Hangmotor

A pilot using a hangmotor.

A hangmotor is a powered hang glider harness with a motor and propeller attached. An ordinary hang glider is used for the wing and the pilot can foot-launch from flat ground, needing an area of about the size of a football field to get airborne (less if there's oncoming breeze). It is also called a "powered harness" or FLPHG (foot-launched powered hang glider).

The first commercially available foot-launched powered hang glider harness -The Mosquito- was designed and produced commercially by Swedish inventor Johan Åhling. Johan’s first commercial powered harness flew in 1987, but it had only 10 horsepower and a few bugs had to be worked out. Its appeal grew first amongst European and Australian hang glider pilots and recently it has started to become popular in North America. The improved Mosquito design is now called NRG and various similar designs are now being produced by other manufacturers, and their designs bear names such as: DoodleBug, Raven, Wasp, X1, Booster and Explorer.

Classes of foot-launched powered hang glider harnesses (FLPHG):

Most current powered harnesses weigh 50 to 70 pounds without a parachute, and fold neatly into a 5-foot long harness bag with a handle that allows it to be carried like luggage. Currently, there are two harness configurations: prone (face down) and supine (sitting). Both configurations allow the pilot to take off and land on his/her feet.

Training:

It is essential that a new powered harness pilot first take lessons on an unpowered hang glider and achieve at least 30 to 50 hours of solo flight time, before transitioning to a powered harness. Safety, meteorology, local regulations and procedures must also be learned during training.

Construction: Getting into the harness requires passing both legs through padded straps and wearing the harness like a vest, with a zipper and/or clips at the front. Powered foot-launched hang glider harnesses are built around a metal U-frame with the engine mounted on the rear. Most powered harnesses in production are equipped with the light weight Radne Raket 120cc engine, l4hp at 8800 RPM, with a 3.5/1 reduction pulley. For pilots living and operating at higher than 5000 feet in altitude, an 18hp harness is recommended. The lightweight motor is supported on the ground by the two retractable landing gear tubes with skids, making for no extra weight for the pilot to carry, apart from the 4 litre aerodynamic gasoline tank attached to the top of the control bar frame. Flight autonomy with one gallon of fuel depends on throttle settings, but it ranges between 60 and 90 minutes of continuous engine use. The throttle is activated during take-off by means of a mouth-throttle; in order to have both hands free for proper weight-shift control. Once airborne, a foot throttle, thumb throttle or cruise control can be used.

A folding propeller is often preferred by pilots who enjoy soaring with the engine off on rising air thermals. The whole aircraft is easily maneuvered on the ground into takeoff position with the pilot buckled into the harness and ready to start the unit by themselves, either with a pull-start or electric starter.

A variety of technical details, links and articles are available through [link] Wind-drifter.com

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