Gemini Twin

{{Short description|American powered parachute}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Twin | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Powered parachute]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Gemini Powered Parachutes]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2007) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 60 (2005) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 2002-2007 | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Gemini Twin''' is an American [[powered parachute]] that was designed and produced by [[Gemini Powered Parachutes]] of [[Culver, Indiana]]. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 82. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 50. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>

The aircraft was introduced in about 2002 and production ended when the company went out of business in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.geminipoweredparachutes.com/ |title=Gemini Powered Parachutes |website=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |access-date=23 July 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Twin was designed by a former [[Buckeye Industries]] employee to comply with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category and the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules as an ultralight trainer. It features a {{convert|45|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} [[parachute]]-style wing, two-seats-in-[[tandem]] accommodation, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA04"/>

The aircraft carriage is built from a combination of bolted [[aluminium]] and [[4130 steel]] 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 suspension. The acceptable power range is {{convert|50|to|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/>

The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|157|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|385|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|228|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|40|L}} the payload for crew and baggage is {{convert|200|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA04"/>

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine is {{convert|350|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and the landing roll is {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/>

==Operational history== In 2005 the company reported 60 examples had been completed and flown.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/> In July 2015, 15 examples were [[Aircraft registration|registered]] in the United States with the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=GEMINI&Modeltxt=TWIN&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 23 July 2015|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 23 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2004 Jean Pierre la Camus reviewed the design in the ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation'' and described the Twin as "soundly engineered".<ref name="WDLA04"/>

==Specifications (Twin) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bertrand and Kitplanes<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=10 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=45 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=157 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=385 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|40|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, [[two-stroke]], liquid-cooled [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=55 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=60 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=500 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=8.56 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.geminipoweredparachutes.com/ Official website archives] on [[Archive.org]]

[[Category:Gemini Powered Parachutes aircraft|Twin]] [[Category:2000s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:2000s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Powered parachutes]]