# Skymaster Excel

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American powered parachute

Excel General information Type Powered parachute National origin United States Manufacturer Skymaster Powered Parachutes Status Production completed (2008) Number built at least ten History Manufactured 2001-2008 Variant Skymaster Single Seater

The **Skymaster Excel** is an American [powered parachute](/source/Powered_parachute) that was designed and produced by [Skymaster Powered Parachutes](/source/Skymaster_Powered_Parachutes) of [Hartland, Wisconsin](/source/Hartland%2C_Wisconsin). Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft).[1]

The aircraft was introduced in 2001 and production ended when the company went out of business in late 2008.[2][3]

## Design and development

The aircraft complies with the [Fédération Aéronautique Internationale](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_A%C3%A9ronautique_Internationale) [microlight](/source/Microlight) category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb) and also the US *Experimental - Amateur-built* aircraft rules. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 385 kg (849 lb). It features a 550 sq ft (51 m2) [parachute](/source/Parachute)-style wing, two-seats-in-[tandem](/source/Tandem) accommodation, [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) and a single 65 hp (48 kW) [Hirth 2706](/source/Hirth_2706) engine in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration). The 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine was also offered.[1][4]

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted [aluminium](/source/Aluminium) 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.[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 421 lb (191 kg) and a gross weight of 850 lb (386 kg), giving a useful load of 429 lb (195 kg). With full fuel of 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) the payload for crew and baggage is 369 lb (167 kg).[1]

## Operational history

In August 2015 ten examples were [registered](/source/Aircraft_registration) in the United States with the [Federal Aviation Administration](/source/Federal_Aviation_Administration).[5]

The design won many awards, including 2001 [Sun 'n Fun](/source/Sun_'n_Fun) Grand Champion, 2001 [AirVenture](/source/AirVenture) Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2002 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 Sun 'n Fun Innovations and 2004 Sun 'n Fun Best Trike.[1][6] It was later developed into a smaller single seat design, the [Skymaster Single Seater](/source/Skymaster_Single_Seater).[7]

## Specifications (version)

*Data from* Bertrand and manufacturer[1][8]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Length:** 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)

- **Width:** 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) carriage width

- **Height:** 7 ft 1.5 in (2.172 m)

- **Wing area:** 550 sq ft (51 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 421 lb (191 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 849 lb (385 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Hirth 2706](/source/Hirth_2706) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), air-cooled [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine), 65 hp (48 kW)

- **Propellers:** 3-bladed composite, ground adjustable

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 29 mph (47 km/h, 25 kn)

- **Rate of climb:** 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)

- **Wing loading:** 1.5 lb/sq ft (7.3 kg/m2)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_1-5) Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04*, page 85. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Fly Skymaster"](https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.flyskymaster.com/). *Internet Archive Wayback Machine*. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Company History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011349/http://www.flyskymaster.com/Company-History.htm). *flyskymaster.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.flyskymaster.com/Company-History.htm) on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Price For The Skymaster Excel"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011445/http://www.flyskymaster.com/STAND-EQ.htm). *flyskymaster.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.flyskymaster.com/STAND-EQ.htm) on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FAAReg_5-0)** [Federal Aviation Administration](/source/Federal_Aviation_Administration) (August 12, 2015). ["Make / Model Inquiry Results"](http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=EXCEL&PageNo=1). Retrieved August 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Skymaster"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081014132742/http://www.flyskymaster.com/). *flyskymaster.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.flyskymaster.com/) on October 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Single seater"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080318233256/http://www.flyskymaster.com/SINGLE%20SEAT.htm). *flyskymaster.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.flyskymaster.com/SINGLE%20SEAT.htm) on March 18, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Skymaster Excel Specifications"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080514011405/http://www.flyskymaster.com/SPECIFICATION.htm). *flyskymaster.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.flyskymaster.com/SPECIFICATION.htm) on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

## External links

- [Company website archives](https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.flyskymaster.com/) on [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Skymaster Excel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skymaster_Excel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skymaster_Excel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.