Information for
Paramotor Pilots &
Powered Paragliding

Books  Videos  PPG Plans       Educational (by Chapter)  Resources  Reviews  Regs  Troubleshooting

Events  News       Humor  Airline  Entertainment  Political  Articles  Log       Safety  FAQ  Contact

Home
Up


 

How was my training?

Extra Material By Chapter

 


"
By far the most complete and recognized authority on Powered Paragliding"
- Phil Russman

 

DVD's

Meet Powered Paragliding

Risk & Reward
 

Supporter of the USPPA



All Contents 
Copyright © 2008 
Jeff Goin

 
 

A Better Paramotor: Cage Intelligence

Besides pilot training, safer cages will go the farthest to reducing prop injuries.

The best designers will help reduce our sport's most prevalent serious injury and much of that will come through cage improvements. The section highlights efforts to do just that. I applaud those who make gains in this area. Nothing is perfect, everything can be improved. If you know of a paramotor maker that has made improvements to cage design that will reduce the possibility for hand or leg injuries, please send it to us at contact.

The safest cages will pass the hand test: prevent an open human hand from contacting the prop if holding back the paramotor at full rated thrust from anywhere on the cage or netting. They will also prevent reach-around injuries where the pilot is grabbing for brakes or falls and manages to whack a hand by going around the cage hoop.

The cage ideas in the diagram at right have been added to address actual injury accidents. It's been enhanced over the years as different causes have appeared. For example, it has become apparent that the prop should be forward of the hoop and well away from the pilots reach. Several injuries struck pilots when, during launch, they were able to get their hand around the cage. The pilot couldn't do it while just standing there but, with the motor bobbing around, he was able to and with tragic results.

Another area that must be addressed is the frame bottom. I know of two serious injuries where the pilots calf muscle was cut when running for launch. Make sure your frame protects from this.

SkyBolt

Jeff Baumgartner, Skybolt designer, puts ideas into action.

He has come up with several implementations meant to address cage safety including the one pictured here, a prototype. Jeff explained that, on the next version he would decrease the open space between the hoop and motor. That would help as a pilot could get through. The intent is to show that the netting will easly pass the hand test. Reach-around clearance is provided by having an oversized cage and enclosing the prop fully. Jeff explains that clearance depends also on prop size. This cage with a 48" prop will not have the same protection it will with a 46" prop.

Paracruiser

Paracruiser has been making this machine for several years. If the netting is tight, it will pass the hand test and prevent a reach-around accident. It may well be the safest cage on the market as long as the netting is kept tight and reaches all the way around to the bottom.

A fully enclosed prop and large clearance (prop to net) mean that, in spite of a generally weak net, it would probably keep an open human hand from getting into the prop at full rated thrust. The two ring design is essential to accomplish that. Plus, it would be nigh impossible to reach into the enclosed prop during flight or get a brake toggle in the prop.

The second ring has the added benefit of providing a smooth ride for risers in forward launches.

The netting, which is flexible, must be kept tight in order to be effective. If it's allowed to get loose, as it will over time, protection will decrease.

A drawback is at the bottom of the cage. If a pilot falls backwards it may be possible for his hand to go through the netting opening.

FlatTop

The Flattop was born largely out of its designers nearly catastrophic contact with a prop. Musician and pilot Bill Heaner set out to minimize that from ever happening again.

Having a wide prop clearance, stiff netting and a protected cage bottom give this cage high resistance to prop strike possibilities. The netting is made of Kevlar which will not shrink appreciably nor will it stretch if pushed on.

The flat top shape was intended to increase cage clearance in the most common hand areas while reducing the height of the machine.

A drawback is that the shape reduces prop clearance at the very top—a possible place to get a hand back and over, especially since the prop sticks out behind the 2nd hoop. With a small prop and small pilot (like me, pictured) this is less likely, maybe impossible. However, don't think that, just because you can't reach the prop while in a simulator or while standing there, you couldn't do it while running and reaching for a lost brake toggle, especially if you're much taller than my 5 foot 9 inch self.

SafetyRingSkyboltPPGPlans_com800.jpg (175230 bytes)

These are examples of the inner safety ring put on at the prop's radius. Ideally, the ring should go all the way around to the bottom. Several pilots have fallen down on launch and instinctively put their hands down to catch themselves. The hand went through to the spinning prop.

Top Pic Courtesy www.ppgPlans.com


Home ] Up ] Safer Starting ] Shuttoff Technologies ] [ Cage Intelligence ]

Remember, If there's air there, it should be flown in!