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 span parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 28 hp 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 and a gross weight of 200 kg, giving a useful load of 158 kg. With full fuel of 20 L the payload for crew and baggage is 144 kg.

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".