The Sea-Bow International Sea-Bow is a Canadian

powered parachute A powered parachute, often abbreviated PPC, and also called a motorized parachute or paraplane, is a type of aircraft that consists of a parafoil with a motor and wheels. The FAA defines a powered parachute as ''a powered aircraft a flexible o ...

, designed by Gerald Racicot and produced by Sea-Bow International, formerly called ''Valmecot Inc'', of Valcourt, Quebec.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page D-13. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 85. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485XDowney, Julia: ''2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 53. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851 The aircraft was introduced in 2000 and production ended when the company went out of business in 2015.

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the Canadian

Basic Ultra-Light Aeroplane The Canadian Aviation Regulations define two types of ultralight aircraft: basic ultra-light aeroplane (BULA), and advanced ultra-light aeroplane (AULA). Definition Regulation of ultra-light aircraft in Canada is covered by the Canadian A ...

rules. It features a

parachute A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...

-style high-wing, single-place accommodation, with a second seat optional, tricycle landing gear and a single Rotax 503 engine in

pusher configuration In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...

. The Rotax 582 engine is a factory option. Before it went out of production the Rotax 618 engine was also an option. The Sea-Bow is built from a combination of bolted

6061-T6 aluminium 6061 ( Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation A96061) is a precipitation-hardened aluminium alloy, containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements. Originally called "Alloy 61S", it was developed in 1935. It has good mechani ...

and

4130 steel 41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often informally referred to as chromoly steel (common ...

tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via dual control sticks that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. The aircraft is turned right by pulling the right stick and left by pulling the left stick. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The throttle control is located on the right stick. A number of canopies are available, including the El-Condor I, II and III eleven and thirteen cell models. The Sea-Bow's most obvious unique feature is the fitting of four highly angled, saucer-shaped polyurethane wheels outboard of, and in addition to, the main wheels. These "spyros" provide stability on the ground and in flight and the company claims "the shape and the precise location and positioning of these wheels enable the Sea-Bow to safely land and take-off on different types of terrain and conditions such as grass, sand, gravel, asphalt, snow or ice". The aircraft can even be safely water-landed as the spyros provide adequate flotation. They also provide enough ground stability that crosswinds will not blow the vehicle over, but instead allow it to turn into the wind.

Specifications (Sea-Bow with El-Condor II wing)

References

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External links

Official website archives
on Archive.org
Photo of the Sea-Bow showing the Spyros fittedPhoto of the Sea-Bow with designer Gerry Racicot
1990s Canadian ultralight aircraft Single-engined pusher aircraft Powered parachutes