Parascender Para-Ag

The Parascender Para-Ag is an American powered parachute agricultural aircraft that was designed and produced by Parascender Technologies of Kissimmee, Florida. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Para-Ag
Role Powered parachute agricultural aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Parascender Technologies
Status Production completed
Developed from Parascender I

Design and development

A variant of the Parascender I, the Para-Ag was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a 520 sq ft (48 m2) parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine in pusher configuration. A 620 sq ft (58 m2) wing was optional.[1][2]

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing. Inflight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has foot-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 285 lb (129 kg) and a gross weight of 720 lb (330 kg), giving a useful load of 435 lb (197 kg). With full fuel of 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and chemicals for application is 375 lb (170 kg). A series of dry chemical hoppers and liquid chemical tanks of 35 to 50 U.S. gallons (130 to 190 L; 29 to 42 imp gal) were available and the chemicals were disbursed from booms protruding from either side of the cockpit at propeller hub height.[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, takeoff with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 150 ft (46 m) and the landing roll is 50 ft (15 m).[1]

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 30 hours.[1]

Operational history

In April 2015 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[3]

Specifications (Para-Ag)

Data from Purdy[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
  • Wing area: 520.0 sq ft (48.31 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 2.8:1
  • Empty weight: 285 lb (129 kg)
  • Gross weight: 720 lb (327 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 7,500 ft (2,300 m)
  • Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 1.4 lb/sq ft (6.8 kg/m2)

References
  1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 339. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. All-Aero (2015). "Parascender Technologies Para-AG". Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. Federal Aviation Administration (8 April 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 8 April 2015.
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