Paladin Hercules

Hercules
Role Powered parachute
National origin United States
Manufacturer Paladin Industries
Status Production completed (2012)
Unit cost
US$22,000 (2001)

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

The company's website was removed in 2012, the company seems to have gone out of business and production ended.[2]

Design and development

The Hercules was designed as a heavy-lift, two-seat powered parachute and as such it has a useful load of 600 lb (272 kg). It features a parachute-style high-wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 80 hp (60 kW) or 110 hp (82 kW) Hirth F-30 two-stroke engine in pusher configuration.[1][3]

The aircraft carriage is constructed from a combination of bolted aluminium and 4130 steel tubing. Inflight steering is accomplished via a weight-shift tilt-bar that actuates the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The factory-provided canopy is an Apco Ram Air with an area of 550 sq ft (51 m2). The landing gear incorporates independent hydraulic struts for suspension. The aircraft was factory-supplied in the form of an assembly kit that required 50 hours to complete.[1][3]

Reviewer Andre Cliche described the Hercules as "a heavy hauler brute powered by an amazing 110 hp Hirth 4-cylinder 2-stroke engine."[1]

Specifications (Hercules)

Data from Manufacturer[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Wing area: 550 sq ft (51 m2)
  • Empty weight: 395 lb (179 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-30 four cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled aircraft engine, 110 hp (82 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 28 mph (45 km/h; 24 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 3.81:1
  • Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
  • Rate of sink: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 1.82 lb/sq ft (8.9 kg/m2)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page D-9. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". archive.org. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Paladin Industries (n.d.). "Specifications". Retrieved 14 March 2012.
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