# Sun Flightcraft Air-Chopper

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Austrian powered parachute

Air-Chopper General information Type Powered parachute National origin Austria Manufacturer Sun Flightcraft Designer Herbert Hofbauer Status Production completed (2015) History Manufactured circa 2003–2008

The **Sun Flightcraft Air-Chopper** is an [Austrian](/source/Austria) [powered parachute](/source/Powered_parachute) that was designed by Herbert Hofbauer and produced by [Sun Flightcraft](/source/Sun_Flightcraft) of [Innsbruck](/source/Innsbruck). Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1]

The aircraft was introduced before 2003 and production ended in about 2008 when the model was discontinued. The company no longer manufactures powered parachutes.[2]

## Design and development

The Air-Chopper was designed to comply 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). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 376 kg (829 lb). It employs a 51 m2 (550 sq ft) Cruiser 26 Elan rectangular canopy or, optionally, a Chiron Sycon-Aircraft elliptical [parachute](/source/Parachute)-style wing. Features include two-seats-in-[tandem](/source/Tandem) accommodation with dual throttles, [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) and a single 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration) with a 2.62:1 "E" gearbox driving a [contra-rotating](/source/Contra-rotating_propellers) [Coax-P](/source/Coax-P) [aircraft propeller](/source/Aircraft_propeller) to eliminate torque effects.[1][3]

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted [6082-T6 aluminium](/source/6082-T6_aluminium) tubing with [7075-T6 aluminium](/source/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](/source/Motorcycle). The main landing gear incorporates [fibreglass](/source/Fibreglass) spring rod suspension. Factory options included balloon tires, leather seats, a front wheel brake, front headlight, side panniers and dual control canopy steering.[1][3]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 156 kg (344 lb) and a gross weight of 376 kg (829 lb), giving a useful load of 220 kg (485 lb). With full fuel of 37 litres (8.1 imp gal; 9.8 US gal) the payload for crew and baggage is 194 kg (428 lb).[1]

## Specifications (Air-Chopper)

*Data from* Bertrand[1] and manufacturer[3]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

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

- **Empty weight:** 156 kg (344 lb)

- **Gross weight:** 376 kg (829 lb)

- **Fuel capacity:** 37 litres (8.1 imp gal; 9.8 US gal)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), liquid-cooled [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine) fitted with a 2.62:1 "E" gearbox, 48 kW (64 hp)

- **Propellers:** 2-bladed [Coax-P](/source/Coax-P) 2 X two bladed [contra-rotating propeller](/source/Contra-rotating_propeller)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)

- **Rate of climb:** 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)

- **Wing loading:** 7.37 kg/m2 (1.51 lb/sq ft)

## 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) Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003–04*, page 87. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sun Flightcraft"](https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php). *Internet Archive Wayback Machine*. Retrieved 3 September 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sunflightcraft.com_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sunflightcraft.com_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sunflightcraft.com_3-2) ["Sunflightcraft Paraplanes Airchopper"](http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php). *sunflightcraft.com*. Retrieved 3 September 2015.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.sunflightcraft.com/en/paraplanes.php)

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