Paraplane GE-2 Golden Eagle

The Paraplane GE-2 Golden Eagle is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Paraplane International of Medford, New Jersey. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

GE-2 Golden Eagle
Role	Powered parachute
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Paraplane International
Status	Production completed
Number built	At least one
Unit cost	US$13,679 (1998)

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles exemption rules for two-seat trainers as well as Experimental - Amateur-built rules. It features a 560 sq ft (52 m²) parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear and a single 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 2706 engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via a unique patented weigh-shift steering system. On the ground the aircraft has nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring tube suspension. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 330 lb (150 kg) and a gross weight of 850 lb (390 kg), giving a useful load of 520 lb (240 kg). With full fuel of 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 460 lb (210 kg).[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 65 hp (48 kW) engine is 200 ft (61 m) and the landing roll is 125 ft (38 m).[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 40 hours.[1]

Operational history

In April 2015 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although one had been registered at one time.[2]

Specifications (GE-2 Golden Eagle)

Data from Purdy[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
• Wing area: 560 sq ft (52 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2.9:1
• Empty weight: 330 lb (150 kg)
• Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth 2706 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
• Propellers: 3-bladed composite, ground adjustable

Performance

• Maximum speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
• Cruise speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
• Range: 52 mi (84 km, 45 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
• Wing loading: 1.5 lb/sq ft (7.3 kg/m²)

References

1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 339. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
2. Federal Aviation Administration (7 April 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 7 April 2015.