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. |
