Powered Parachute Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Repairman Training, DAR Services, Equipment Sales and More
"Mach .04"
A New Powered Parachute Video!
Craig Stenberg has put together a great video that shows the adventure of flying a powered parachute. Great professional work using ground, air-to-air, and pilot point of view cameras. We hope you enjoy it!
Sport Pilot Classes Have Begun
Around the country, flying season really begins on Memorial Day with Fly-Ins being held at many locations. The Tuesday after Memorial Day was when a whole new training season began at Easy Flight Powered Parachutes. Enrollment is already closed for the first couple of sessions, but you can be a part of the next class beginning as soon as June 10th. Write or call today to see how you can get your powered parchute license in only 10 days.
Become a Powered Parachute Sport Pilot In Only 10 Days
If you have purchased or are considering purchasing a powered parachute; training and licensing is something that should be on your mind. In only a few short months, the only way you will be able to legally fly a two seat powered parachute is with an FAA Pilot Certificate.
Until now, getting that certificate has been a hassle if you were just starting out in the sport. The small number of certified flight instructors and inefficient training practices have made it difficult for students to get their licenses. This changes with a program offered by Easy Flight. Now you are able to go from 0 flight time to a powered parachute endorsed sport pilot in only 10 days. (Learn more).
Buyer Alert!
If you are just getting into the sport, be aware that there are manufacturers that are producing aircraft that just aren't legal to fly in the United States. Only newly produced two seat powered parachutes from Powrachute, Six Chuter, Soaring Concepts, Infinity, and Summit have so far met the ASTM standards and are authorized to produce Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) powered parachutes. There are one or two companies that have reserved Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) registrations and they can also produce a limited number of 2-seat aircraft that are legal to fly in the USA.
But remember, if the machine you want to purchase isnt already N-numbered and it:
has two seats
or has over 5 gallons of fuel capacity.
or has an empty weight of over 254 lbs.
then it is not legal to fly in the United States. In other words, if the machine isn't N-numbered, it had better fit the definition of an ultralight. There are some dealers, owners, and even manufacturers who will try to sell you something that isn't legal to fly.
In some cases the seller may not be aware of the new rules. In other cases, they may be aware of the rules, but don't think they apply to them. (Sorry, there really isn't such a thing as a 'two seat powered paraglider trike' in the USA. Those machines are also considered powered parachutes by the FAA.) Unfortunately, in many cases sellers just want to unload their equipment or make a buck off of someone who doesn't know any better. Don't be that person.
16 Hour Maintenance Inspection Course for Powered Parachutes Conducted by Easy Flight
FAA regulation §65.107 allows the owner of an Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft to earn a Repairman (LSA) Inspection rating by attending an FAA accepted course. Successful completion of the course allows you to perform the annual condition inspection on any Experimental-LSA powered parachute you own now or in the future.
If you would like to get your certificate for inspecting your own powered parachute, contact Easy Flight and ask to be put on a contact list.
For more information or to sign up for the course, visit Rainbow Aviation Services or call 1-877-735-9572.
Instructor Credentials
Roy Beisswenger attended the very first FAA Designated Pilot Examiner class in Sebring, Florida in January of 2005. He is now the most senior DPE for powered parachutes in the country as well as one of the very first certified pilots and certified flight instructors for the sport of powered parachuting. Roy has been training people to fly powered parachutes since 1993 and holds the following ratings:
Basic & Advanced Flight Instructor, USUA
Ultralight Flight Instructor & Ultralight Flight Instructor Examiner, EAA
FAA Sport Pilot
FAA Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot Rating
FAA Advanced Ground Instructor
FAA Designated Sport Pilot Examiner
FAA Designated Sport Flight Instructor Examiner
Light Sport Aircraft Repairman with a Maintenance Rating for:
Airplanes
Powered Parachutes
Weight Shift Control
Light Sport Aircraft Repairman Instructor for Rainbow Aviation
Put Roy's credentials to work for you!
Are You a BFI Wanting to Become an FAA Certified Flight Instructor?
Beisswenger is one of only eleven examiners in the country that are authorized by the FAA to administer the Sport Pilot Powered Parachute CFI Practical Test. If you are a professional instructor that wants to make this important transition, Easy Flight is the place to go.
If you want to learn more about becoming an FAA Certified Flight Instructor for powered parachutes, [click here].
Are You a Private Pilot Wanting to Fly Powered Parachutes?
Not a problem. With a recommendation from a powered parachute CFI (we have a great one available) you can take your proficiency check and get that endorsement.
You Don't Need an N-Numbered Powered Parachute Yet....
...because we have one here for you!
The best way to transition to Sport Pilot is to do it at a steady pace. You really don't want to try to do everything at one time. In fact, if you make the mistake of focusing on transitioning your powered parachute first, you could end up registering, N-numbering, and obtaining an airworthiness certificate for a powered parachute that you then won't be able to fly without a pilot license.
So what you want to do is get your powered parachute pilot license first.
That is why going to a DPE with an N-numbered powered parachute is so important. You can study and take the knowledge test close to home. You can practice and fly your own powered parachute. Then when you are ready for your Sport Pilot Practical Test, you can fly the N-numbered machine we provide you.
Start Your Powered Parachute Adventure With A Tandem Training Flight!
The best way to get introduced to powered parachuting is through a tandem training flight. One of the Easy Flight instructors will take you up for a half hour flight showing you the fun and ease of our kind of flying. It also gives you a chance to get used to flying in a very open cockpit!
Generally tandem flights are conducted on weekends. However, if you would like to fly during the week, we can usually accommodate your schedule.
In any case, it is always best to call ahead for an appointment. That way we can make certain to do the final coordination needed.
All you need to do is call or E-mail Easy Flightwith your flying plans. Most flights begin a couple of hours before sunset, but sunrise flights are also available for the early birds.
After you have your appointment, we should stay in touch the day of your flight to make sure that the weather will hold for us. For a look at forecast winds for tonight, check out the link below. Like most weather tools, it is not always right, but it tries really hard.
If you need a replacement canopy for your powered parachute, Easy Flight is the place to go! Easy Flight is the US distributor for Performance Designs Paragliders. Performance Designs builds the canopy that others try to copy but can't duplicate. Do not settle for a lesser canopy. If you already fly a powered parachute, you know how important your canopy is, don't skimp! If you want to trade in your old PD canopy for a new color or style, we can help you there, too.
2008 Promises to be a great training year for powered parachutes and we hope that you can be a big part of it. A big change from last year is that Easy Flight is offering more and different kinds of classes.
There has been a demand for Private Pilot Ratings for Powered Parachute which allows pilots to fly in controlled airspace, at night, and above 10,000 Feet MSL. Easy Flight offers two classes in 2008 to attain those ratings. One is for people who have no powered parachute experience and want to go straight to the Private Rating. That is an 18 Day course and is only offered once this summer. For those who are already Sport Pilots with a Powered Parachute Endorsement, there is a shorter 10 Day course that moves you into the Private Pilot ranks. That is also only being offered once this year.
Of course Sport Pilot remains the most economical and quick way to get an FAA license for a powered parachute. For those just starting out in aviation, you will be glad to know that there is at least one 10 Day class scheduled in each of May, June, August, and September. For those already with pilot licenses and who want to earn their Sport Pilot endorsement for powered parachutes, there are two 6-Day classes scheduled this summer, too.
Class size is limited to 7 students per class and registration holds a seat for you. Registrations are now being accepted. E-mail roy@easyflight.com to get signed up.
Class
Days
Dates
16 Hour Repairman (Virginia Beach, VA)
(Course Complete)
With the January 31, 2008 past, you should already have your N-numbers received. If you have and you still haven't gotten an airworthiness inspection, Easy Flight can help you out. (Learn more)
Congratulations to the Last Sport Pilot Class of 2007
The last Sport Pilot Class of 2007 graduated and received their pilot certificates this October. The record setting size of the class -5 students- all did well on both their knowledge tests and check rides making the CFIs working with them proud of a job well done.
It was the last class of 2007 because the 10 Day Training Program for Sport Pilot is only conducted during the months when we can count on the weather being stable. That means that by mid-October in the Midwest, training opportunities end.
Soon we will be publishing the training schedule for next season and hope you will be a part of it!
First Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor
On February 25th, 2007, Roy Beisswenger became the first sport pilot flight instructor to earn a gold seal flight instructor certificate from the FAA. Gold seal flight instructor certificates acknowledge flight instructors who have maintained a high level of flight training activity and who meet special criteria. Click here to read article.
