Sol Kangaroo

Last updated
Kangaroo
Role Paraglider
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Sol Paragiders
Status In production (2016)
Produced mid-2000s - present
Unit cost
€2,893 (Kangaroo Bi, 2004)

The Sol Kangaroo is a Brazilian two-place paraglider that was designed and produced by Sol Paragliders of Jaraguá do Sul starting in the mid-2000s. It remained in production as the Kangaroo 4 in 2016. [1] [2]

Brazil Federal republic in South America

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 208 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the fifth most populous. The capital is Brasília, and the most populated city is São Paulo. The federation is composed of the union of the 26 states, the Federal District, and the 5,570 municipalities. It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas; it is also one of the most multicultural and ethnically diverse nations, due to over a century of mass immigration from around the world.

Sol Paragliders is a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer based in Jaraguá do Sul and founded by Ary Carlos Pradi. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders and paramotor wings in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company also produces paragliding harnesses, rescue parachutes and accessories.

Jaraguá do Sul Place in South, Brazil

Jaraguá do Sul is a city located in the north of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.

Contents

Design and development

The Kangaroo was designed as a tandem glider for flight training and as such is referred to as the Kangaroo Bi, indicating "bi-place" or two seater. [1]

Tandem arrangement in which people, machines, or animals are in line behind one another facing forward

Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction.

Flight training training of aircraft pilots and aircrew

Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills.

The original Kangaroo was only available in one size, while the latest Kangaroo 4 is made in three sizes. [1] [2]

The design has progressed through four generations of models, the Kangaroo 1, 2, 3 and 4 each improving on the last. The models are each named for their relative size. [1]

The Kangaroo 4 wing upper and lower surfaces are made from WTX 40 gr/m2 Nylon 6.6 HT PU+Silicone, the wing ribs and Pro-Nyl 42 gr/m2 Nylon 6.6 HT PU hard, with front profile nylon battens. The lines are Cousin Vectran ULTIMATE of 0.6 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.2 mm and 1.4 mm diameters as well as Cousin Technora Superaram lines of 1.5 mm, 2.1 mm and 2.5 mm diameters. The risers are fabricated from Premium 19 x 2,0 mm flat multi Bl. 1.600 kg strapping. The carabiners are Ansung Precision 4mm 800kg units while the pulleys are Nautos/SOL made. [2]

Nylon Family of synthetic polymers originally developed as textile fibers

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers, based on aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamides. Nylon is a thermoplastic silky material that can be melt-processed into fibers, films, or shapes. It is made of repeating units linked by amide links similar to the peptide bonds in proteins. Nylon polymers can be mixed with a wide variety of additives to achieve many different property variations. Nylon polymers have found significant commercial applications in fabric and fibers, in shapes, and in films.

Carabiner hook with a closure

A carabiner or karabiner is a specialized type of shackle, a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to quickly and reversibly connect components, most notably in safety-critical systems. The word is a shortened form of Karabinerhaken, a German phrase for a "spring hook" used by a carbine rifleman, or carabinier, to attach items to a belt or bandolier.

The company says that the Kangaroo 4 should only be flown by experienced tandem pilots, as its handling and performance is similar to high performance paragliders. [2]

Variants

Kangaroo 1 Bi
One size produced. Its 14.6 m (47.9 ft) span wing has a wing area of 42 m2 (450 sq ft), 48 cells and the aspect ratio is 5.1:1. The pilot weight range is 140 to 200 kg (309 to 441 lb). The glider model is AFNOR Biplace certified. [1]
Kangaroo 4 S
Small-sized model for lighter crew. Its 14.74 m (48.4 ft) span wing has a wing area of 34.80 m2 (374.6 sq ft), 65 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The take-off weight range is 140 to 170 kg (309 to 375 lb) and the glide ratio 10.6:1. The glider model is LTF/EN C certified. [1]
Kangaroo 4 M
Mid-sized model for medium-weight crew. Its 15.02 m (49.3 ft) span wing has a wing area of 36.99 m2 (398.2 sq ft), 65 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The take-off weight range is 140 to 204 kg (309 to 450 lb) and the glide ratio 10.6:1. The glider model is LTF/EN C certified. [1]
Kangaroo 4 L
Large-sized model for heavier crew. Its 15.81 m (51.9 ft) span wing has a wing area of 40.01 m2 (430.7 sq ft), 65 cells and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. The take-off weight range is 160 to 204 kg (353 to 450 lb) and the glide ratio 10.6:1. The glider model is LTF/EN C certified. [1]

Specifications (Kangaroo Bi)

Data from Bertrand [1]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 42 km/h (26 mph; 23 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 1.1 m/s (220 ft/min)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 31. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sol Paragliders. "Kangaroo 4" . Retrieved 15 November 2016.
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