1998:
972 Weedon Dr NE
St Petersburg FL 33702
USA
Engine builder
1980->
Firebird Skysports CX
In an effort to reduce the drag as much as possible in the 1982 Firebird CX, the suppresson of the kingpost and all the top rigging is eliminating a good part of the profile drag but brought problems for the pitch stability and the structural strength in negative.
For pitch stability, three solutions were found: the truncated tips assure sail washout, a small keel post inside the keel pocket keeps the centre chord in place and the battens are reflexed at the back.
For strength in negative G there is an 8 inch long king post inside the profile and two carbon fibre compresson struts instead of side cables. With fairngs, the produce less drag than the to rigging would.
The control frame is wider than usual to keep the carbon fibre compression struts as short as possible.
Firebird Skysports Monster Bi
Paraglider new in 1998.
Wing area: 44.1 sq.m
Certification: DHV / Afnor
Pilot weight: 140-210 kg
No. of cells: 52
Wing span: 15 m
Aspect ratio: 5.1
Min sink: 1.2 m/s
Max speed: 45 kph
Price (1998) 2999 £
Firebird Skysports Ignition
Paraglider new in 1998.
Ignition L
Wing area: 20.08 sq.m
Certification: DHV
Pilot weight: 90-120 kg
No. of cells: 43
Wing span: 12.35 m
Aspect ratio: 4.9
Price (1998) 1999 £
Ignition M
Wing area: 26.94 sq.m
Certification: DHV
Pilot weight: 60-80 kg
No. of cells: 43
Wing span: 11.48 m
Aspect ratio: 4.9
Price (1998) 1999 £
Ignition XL
Wing area: 31.16 sq.m
Certification: DHV
Pilot weight: 90-120 kg
No. of cells: 43
Wing span: 12.35 m
Aspect ratio: 4.9
Price (1998) 1999 £
Firebird Skysports Flame
Paraglider circa 1998.
Flame L
Wing area: 28.5 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2GH
Pilot weight: 80-100 kg
No. of cells: 52
Wing span: 12.05 m
Aspect ratio: 5.09
Min sink: 1.1 m/s
Max speed: 45 kph
Price (1998) 2445 £
Flame M
Paraglider circa 1998.
Wing area: 26.42 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2GH / Afnor
Pilot weight: 65-85 kg
No. of cells: 52
Wing span: 11.59 m
Aspect ratio: 5.09
Min sink: 1.1 m/s
Max speed: 45 kph
Price (1998) 2445 £
Flame XL
Paraglider circa 1998.
Wing area: 30.55 sq.m
Certification: DHV 2GH / Afnor
Pilot weight: 95-120 kg
No. of cells: 52
Wing span: 12.47 m
Aspect ratio: 5.1
Min sink: 1.1 m/s
Max speed: 45 kph
Price (1998) 2445 £
Firebird Skysports Colt
Paraglider circa 1998.
Colt L
Wing area: 27 sq.m
Certification: AFNOR
Pilot weight: 90-110 kg
No. of cells: 70
Wing span: 12.97 m
Aspect ratio: 6.23
Min sink: 1 m/s
Max speed: 50 kph
Price (1998) 2999 £
Colt M
Wing area: 25.23 sq.m
Certification: Afnor
Pilot weight: 75-95 kg
No. of cells: 70
Wing span: 12.54 m
Aspect ratio: 6.23
Min sink: 1 m/s
Max speed: 50 kph
Price (1998) 2999 £
Colt XL
Wing area: 28.93 sq.m
Certification: Afnor
Pilot weight: 100-125 kg
No. of cells: 70
Wing span: 13.42 m
Aspect ratio: 6.23
Min sink: 1 m/s
Max speed: 50 kph
Price (1998) 24,700 Fr
Firebird Skysports
1998: Bullachbergweg 34 a, D-87645 Schwangau, Germany
From 1996, Stephan Müller supervised design and build while Stephen Hüglin handled production and testing.
Paraglider builder
Firebird Navajo
The FireBird Navajo performance paraglider has high trimming speed and quite nervous behavior in turbulence with high maneuverability.
Certified DHV 3 and Afnor Competition
Navajo 25
1993: € 3400
Area: 25.10 m²
Span: 11.80 m
Ratio: 5.30
Surfaces: Skytex 44 g/m
No. of chambers: 50
Wing-Weight: 5.9 kg
Box-Cell-Closed: 50/52/10
Risers: 3(5A/5B/5C)
Lines: 1.5/1.0 mm Kevlar
Lines total: 7.35 m
Pilot weight: 60/78 kg
Best sink rate: 1.2 m/s
Maximum speed: 38 kph
Maximum speed (with speed system) 48 kph
Minimum speed: 20 kph
Glide ratio: 8.5
Best glide ratio: 1.4 m/s › 33 km
Certification: ACPUL/SHV 10A
Navajo 28
1993: € 3500
Area: 27.70 m²
Span: 12.40 m
Ratio: 5.50
Surfaces: Skytex 44 g/m
Wing-Weight: 6.2 kg
Box-Cell-Closed: 52/54/10
Risers: 3(5A/5B/5C)
Lines: 1.5/1.0 mm Kevlar
Lines total: 7.40 m
Pilot weight: 75/95 kg
Best sink rate: 1.2 m/s
Best glide ratio: 1.4 m/s › 33 km
Certification: ACPUL/SHV 10A
Navajo 30
1993: € 3500
Area: 31.20 m²
Span: 12.60 m
Ratio: 5.10
Surfaces: Skytex 44 g/m
Wing-Weight: 6.5 kg
Box-Cell-Closed: 52/54/10
Risers: 3(5A/5B/5C)
Lines: 1.5/1.0 mm Kevlar
Lines total: 7.50 m
Pilot weight: 90/117 kg
Best sink rate: 1.2 m/s
Best glide ratio: 1.4 m/s › 33 km
Certification: ACPUL/SHV 10A
Firebird T1
Side by side two seat single engined high¬wing monoplane with conventional three axis control. Wing has swept back leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; no tail, canard wing. Pitch control by fully flying canard; yaw control by tip rudders; roll control by spoilers; control inputs through stick for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from below by struts; wing profile; double surface. Undercarriage has four wheels in ‘tricycle’ formation; suspension on all wheels. No ground steering. Brakes on all wheels. Aluminium tube framework, without pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller.
Easily distinguishable from other Fledge derivatives by its unusual double nosewheel, the T1 is basically a two seat version of the M1. It was first shown at the Aero 83 Exhibition at Friedrichshafen in March 1983 and was placarded as having made its first flights the month before. The standard version includes electric start, while options include wheel fairings and floats.
Engine: Hirth 276A13, 40 hp at 7000 rpm.
Propeller diameter 63 inch, 1.60 m.
Belt reduction, ratio 2.04.
Max static thrust 252 lb, 114 kg.
Power per unit area 0.22 hp/sq.ft, 2.4 hp/sq.m.
Length overall 10.5ft, 3.20m.
Wing span 32.8 ft, 10.0 m.
Constant chord 5.6 ft, 1.70 m.
Canard span 6.7 ft, 2. 00 m.
Main wing area 183 sq.ft, 17.0 sq.m.
Rudder area 9.7 sq.ft, 0.90 sq.m.
Wing aspect ratio 5.9/1.
Wheel track 5.3 ft, 1.60 m.
Empty weight 327 lb, 148kg.
Max take off weight 707 lb, 320kg.
Payload 380 lb, 172 kg
Max wing loading 3.86 lb/sq.ft, 18.8 kg/sq.m.
Fuel capacity 6.9 US gal, 5.7 Imp gal, 26.0 litre.
Max power loading 17.7 lb/hp, 8.0kg/hp.
Load factors: +6.0, 3.0 ultimate.
Never exceed speed 56mph, 90kph.
Economic cruising speed 44mph, 70kph.
Stalling speed 28mph, 45 kph.
Max climb rate at sea level 600 ft/min, 3.1 m/s.
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1 at 37mph, 60kph.
Take off distance 100ft, 30 m.
Landing distance 65 ft, 20 m.
Range at average cruising speed 112 mile, 180km.
Finsterwalder Topfex
The 1984 Topfex is just a good hang glider for intermediate pilots, a little heavy to control.
Topfex 160
Wing area: 16.1 m²
Wing span: 10.4 m
Aspect ratio: 6.71
Hang glider weight: 25 kg
Minimum pilot weight: 65 kg
Maximum pilot weight: 105 kg
Packed length: 5.8 m
Packed length short: 2.2 m
Number of battens: 29
Nose angle: 127°
