New unofficial World Record with the CHIRON 340 ?

On the 26th of October 2001 an incredible flight was made with a PPC and the CHIRON 340 in Hungary / Europe.
A Russian jung PPC pilot just being finished in training climbed up to 5.661 meters / 18.870 feet above sea level in 58 minutes, what a terrific climb! Is this the new unofficial record in reaching high altitude with a Powered Parachute? In any case, congratulations to the pilot !

PPC: EXPLORER from SUN FLIGHTCRAFT, Austrian made

Engine: Rotax 582 DCDI Mod. 99, standard equipped

Wing: CHIRON 340

Pilot: Ruslan A. Grytsaylo

 

Market release of the new smaller CHIRON 310

"The new smaller size wing - the CHIRON 310 - is being released to the market now. Made especially for single seater PPC's as well as light weight two seater PPC's. The excellent features of the CHIRON 340 in terms of stability and performance could be achieved for the 310 as well by reaching even easier general handling and behavior. Now also single seater PPC pilots can take the advantage of a most modern PPC canopy design! Have your soonest possible try on the new CHIRON 310!"

Incredible flight from Israel to Cyprus with the CHIRON !

265 kilometers with the PPC over the Mediterranean Sea

Haim Rave, a recreational pilot with vast experience with paraglider, powered paraglider, powered parachute, light and ultralight aircraft completed a flight from the city Haifa in Israel to city Larnaka in Cyprus and return over the 256 kilometers Mediterranean sea with a PPC.

The idea for the flight to Cyprus crystallized in Haim mined over the past few years, and the more he investigate it the more it look as highly risky. When the PPC made by Buckeye appeared on the market, Haim Rave realized that it have the potential for the mission. Further, in depth investigation revealed crucial technical modifications will be required to enable the successful completion of that mission.

The Canopy:

The PPC as received from the manufacturer was equipped with a rectangular canopy. That original canopy air speed was limited to 48 Km/h when the PPC is fully loaded, and with low maneuverability. Haim being experienced with the various canopy configurations realized that an advanced elliptical canopy would provide the desirable solution. Hence, he approached SYCON-AIRCRAFT to provide him with the new CHIRON, believing that this canopy will give him the desired performance and characteristics. When testing the wing, it achieved an air speed of 58 Km/h when fully loaded, while providing excellent maneuverability. That higher performance elliptical canopy translated to 20% in fuel saving.

The Engine:

Most of the PPC's are equipped with the light two-cycle engine Rotax 582. However, that light engine is also fuel thirsty, and for a long flight, the combined weight of the engine and the fuel did not provide the desired solution. The four-cycle engine Rotax 912 was provided by the Buckeye representative in Israel which required only 45 liter of fuel at still air, and 80 liter with a 25 Km/h head wind when the PPC speed is only 33 Km/h. Accordingly with the margins of safety, 110 liter of fuel was carried by the PPC in a plastic barrel that replaced the passenger seat.

Safety:

Flotation: In the event of emergency ditching to the sea, Haim requested Federal Fabrics-Fibers (FFF) from Lowell Massachusetts to develop a lightweight floatation device that will enable the PPC to land safely on the water. FFF developed three seamless tubular fabric cylinders and the inflation system with the desired margins of safety. Two of the empty and folded seamless fabric cylinders were attached and stowed along the PPC horizontal frame and the third under the engine. Testing of the fully configured system showed that the three cylinders deployed and fully inflated in 20 seconds.

Navigation:

The PPC was equipped with two Global Positioning Systems (GPS) , and a third GPS in a water tight packaged stowed in pilot coverall pocket.

Communication:

Three communication systems were used. Two VHF AM and one VFH FM in addition to the cellular phone. All the communications were interfaced to a single switch box, enabling the pilot to select the desired system during the flight.

Search and Rescue:

To assure an emergency search and rescue, two twin-engine airplanes, and one high speed boat were drafted. The airplanes planed to take off from Tel-Aviv and Haifa airports about an hour before the scheduled arrival to Cyprus, and on the return flight to take off from Larnaka Airport an hour before the scheduled arrival to Haifa. The 35 Km/h speed boat was scheduled to wait in the flight path about 50 Km from the shore line, and start the sail toward the destination port as the PPC take off. According to the calculations, a meeting would occur in about three hours.

Others:

Personal inflatable devise, pyrotechnic flares, a water tight packaged hand held radio, water bottles and food were attached with a strings and stowed in the pilot coverall pockets. Tying all the small items is important to avoid not only loss, but suction through the propeller…
The gross weight of the PPC with the pilot reached 440 kg, a load that the canopy was designed to support. A series of test flights were conducted, initially short flight, and ultimately a 6 hours flight. All the systems and the pilot personal needs were tested during those flights. All the technical preparations performed by Haim Rave, and his volunteered friends. Authorizations for the international flight of the unconventional aircraft at low altitude up to 3000 ft was granted both from the Israel and the Cyprus authorities.

The Flight:

The flight from Haifa in Israel took place on May 12 2000 and the return flight on the following day. Haim left his home at 0300, trailing the PPC, and arrived to Haifa Airport at 0400. The press and photographers arrived at 0600 to cover the event. At 0630 the tower was open and Haim took off at 0700. A frind with an Ultralight flew by to the shore line, and a helicopter with the camera crew from the newspaper Yediot-Aharonot circled around to get a clear shot. Direct radio contact with the boat could not be establish, but the boat got the go ahead from the Haifa air-traffic controller. The uneventful flight at 1000 ft continued at 58 Km/h followed the GPS flight path, undisturbed by the drifting illusion created by sea wave motion. Radio contact with the powerboat was soon established, and maintained up to 30 min prior to arrival. The major communication load proved to be the cellular phone. While over the open water at a 1000 ft altitude, the cellular phone kept ringing up to 90 Km from the Cyprus shore, and many friends called in to chat, along with a live interview with a radio station. After about two hours, visual contact was made with the boat, and Haim descend to sea level, while circling the boat, bombarding the crew with candies. Soon after regaining this 1000 ft altitude, the port city of Larnaka appeared on the horizons, and contact was established with the air traffic controller and the Larnaka airport tower. After a short holding time, landing permission was granted, and it was difficult to convince the tower that the strange craft is going to land directly in the final parking spot. Press and photographers that waited reported to the local press about the PPC which is not known locally. Clearing the Airport proved to be difficult as the authorities could not make out their mind of how to record the unconventional flight. In the interim, the two search and rescue airplane and the boat arrived, and all got together for lunch in a beach restaurant for trading stories and experiences. The following morning and after a slight delay, as the local authorities still did not knew how to register the flight and what fee to charge, the flight took off. Due to low clouds Haim climbed to 2700 ft, where the prevailing 10 Km/h wind brought the PPC to a ground speed of about70 Km/h. The meeting with the boat occurred early, but when Haim attempted to descend, he found the air cold and unstable, and decided to keep his altitude. After about three and a half hours he arrived to Haifa, establish contact with air traffic control, flowed by the tower to an eventless landing. A warm welcome from his frinds and followed with a sort meeting with the waiting press reporters.

In Closing:

The detailed preparations followed by the series of test flights confirmed that a PPC distance flight over the water is possible, similar to certified airplanes. The available fuel and the high performance of the canopy enabled 13 to 14 hours flight, and a windless distance of 900 Km.