The Para-Ski Top Gun 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 ...

that was designed and produced by

Para-Ski Para-Ski International was a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, based in Mascouche, Quebec. The company specialized in the design and construction of powered parachutes.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page D-10 ...

of Mascouche,

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft and also as a kit for amateur construction.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 84. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X The Top Gun was introduced in 2003 and production ended when the company went out of business in about 2011.

Design and development

The Top Gun was designed to comply with the Canadian

Basic Ultralight 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 ...

category, as well as the

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale The (; FAI; en, World Air Sports Federation) is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintai ...

microlight category. In kit form the aircraft was designed to comply with the Canadian Amateur-built Aircraft rules as well as the US ''Experimental - Amateur-built'' aircraft 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 wing, two-seats-in- tandem accommodation, four-wheeled

landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin ...

and a single Rotax 582 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

Hirth 3203 The Hirth 3202 and 3203 are a family of in-line twin cylinder, two stroke, carburetted aircraft engines, with optional fuel injection, designed for use on ultralight aircraft, especially two seat ultralight trainers, gyrocopters and small ...

, the

Hirth F-30 The Hirth F-30 is a horizontally opposed four-cylinder, two-stroke, carburetted aircraft engine, with optional fuel injection, designed for use on ultralight aircraft and homebuilts. It is manufactured by Hirth of Germany.Cliche, Andre: ...

or Hirth F-30ES engines were factory options. Parachute options included square or elliptical canopies of . Landing gear options include skis and floats. The aircraft carriage is built from welded

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...

tubing and has a "sledge-like"

cockpit fairing An aircraft fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Third Edition'', page 206. Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc, Newcastle Washington, 1997. ...

incorporating dual square headlights. In flight steering is accomplished via handle bars that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has front wheel steering. The aircraft uses a large rudder to offset the engine torque effects. The landing gear incorporates independent shock and spring suspension. The aircraft has an empty weight of and a gross weight of , giving a useful load of . With full fuel of the payload for crew and baggage is .

Operational history

In July 2015 three examples were registered with the

Transport Canada Transport Canada (french: Transports Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportati ...

Variants

;Top Gun :Base model ;Top Gun Discovery :Model including some options as standard

Specifications (Top Gun Discovery)

References

External links

Aircraft website archives
on

Archive.org The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

Photo of a Top Gun landing
{{Para-Ski aircraft

Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an a ...

2000s Canadian sport aircraft 2000s Canadian ultralight aircraft Single-engined pusher aircraft Powered parachutes