Skymaster Excel

The Skymaster Excel is an American powered parachute that was designed and produced by Skymaster Powered Parachutes of Hartland, Wisconsin. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The aircraft was introduced in 2001 and production ended when the company went out of business in late 2008.

Design and development
The aircraft complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg and also the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 385 kg. It features a 550 sqft parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 65 hp Hirth 2706 engine in pusher configuration. The 64 hp Rotax 582 engine was also offered.

The aircraft carriage is built from bolted aluminium tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 421 lb and a gross weight of 850 lb, giving a useful load of 429 lb. With full fuel of 10 u.s.gal the payload for crew and baggage is 369 lb.

Operational history
In August 2015 ten examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The design won many awards, including 2001 Sun 'n Fun Grand Champion, 2001 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2002 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 AirVenture Oshkosh Flex-wing Champion, 2003 Sun 'n Fun Innovations and 2004 Sun 'n Fun Best Trike. It was later developed into a smaller single seat design, the Skymaster Single Seater.