New Powered Parachute Book Released

Greenville, Illinois - Powered parachutes became a recognized category of aircraft by the FAA in 2004. Since that time, no writer or publisher has taken on the task of writing a complete textbook that covers all aspects of powered parachute flight. That changed recently with the introduction of Roy's Powered Parachute Book.

Roy Beisswenger, author of the book, is a 22-year veteran of powered parachute instruction and became the first sport pilot, certified flight instructor, and FAA designated pilot examiner (DPE) for powered parachutes when the FAA began transitioning pilots to the sport pilot program in 2005. Since then he has continued to instruct and offer check rides to aspiring powered parachute pilots.

More than anything, Beisswenger's experience as an instructor and examiner motivated the writing of the book. Beisswenger explains, "Even though pilot applicants may bring any and all books and resources with them to a check ride, if those resources aren't organized well, they are nearly useless. I can't tell you the number of times an applicant has come for a check ride, got a question, and franticly scrambled through four or five books looking for the topic and the answer. Bringing everything into one book and then organizing it is critical for student study and for getting across the finish line at the time of the check ride."

The large-format, 472 page book is organized into twenty-six chapters and two appendices. It contains a lot of never-seen-before content, particularly on powered parachute aerodynamics. Beisswenger noted, "Powered parachutes are heavier and more powerful today than they have ever been. That has created safety issues for those who aren't familiar with the specific aerodynamics applicable to this kind of flight."

Images are an important part of most textbooks and Roy's Powered Parachute Book contains high-quality photography as well as detailed color drawings explaining important concepts. From weather to the specific steps one needs to take to lay out and stow a parachute, it is all illustrated as well as explained.

The FAA's regulations pertaining to powered parachute operations are spread out in ten "Parts" and are interspersed with a lot of regulations that have nothing to do with powered parachutes or sport aviation. Roy's Powered Parachute Book offers a 'curated collection' of all of regulations a sport pilot is responsible for knowing and even includes regulations on aircraft maintenance that aren't found in a typical FAR/AIM book.

And finally, for those getting ready for their check ride, Roy's Powered Parachute Book includes the FAA's practical test standards (PTS) for sport pilots as an appendix. And as a study aid, the areas in the PTS are cross-referenced back to specific content in the book. That should be a big help to those student pilots sitting across from a DPE for their checkride!

Roy's Powered Parachute Book is available at http://www.PoweredParachuteBook.com.

FACTS ABOUT SPORT AVIATION PRESS Sport Aviation Press is best known for publishing the print magazine, Powered Sport Flying. That magazine is focused on one- and two-seat aircraft that fit into the ultralight and light sport aircraft definitions. The magazine includes regular content on airplanes, gyroplanes, powered parachutes, weight shift control trikes, and powered paragliders. The web site for the magazine is http://www.PSFmagazine.com.

FACTS ABOUT POWERED PARACHUTES A powered parachute is defined by the FAA as a "powered aircraft comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid wing connected to a fuselage so that the wing is not in position for flight until the aircraft is in motion. The fuselage of a powered parachute contains the aircraft engine, a seat for each occupant and is attached to the aircraft's landing gear." Powered parachutes most often are single or two-place open-cockpit aircraft that fly around 30 mph.