Swing-Europe Parashell
# Swing-Europe Parashell

The Swing-Europe Parashell, also simply called Das Trike, is a German powered parachute that was designed by Oliver Münzer and is produced by Swing-Europe of Ebringen. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

## Design and development

The Parashell was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category and the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules. It features a 12 m (39 ft) span parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-30 engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft carriage is built from a combination of composite materials and aluminium tubing, with a composite partial cockpit fairing. In flight steering is accomplished via handles 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.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 42 kg (93 lb) and a gross weight of 200 kg (441 lb), giving a useful load of 158 kg (348 lb). With full fuel of 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) the payload for crew and baggage is 144 kg (317 lb).

## Operational history

Reviewer Jean-Pierre le Camus, writing in 2003, said the aircraft would appeal to pilots who like comfort and described the design as "beautiful" and having "visual flair".

## Specifications (Parashell)

Data from Bertrand

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
* Empty weight: 42 kg (93 lb)
* Gross weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
* Fuel capacity: 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-30 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 21 kW (28 hp)
* Propellers: 2-bladed composite

Performance

* Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
* Cruise speed: 47 km/h (29 mph, 25 kn)
* Stall speed: 25 km/h (16 mph, 13 kn)
* Rate of climb: 4 m/s (790 ft/min)
