Engineering:Paraplane WD-1 Wind Dancer
Please use PROD only on articles. It is proposed that this article be deleted because of the following concern:
If you can address this concern by improving, copyediting, sourcing, renaming, or merging the page, please edit this page and do so. You may remove this message if you improve the article or otherwise object to deletion for any reason. Although not required, you are encouraged to explain why you object to the deletion, either in your edit summary or on the talk page. If this template is removed, do not replace it. This message has remained in place for seven days, so the article may be deleted without further notice. Nominator: Please consider notifying the author/project: {{subst:proposed deletion notify|Engineering:Paraplane WD-1 Wind Dancer|concern=WP:DEL8: No sources of notability in article or available on the web. This article is a collection of facts from a directory as its only source. These uncontroversial deletions are not opposed by the original author after notification. Relevant: WP:NOTDIRECTORY and this AfD nomination.}} ~~~~Timestamp: 20260925234134 23:41, 25 September 2026 (UTC) Administrators: delete |
| WD-1 Wind Dancer | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Powered parachute |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Paraplane International |
The Paraplane WD-1 Wind Dancer is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Paraplane International of Medford, New Jersey. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]
Design and development
The WD-1 Wind Dancer was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 190 lb (86 kg). It features a 370 sq ft (34 m2) Hi-Pro parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft carriage is built from a combination of aluminium and 4130 steel tubing. In flight 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 steel spring rod suspension. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 190 lb (86 kg) and a gross weight of 480 lb (220 kg), giving a useful load of 290 lb (130 kg). With full fuel of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 260 lb (120 kg).[1]
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 40 hp (30 kW) engine is 125 ft (38 m) and the landing roll is 50 ft (15 m).[1]
The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied assembly kit as five hours.[1]
Specifications (WD-1 Wind Dancer)
Data from Purdy[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 6.42 ft (1.96 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
- Wing area: 370 sq ft (34 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 2.7:1
- Empty weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
- Gross weight: 480 lb (218 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 447 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 40 hp (30 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden, fixed pitch
Performance
- Maximum speed: 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)
- Cruise speed: 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)
- Range: 42 mi (68 km, 36 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 550 ft/min (2.8 m/s)
- Wing loading: 1.3 lb/sq ft (6.3 kg/m2)
References
Template:Paraplane International aircraft
 |  |
