Hercules
Role Powered parachute
National origin United States
Manufacturer Paladin Industries
Status Production completed (2012)

The Paladin Hercules is an American powered parachute, that was designed and produced by Paladin Industries of Pennsauken, New Jersey.[1]

The company's website was removed in 2012, the company seems to have gone out of business and production ended.[2]

Design and development

The Hercules was designed as a heavy-lift, two-seat powered parachute and as such it has a useful load of 600 lb (272 kg). It features a parachute-style high-wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 80 hp (60 kW) or 110 hp (82 kW) Hirth F-30 two-stroke engine in pusher configuration.[1][3]

The aircraft carriage is constructed from a combination of bolted aluminium and 4130 steel tubing. Inflight steering is accomplished via a weight-shift tilt-bar that actuates the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The factory-provided canopy is an Apco Aviation Ram Air with an area of 550 sq ft (51 m2). The landing gear incorporates independent hydraulic struts for suspension. The aircraft was factory-supplied in the form of an assembly kit that required 50 hours to complete.[1][3]

Reviewer Andre Cliche described the Hercules as "a heavy hauler brute powered by an amazing 110 hp Hirth 4-cylinder 2-stroke engine."[1]

Specifications (Hercules)

Data from Manufacturer[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Wing area: 550 sq ft (51 m2)
  • Empty weight: 395 lb (179 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-30 four cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled aircraft engine, 110 hp (82 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 3.81:1
  • Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
  • Rate of sink: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 1.82 lb/sq ft (8.9 kg/m2)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page D-9. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. ↑ Paladin Industries. "Paladin Industries Inc". archive.org. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Paladin Industries (n.d.). "Specifications". Retrieved March 14, 2012.
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