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It should come as no surprise that
Dell Schanze has managed to define yet another low in the business
ethics of powered paragliding. Nobody has even come close to being this
clueless or classless.
In an effort to dupe the gullible into thinking there is, in fact,
paramotor certification he has created a sham powered paragliding
"association" that portends to test and certify equipment. Of course the
website is registered with Dell's email and, as of Feb 28, 2011, the
phone number was the same as Dell Schanze's sales number. There are, of
course, no officers listed, no committees or names listed, and nothing
that would suggest that it's registered as a corporation of any kind.
Records are claimed that have no bearing on what either the USUA
(U.S. organization tasked with overseeing records under the auspices of
NAA.aero) or the FAI recognize. They're just Dell's own claims. Of
course this does a dis-service to the real record holders who have
actually earned their titles as measured by someone other than the
record claimant.
Paramotor flying is a remarkable undertaking -- it's a shame when
someone treads so disrespectfully on its participants and potentials.
This organization has no standing with any other organization or with
the FAA and for very good reason: it is nothing more than a sales tool.
Hopefully, a discerning public will see through this fellow and refuse
to do business with him on ethical grounds.
The Flattop
Not surprisingly, he lists his Flattop as the only paramotor meeting
his "standards" while many other paramotors are listed as
failing. How disingenuous. I've seen a number of paramotors that can
pass the hand test and nearly every machine provides varying amounts of
vertical impact crash protection just by how they have to be built.
Not only is there no data to suggest there is any better safety in
the Flattop paramotor, but there have been serious accidents with the
machine resulting in serious injuries. The rate appears to be no different
than any other machine when flown the same way. The raw data suggests
it's less safe but that's likely because of pilots trying to emulate
Dell's risky flying. Additionally, the higher power versions of the
machine have average to poor handling of torque which puts it in
another risk category. Not that it's worse than other similarly powered
machines, but it's nothing like how Dell Schanze promotes it.
Sadly enough, people do drink Dell's Cool-aid and some pay the price.
Another travesty is how he berates anyone who says anything bad about
the machine even when it's something that needs to be publicized.
When the front arms cracked on several machines and broke on another,
the pilots didn't report it publicly for fear of losing service. And,
of course, Dell certainly wouldn't report it. Things breaking doesn't mean the
machine is bad, it means there was a problem and the manufacturer should
point it out and offer a correction. You don't have to offer the part
for free, either, but offer it as an improvement. That's the responsible thing to
do. That's not what you'll get with Dell Schanze and the Flattop.
Jumping Out Of An Airplane
Amazingly, he claims that you can jump out of an airplane with stock
powered paraglider gear. This is beyond dangerous. If the wing did NOT
break on opening, YOU probably would, and likely in a
catastrophic manner. The fact that it's illegal
(skydiving is covered under FAR part 105) is way less important
than the extreme risk. Paragliders are not designed for a high speed
opening nor is your body.
Suggesting that pilots can jump out of an airplane with an unmodified
paraglider and paramotor is absurdly irresponsible.
The Ultimate Paramotor Sham
Doing business with U-TurnUSA is an affront to every business and
school out there trying to be even remotely honest in this game. Its a
tough business and there have always been those willing to push the
truth in various ways but never to this degree. Do yourself a favor, do
your friends a favor, do the sport a favor and stay as far away as
possible from dealing with this unethical sham that is Dell Schanze, U-TurnUSA
and Flattop Paramotors.
You can find certified instructors through the
US Powered Paragliding Association
which has officers and a training committee that has developed a
program modeled after the US Hang
Gliding and Paragliding Association.
Do us all a favor and don't be an enabler of this incredibly
unethical behavior.
Thanks for reading.
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