The Skye Ryder Aerochute was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles two-seat trainer exemption as well as the Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a 500square feet parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 500NaN0 Rotax 503 engine in pusher configuration. The aircraft was also sold as a single-seater with a 450square feet wing.[1]
The aircraft carriage is built from metal tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 250lb and a gross weight of 900lb, giving a useful load of 650lb. With full fuel of the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 620lb.[1]
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 500NaN0 engine is 2000NaN0 and the landing roll is 750NaN0.[1]
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 30 hours.[1]
By 1998 the company reported that 1064 kits had been sold and 1058 aircraft were completed and flying.[1]
In April 2015 seven examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[2]