Paladin Sparrow

The Paladin Sparrow is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Paladin Industries of Pennsauken, New Jersey.^[1][2]

The company's website was removed in 2012, the company seems to have gone out of business, although production of the Sparrow had ended prior to the company ceasing business.<^[3]

The Sparrow was designed to be a light, simple and inexpensive powered parachute to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 145 lb (66 kg). It features a parachute-style high wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 30 hp (22 kW) Hirth F-33 engine with a tuned exhaust system in pusher configuration.^[1][2]

The aircraft is built from a combination of bolted aluminium and steel tubing. Inflight steering is accomplished with an unusual triangular control bar, similar to that found on an ultralight trike, that actuates the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The canopy originally factory-provided was the High Pro with an area of 370 sq ft (34 m²). The aircraft was factory-supplied in the form of an assembly kit that requires 20–50 hours to complete.^[1][2]

Data from Cliche^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wing area: 370 sq ft (34 m²)
• Empty weight: 145 lb (66 kg)
• Gross weight: 375 lb (170 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-33 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine with tuned exhaust, 30 hp (22 kW)

Performance

• Wing loading: 1.01 lb/sq ft (4.9 kg/m²)