Paraplane PSE-2 Osprey

PSE-2 Osprey
Role	Powered parachute
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Paraplane International
Designer	Scott Kelly (PSE-2)
Status	Production completed

Last updated January 17, 2022

The Paraplane PSE-2 Osprey 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]

Design and development

The PSE-2 Osprey was designed 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 235 lb (107 kg). It features a Hi-Pro 370 sq ft (34 m²) parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine.^[1]

The aircraft carriage is built from aluminium tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has foot pedal-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.^[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 200 ft (61 m) and the landing roll is 75 ft (23 m).^[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied assembly kit as five hours.^[1]

Variants

PSE-1: Designed by Dan Thompson and only sold to the military.^[2]
PSE-SF: Special Forces version of the PSE-2, with 12 delivered for use in Operation Desert Storm.^[2]
PPSE-WD: Highly modified version of the PSE-2, made exclusively for Disney World use.^[2]
PSE-2: Version for commercial sale, designed by Scott Kelly.^[2]

Specifications (PSE-2 Osprey)

Data from Purdy^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Length: 6.58 ft (2.01 m)
Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
Wing area: 370 sq ft (34 m²)
Aspect ratio: 2.7:1
Empty weight: 275 lb (125 kg)
Gross weight: 540 lb (245 kg)
Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch

Performance

Maximum speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
Cruise speed: 28 mph (45 km/h, 24 kn)
Range: 42 mi (68 km, 36 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 1.5 lb/sq ft (7.3 kg/m²)

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 338. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
1 2 3 4 All Aero. "ParaPlane PSE / PSE-1 / PSE-2 Osprey". all-aero.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.

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[Aerocrafter-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 338. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1

[administrator-2] 1 2 3 4 All Aero. "ParaPlane PSE / PSE-1 / PSE-2 Osprey". all-aero.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.

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