Aerochute's powered parachute gains UK CAA approval
Above: (left to right) Wayne Kimberlin and Stephen Conte.
The Hummerchute is the latest model powered parachute manufactured by Aerochute International in Australia, which can now be bought and flown legally in the UK, with training from Wayne Kimberlin, the only accredited FI for powered parachute instructor in the UK.
Stephen Conte, the CEO of Aerochute International, supported Wayne at the airshow to help with all the technical questions people ask, as he is a regular exhibitor of the Australian Avalon Airshow. The new Hummerchute model has a AUW of 360kg which 240kg can be pilot and passenger, or as Stephen suggested can be a payload for UAV model they are developing.
The Hummerchute fly’s at 60kmh and is designed for the wing not to stall or spin. This improves the safety as it reduces the overall risk of certain wings, and of course if the engine stops the open parachute wing will bring you down as easily as a parachute descent.
Being a powered parachute with no fixed wing, enables the recreational aircraft’s compact design to fit into a garage which makes it an easily transportable two seater aircraft.
The appeal is more wide spread then just recreation as other uses are for farmers who could spray crops using the large carrying capacity.
As it is registered with the BMAA, the CAA gave the BMAA the authority to validate the Australian CASA type certificate which Wayne was pleased passed successfully before displaying at Farnbrough. Wayne said: "Farnbrough was an excellent venue for us to introduce the Hummerchute model because as much as the public enjoyed watching the big planes and jets their comments looking at the Hummerchute were even I could fly this.”. Which seems to be what happened as Aerochute UK was busy flying customers from the airshow giving them hands on experience as they build up the five hours required for a pilot licence.
Aerochute International has been manufacturing powered parachutes for 26 years and has a sister company called Aero Safety Equipment which manufactures the parachutes for their models. Interestingly they also design, build and test fly parachutes for drones from 10kg up to 1.2 tonne.
Their latest test flight consisted of using a helicopter to take a 1.2 tonne sandbag up to 9,000ft, releasing it and having their recovery system, which opened at 300knts, return the payload safely to the ground.
