Southern Condor

The Southern Condor is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Southern Powered Parachutes (formerly called Condor Powered Parachutes) of Nicholson, Georgia. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2][3]

Condor
Role Powered parachute
National origin United States
Manufacturer Southern Powered Parachutes (formerly called Condor Powered Parachutes)
Status Production completed (2006)
Number built at least 15
Unit cost
US$11,895 (2004)

The company seems to have gone out of business about 2006 and production ended.[4]

Design and development

The Condor complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, but was never an accepted US light-sport aircraft.[1][5]

The Condor features a 540 sq ft (50 m2) parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration. Twin 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engines were a factory option.[1]

The aircraft carriage was built from a combination of bolted aluminium and 4130 steel tubing by Aerostar of Romania and then assembled in the US. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.[1][6]

Operational history

In June 2015, 13 examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of 15 had been registered at one time.[7]

Specifications (Condor S Sport)

Data from Bertrand and manufacturer[1][3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 9.8 ft (3.0 m)
  • Width: 6 ft 4.5 in (1.943 m)
  • Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
  • Wing area: 540 sq ft (50 m2)
  • Empty weight: 322 lb (146 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed Ivoprop, composite, ground adjustable
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References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 81. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. "Condor Powered Parachutes". condorppc.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. "Southern Powered Parachutes". condorppc.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  4. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". archive.org. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. Federal Aviation Administration (30 April 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  6. "Southern Powered Parachutes". condorppc.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  7. Federal Aviation Administration (9 June 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 9 June 2015.
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