Engineering:Para-Ski Top Gun
| Top Gun | |
|---|---|
| Role | Powered parachute |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | Para-Ski |
| Status | Production completed (circa 2011) |
| Produced | 2003–2011 |
| Number built | At least three |
The Para-Ski Top Gun is a Canadian powered parachute that was designed and produced by Para-Ski of Mascouche, Quebec. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft and also as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]
The Top Gun was introduced in 2003 and production ended when the company went out of business in about 2011.[3]
Design and development
The Top Gun was designed to comply with the Canadian Basic Ultralight Aeroplane category, as well as the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category. In kit form the aircraft was designed to comply with the Canadian Amateur-built Aircraft rules as well as the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a 521 sq ft (48.4 m2) parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, four-wheeled landing gear and a single 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration. The 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 3203, the 80 hp (60 kW) Hirth F-30 or 110 hp (82 kW) Hirth F-30ES engines were factory options. Parachute options included square or elliptical canopies of 400 to 600 sq ft (37 to 56 m2). Landing gear options include skis and floats.[1][4]
The aircraft carriage is built from welded aluminium tubing and has a "sledge-like" cockpit fairing incorporating dual square headlights. In flight steering is accomplished via handle bars that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has front wheel steering. The aircraft uses a large rudder to offset the engine torque effects. The landing gear incorporates independent shock and spring suspension.[1][5]
The aircraft has an empty weight of 400 lb (181 kg) and a gross weight of 900 lb (408 kg), giving a useful load of 500 lb (227 kg). With full fuel of 38 litres (8.4 imp gal; 10 US gal) the payload for crew and baggage is 440 lb (200 kg).[1][5]
Operational history
In July 2015 three examples were registered with the Transport Canada.[6]
Variants
Specifications (Top Gun Discovery)
Data from Bertrand[1] and manufacturer[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
- Wing area: 521.0 sq ft (48.40 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 1.72:1
- Empty weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
- Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 30 litres (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Ivo-Prop, 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
- Cruise speed: 30 mph (48 km/h, 26 kn)
- Stall speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
- Rate of climb: 790 ft/min (4 m/s)
- Wing loading: 1.7 lb/sq ft (8.4 kg/m2)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 84. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ "Para-Ski International". paraski.com. http://www.paraski.com/showroom/topgun/index.htm.
- ↑ "Para-Ski". https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.paraski.com/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Para-Ski International". paraski.com. http://www.paraski.com/builder/topgun.htm.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Para-Ski International". paraski.com. http://www.paraski.com/showroom/topgun/features.htm.
- ↑ Transport Canada (15 July 2015). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/Menu.aspx.
External links
- Aircraft website archives on Archive.org
- Photo of a Top Gun landing
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