PARAMOTORS The paramotors using a running start are limited to one person
Paramotor manufacturer Parajet has started the distribution of the Maverick, Volution 3 and Zenith paramotors as well as the Falco paratrike in South Africa, all of which can be used for recreational flying as well as many other applications including antipoaching and aerial surveillance in national parks and in the game industry for game counting.
Parajet has successfully implemented the Parajet Aerial Defence System with many customers, including Palm Bay Police, in Florida, in the US. Parajet Africa owner and Parajet African distributor Nic Petropoulus explains that on a very limited budget and with few resources available, the Paramotors are effective in searching for cannabis farms, locating dog fighting rings and recovering stolen vehicles.
“Backpacks or foot launch machines, and the Falco trike, come fitted with a wide range of motors,” he explains.
Paramotors are capable of flying a single passenger weighing from 50 kg to 150 kg, or a pilot and passenger, in tandem, up to 250 kg. The Parajets use lightweight twostroke engines linked to a 10 ℓ to 14 ℓ fuel tank that allows the paramotor to travel for about three-and-a-half hours.
He points out that the Zenith is the first fully computer numerically control manufactured machine of aircraft-grade aluminium in the world. The paramotor chassis features an enhanced geometry and easy in-flight maneuverability and handling. It features modular plug-and-play tool-less assembly. The chassis weight of the Zenith is 10.5 kg, with a fuel capacity of 12.5 ℓ.
The Maverick is a lightweight titanium construction and uses more traditional fabricating techniques such as pipe bending and welding, Petropoulus explains “it has a unique ‘snap fit’ design with a chassis weight of 8.3 kg and a fuel capacity of 10 ℓ.”
The Volution 3 is constructed from high-strength aircraft-grade aluminium magnesium alloy with a rapid fit four-part cage system. The chassis weight is 12.8 kg and it has a fuel capacity of 14 ℓ.
Falco Paratrike uses the Volution 3 backpack that clips onto the trike chassis in five minutes enabling solo or duel flight, with capability to shoulder an up to 250 kg payload. He explains that the trike chassis weight is 10.5 kg and includes disc brakes and smart forks in the front with cantilever rear axles and large pneumatic tires. This setup enables the operator to remove the backpack and foot launch from terrain that does not lend itself to trike flying.
“With the normal foot launch paramotors you can take off and land anywhere as long as you have a clear area and, with an operating cost of R60 an hour, the paramotors are ideal for the game and farming industries,” he concludes.