Paladin Sparrow Explained

The Paladin Sparrow is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Paladin Industries of Pennsauken, New Jersey.[1] [2]

The company's website was removed in 2012, the company seems to have gone out of business, although production of the Sparrow had ended prior to the company ceasing business.<[3]

Design and development

The Sparrow was designed to be a light, simple and inexpensive powered parachute to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 2540NaN0. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 1450NaN0. It features a parachute-style high wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 300NaN0 Hirth F-33 engine with a tuned exhaust system in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is built from a combination of bolted aluminium and steel tubing. Inflight steering is accomplished with an unusual triangular control bar, similar to that found on an ultralight trike, that actuates the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The canopy originally factory-provided was the High Pro with an area of 370square feet. The aircraft was factory-supplied in the form of an assembly kit that requires 20–50 hours to complete.

Notes and References

  1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page D-9. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001.
  2. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 84. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Web site: Paladin Industries Inc.. archive.org. Paladin Industries. 18 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129043122/http://chuteme.com/. 29 November 2011. dead.