Sun Flightcraft Air-Chopper

{{Short description|Austrian powered parachute}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Air-Chopper | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Powered parachute]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Austria]] | manufacturer = [[Sun Flightcraft]] | design_group = | designer = Herbert Hofbauer | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2015) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = circa 2003–2008 | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Sun Flightcraft Air-Chopper''' is an [[Austria]]n [[powered parachute]] that was designed by Herbert Hofbauer and produced by [[Sun Flightcraft]] of [[Innsbruck]]. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003–04'', page 87. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The aircraft was introduced before 2003 and production ended in about 2008 when the model was discontinued. The company no longer manufactures powered parachutes.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php|title=Sun Flightcraft |website=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |access-date=3 September 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Air-Chopper was designed to comply with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|376|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It employs a {{convert|51|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} Cruiser 26 Elan rectangular canopy or, optionally, a Chiron Sycon-Aircraft elliptical [[parachute]]-style wing. Features include two-seats-in-[[tandem]] accommodation with dual throttles, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine in [[pusher configuration]] with a 2.62:1 "E" gearbox driving a [[Contra-rotating propellers|contra-rotating]] [[Coax-P]] [[aircraft propeller]] to eliminate torque effects.<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="sunflightcraft.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php|title=Sunflightcraft Paraplanes Airchopper |work=sunflightcraft.com|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted [[6082-T6 aluminium]] tubing with [[7075-T6 aluminium]] hardware, plus steel bolts. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has handlebar-controlled nosewheel steering similar to a [[motorcycle]]. The main landing gear incorporates [[fibreglass]] spring rod suspension. Factory options included balloon tires, leather seats, a front wheel brake, front headlight, side panniers and dual control canopy steering.<ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="sunflightcraft.com"/>

The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|156|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|376|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|220|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|37|L}} the payload for crew and baggage is {{convert|194|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA04"/>

==Specifications (Air-Chopper) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bertrand<ref name="WDLA04"/> and manufacturer<ref name="sunflightcraft.com"/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=550 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=156 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=376 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|37|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, [[two-stroke]], liquid-cooled [[aircraft engine]] fitted with a 2.62:1 "E" gearbox |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= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=4.5 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=7.37 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php}} [[Category:Sun Flightcraft aircraft|Air-Chopper]] [[Category:2000s Austrian sport aircraft]] [[Category:2000s Austrian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Powered parachutes]]