Why should "YOU" purchase an Infinity Powered Parachute ?

During the next few month's I will be identifying very important design features built into the Infinity Powered Parachute.  My intentions with this page is to bring awareness to some of the design issues, so you can make a well informed selection of a Powered Parachute.  Come back and visit often, as this will take some time.  If you have any comments regarding these comparisons, please drop me an email to discuss.

NOTE:  These comments are based on my research, incidents, experience, and personal preference.

Pilot and Passenger Seating

What does the "seat" have to do with safety?   Perhaps during one of those not so pretty landings, your body is completely supported from the back of your head, down your neck, and through your lower spine.  This is very important! Having your body surrounded and strapped in to a "race car" seat, in the event you ever need the protection.  The seats are securely bolted to the flat angle frame, adding to their strength. So what about comfort?  After flying around for an hour or so, you will, "only then" appreciate having a molded full body seat.  Of course the injection molded ABS plastic seats are then covered in a thick foam cushion, with a durable velour/vinyl color coordinated covering.  And yes, the seat covering can be removed for easy cleaning.  Another important feature, is the ability to adjust the front seat during flight, to tweak the center of gravity (CG) for that perfect 6 inch nose high attitude.  And probably the most important feature of these seats, is the four point safety harness.  The APCO harness system keeps both shoulders square and comfortable against the back of the seat, while the latch and lower lap portion of the system are easily adjusted for that perfect fit.  Unlike some seat belts being offered, the APCO latch always stays in the center of your lap for quick locating and unlatching in an emergency.

Let's recap what a good safe design in seating would include !

Critical Neck and Back Support

Molded ABS Race Car Seat wont ever Rot or Tear apart

Bolted to a Flat Frame System

Comfortable Thick Foam and Velour Covering

Adjustable In Flight Pilot Seat for CG Adjustments

Four Point Safety Restraint Harness from APCO

Quick Release Latch always centered in Lap

Adequate Seat Spacing between the Pilot and Student

Axle and Wheels

The most important thing to remember in regards to the Axles and Tires of a Powered Parachute is that, any powered parachute design will work great as long as you always take off and land from a smooth surface, and your landings are always perfect.  You guessed it! You will always have rough spots during a take off or landing, as there is no guarantee that you will land at the same location you took off from.  Also, regardless how proficient you are, there will be some ugly landings from time to time.  So let's look at the Spring Rod Axle design used by Infinity and a few other PPC Manufacturers.  First of all its just so simple in design and functionality, making it ideal for an axle.  The spring rod is a solid 1-1/2" diameter fiberglass rod, encased with 2 shorter length chrome moly sleeves for added strength.  The rod can flex and twist in any direction, allowing it to absorb shock and smooth out rough flying locations.  Other designs can only flex up and down, leaving the framework and the pilot to absorb multi-directional loads.  All aircraft are subject to a "backwards deflection" of the wheels and axle during landing.  Also being fiberglass, you will never have to worry about stress cracking in critical bends as with brackets or tube components. The spring rod axle is solid, and its simple.  Case Closed !  Now, lets look at the Wheels and Tires of the Infinity.  Again, the tires will absorb shock and smooth out even the roughest flying locations.  Infinity uses the largest tire of any manufacturer to maximize smooth take offs and landings, while affording you the pilot the "most cushion" available.  The "super sized" balloon slick tires also allow the PPC cart to "slide under the parachute" during take off.  This will assist in keeping the cart from being pulled over during take off, due to the lack of treads on the tire.  And besides having the smoothest take off and landings, the cost is about one third of other designs using multiple coiled springs, tubes, brackets, and cross supports. 

What's the importance of a Flexible Axle and Wheel System ?

Can flex in any direction absorbing heavy shock loads.

Not prone to stress cracking or corrosion problems.

Simple design has been used for years on many different types of aircraft.

The least expensive and the smoothest ride.

Largest Tire used of any Powered Parachute Manufacturer.

Balloon Slicks help prevent pull overs.

8 inch width of slick keep the cart rolling smooth and well supported.

Single piece 1-1/2" fiberglass axle- Flexes 360 degrees

Angle Frame Rails VS. Tubular Frames

The first thing we have to consider is that anything that bounces up and down, and left and right creates flex and twisting of the frame.  During your take off roll and landing, your ppc will encounter flex and twisting forces in the frame rails, while the severity of it depends on the terrain and your landing skills.  Utilizing a 3 in by 3 inch aluminum angle frame, you keep the flex and twisting at a minimum.  Your balloon slicks and spring rod single piece axle absorb the majority of these forces, ensuring a smooth ride with a stiff frame system.  Also by keeping your frame from severe flexing, you will help eliminate prop strikes, and elongating the holes drilled through a tubular frame piece.  Now you can see why Infinity uses angle frame components, and offers a full 3 year warranty on its planes.  If your going to drill holes and mount brackets, you want these components to be mounted on a flat surface to provide the most strength.  Picture yourself coming in for a landing at an altitude of 10 feet, when the unexpected turbulence slams you into the  ground on your rear frame and prop ring.  Now you can clearly see just why the Infinity can offer a full 3 year warranty. 

Let's put all this together !

Angle Frames provide a safer and stronger platform for component installation.

Less Flexing and Twisting that will eventually bend brackets and elongate holes.

Smoother more secure ride during take off and landing.

Stronger prop ring connection for eliminating prop strikes.

Less engine movement causing prop strikes.

Angle Frame Rails provided with pre drilled holes for later option add on's.

3 Year Warranty !

Strongest Frame on the Market

Pre assembled with 3 year warranty versus a kit plane

At Infinity Powered Parachutes it's no secret that the testing and assembly of your plane is performed by professionals, who have built and flown powered parachutes for thousands of combined hours.  This is the only way to ensure that you receive a product with all the parts purchased or manufactured, function properly.  After building over 300 planes, Infinity has has witnessed the majority of problems which can occur during the initial startup.  Experiencing them on several occasions it can seem to be relatively simple at the factory.  However, as anyone will tell you the electrical system is never simple unless you have seen the problem before.  For instance, there are several different areas that can cause a magneto to malfunction, or you may receive a wiring harness with a plug having the pins in the wrong location.  You may receive a rectifier regulator which may allow to much voltage to enter the electrical system.  And then there are the more devastating problems such as an engine with a bad rotary valve gear, requiring you to send the entire engine back to a warranty repair facility to be reworked.  Or simply having a set of carburetors that will not allow the engine to run smoothly.  A lot of which may go unnoticed due to the lack of having something to compare it to.  More often than not, everything goes off without a hitch, but when it doesn't it could take weeks before the problem is diagnosed and rectified.  All this before the old "missing parts", "hard to understand assembly instructions", and the "average of 40 to 60 hours of assembly", before you determine if you have any startup problems in the first place.  So think about this before you spend more money to get a kit plane to assemble!

So let's take a hard look at why a Pre-Assmebled plane is best.

If you run into any engine problems, you will have to ship the engine to a certified repair station to do any repairs necessary.

The electrical system can be difficult at times to identify problems.  It could take weeks to troubleshoot and correct your problems.

Missing parts and hard to understand directions can be a nightmare at times.

A powered parachute is a system consisting of an engine, aircraft frame, electrical system, and a parachute.  Sometimes it requires a little "tweaking" to get them all working properly together.

Who offers a full 3 year warranty on the chasis of their powered parachute?

And finally, why would you pay thousands more to do it yourself?