How many wings do Paramania
produce each year?
Paramania currently produces about
1000 wings a year – the Action GT and the Revolution.
How long does it take to develop
a new wing?
It take about 12 months to develop
a new model; this includes conception, prototyping
and testing. However actual design concepts can take
much longer
How long does it take to manufacture
one wing?
Depending on the model, between
60-100 hrs of labour to produce one wing.
Why a specific Paramotor wing?
It is only natural that a specific
type of wing is desirable for powered use. The type
of flight and load requirements are so different
that anything less would be a compromise. Below are
two clear examples from aviation history. A hang
glider for free-flight (gliding flight) compared
with one for a Microlight A glider (sailplane) compared
to a powered aircraft.
What are the different requirements
between a wing designed for paragliding and one designed
for powered flight?
In general – For
free flight (gliding)
A wing made for free-flight needs to be sensitive to rising air
currents. So has less pitch stability, which helps a pilot feel
the air more. It must turn very flat and be spirally neutral, to
be efficient whilst using thermal cores. It needs the best sink
rate possible, to help it rise with the air currents. Pilots nearly
always have their hands in the control handles as they need to
fly actively. The wing may also be made of a lighter construction
as it has fewer loads and line drag is more important so thinner
lines are used. It must also be lighter for carrying up mountains
to a take off, where thermals and lift are more abundant.
For powered flight:
A wing made for power needs good directional and pitch stability.
It has to absorb a variable power source of thrust and torque
mounted on the pilot below the wing. The type of flying is very
different i.e. Going places between A & B whilst navigating
and taking photos etc. The pilot flies usually with hands off
the controls. More stability at speed means it can cut through
turbulence and arrive against varying head winds and weather.
Sink rate and flat handling are considered less important than
good speed and stability. For safety the handling also needs
to be light and responsive at lower speeds but much less so when
going faster. The construction is heavier to take the extra loads.
Wings have wider ranges of weight and safe speed.
Summary:
Despite the opposing requirements there are many developments common
to both. New technological evolutions are happening all the time.
We are now starting to see some powered wings that have a good
sink rate and flatter handling and free-flight (gliding) wings
that are definitely becoming more stable at speed. The reflex
wing section is a key facture to some of these new and exciting
changes. |
