Routes .......................................8-6
Terminal Radar Service Areas............................8-6
National Security Areas .....................................8-6
Flight Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges,
Parks, and Forest Service Areas ......................8-6
Powered Parachute Operations ..........................8-6
PPC and Air Traffic Control ...............................8-6
Navigating the Airspace .....................................8-7
Chapter 9— Ground Reference
Maneuvers
Purpose and Scope .............................................9-1
Maneuvering by Reference to
Ground Objects ...............................................9-1
Drift and Ground Track Control ........................9-2
Rectangular Course ............................................9-4
S-Turns Across a Road .......................................9-6
Turns Around a Point .........................................9-8
Chapter 10—Airport Traffic Patterns
Airport Traffic Patterns and
Operations .....................................................10-1
Standard Airport Traffic Patterns .....................10-2
Chapter 11—Approaches and Landings
Normal Approach and Landing ........................11-1
Base Leg ...........................................................11-1
Final Approach .................................................11-2
Estimating Height and Movement ...................11-3
Roundout ..........................................................11-3
Wing Control ....................................................11-4
Touchdown .......................................................11-5
After-Landing Roll ...........................................11-6
Stabilized Approach Concept ...........................11-7
Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings) ....................11-8
Turbulent Air Approach and Landing ..............11-9
Emergency Approach and Landings
(Simulated)....................................................11-9
Faulty Approaches and Landings ...................11-11
Low Final Approach.................................11-11
High Final Approach ................................11-11
Use of Power ............................................11-11
High Roundout .........................................11-11
Bouncing During Touchdown ..................11-12
Hard Landing ...........................................11-12
Wing Blowing Over After Touchdown ....11-13
Chapter 12— Night, Abnormal, and
Emergency Procedures
Night Operations and the Powered
Parachute ..........................................................12-1
Emergency Situations ......................................12-1
Accidents ....................................................12-2
Potential Hazards of the Standing PPC ............12-2
Restricted Lines During the Takeoff Roll ........12-3
Entangled or Embedded Lines ...................12-3
Lines Caught Under a Wheel .....................12-3
A Wing Wall .....................................................12-3
A Wing Lock-Out .............................................12-3
Wing Not Centered Overhead ..........................12-4
The Cart Turns Over (Roll-Over) ....................12-4
Engine Failure on Climbout .............................12-5
Engine Failure in Flight ...................................12-6
Engine Failure in a PPCL .................................12-6
In-Flight Fire ....................................................12-7
Landing Porpoise .............................................12-7
Gust-Induced Oscillations ................................12-8
Cross-Country Flights ......................................12-8
Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear .......12-8
Glossary ...........................................................G-1
Index .................................................................. I-1
History of the Powered Parachute
As early as the 12th century, the Chinese used an um-
brella-shape parachute design for recreation. About
300 years later, Leonardo da Vinci blueprinted a pyra-
mid-shaped parachute. In the late 18th century, man
jumped from towers and balloons with a parachute.
The first parachute jump from an airplane occurred
in 1912.
After World War II, sport jumping became a recre -
ational activity. The sport started with round para -
chutes, ranging in size from 20 to 30 feet in diameter.
Parachutes evolved into a steerable, gliding wing
smaller than today’s rectangular ram- air powered
parachute (PPC) wing which is approximately 38 feet
wide.
On October 1, 1964, Domina C. Jalbert applied for
a patent for his “ Multi-Cell Wing” named “Parafoil”
(also known as a “ram-air” wing), which was a new
parachute design. His ideas were registered as a U.S.
patent on November 15,1966. [Figure 1-1 A] Howev-
er, in 1964 Lowell Farrand had already flown a motor-
ized version called “ The Irish Flyer” by Nicolaides.
[Figure 1-1 B] Farrand was the first person to put an
engine on a ram-air inflated parachute wing, starting
the evolution of the powered parachute with the Irish
Flyer. This wing evolved into today’s modern pow -
ered parachute canopies, which include rectangular,
elliptical, semi-elliptical, and hybrid wings.
The United States (U.S.) government had a number
of test programs that used the square parachute as a
means to glide spacecraft back to earth or glide pay -
loads dropped out of airplanes to a specific location.
Two-place powered parachutes have years of testing,
development, and evolution. Training exemptions to
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 103, Ultralight Vehicles, permitted individuals
to give instruction in two-place ultralight vehicles,
instead of being restricted to vehicles intended for
single occupants. [Figure 1-1 C] The Federal Avia -
tion Administration (FAA) allowed ultralight vehicle
Figure 1-1. The evolution of powered parachutes.