ARLINGTON, WA –Seattle Powerchutes
Add a giant fan to a parachute and a glorified go-cart...and we're up, up and away! On takeoff, you steer the parachute with your feet. Once airborne, you throttle up to climb or fall, and your feet steer by controlling the parachute.
MICHAEL: Seems like something that's kind-of approachable for someone who's never flown before.
PILOT MIKE: We can take anybody with little flying experience and generally get them to solo in two or three days.
These throwback Powered Parachutes (PPC's) cruise at 30 miles per hour and can go thousands of feet in the air. Most pilots stay at around 500 feet, about the height of a 50-story building.
PILOT MIKE: It's as safe as ever 'cuz if your engine quits, you've just taken up skydiving. (:P)
MICHAEL: I knew you were gonna say it was safe, yet it says "Experimental" up here... people have probably have died doing this…
PILOT MIKE: Yeah, like anything. People have died eating a hot dog too.
MICHAEL: That's true.
ABOUT SEATTLE POWERCHUTES
"We have been in business since 2003 and we currently have three Certified Flight Instructors as part of our group. We operate out of the Arlington Municipal Airport (Ultralight Park), mostly during the weekends when the weather is good, and during weekdays by appointment only. We offer ultralight and sport pilot training, hangar space for your powered parachute, and we are located close to Air Core Aviation which provides aircraft maintenance."
More about Seattle Power Chutes: http://seattlepowerchutes.com/
More about the Arlington Fly In: http://www.arlingtonflyin.org/
