Phoenix Industries TZ-1 ParaFlyer

The Phoenix Industries TZ-1 ParaFlyer is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Phoenix Industries of Southampton, New Jersey. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Design and development
The TZ-1 ParaFlyer was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 115 lb and was marketed as the lightest powered parachute design available. It features a 365 sqft parachute-style wing single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 22 hp Zenoah G-25 engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing. 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. An instrument pod, including a tachometer, cylinder head temperature gauge and exhaust gas temperature gauge, was a factory option.

The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 115 lb and a gross weight of 380 lb, giving a useful load of 265 lb. With full fuel of 3 u.s.gal the payload for the pilot and baggage is 247 lb.

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 22 hp engine is 200 ft and the landing roll is 10 ft.

The aircraft can be folded up and transported in most automobiles. The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 10 hours.