Summit Steel Breeze

The Summit Steel Breeze is an American powered parachute, designed and produced by Summit Aerosports of Yale, Michigan. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.^[1]

Steel Breeze
Role	Powered parachute
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Summit Aerosports
Status	In production

Design and development

The Steel Breeze is intended as a light-sport aircraft compliant design. It features a parachute-style high-wing, two seats in tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. Engines available include the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, the 64 hp (48 kW) liquid-cooled Rotax 582, the 70 hp (52 kW) Hirth 3503 two-strokes and the four-stroke 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E.^[1][2]

The Steel Breeze's airframe is built from 1.5 in (38 mm) TIG-welded, powder coated 4130 steel tubing. The standard rectangular Mustang S-500 canopy has an area of 500 sq ft (46 m²) and is attached at four points to increase stability. The Mustang S-500 allows a gross weight of 850 lb (386 kg). Optional canopies include the rectangular Mustang S-550 which allows a gross weight of 950 lb (431 kg) and the elliptical Thunderbolt E-340 which allows a gross weight of 900 lb (408 kg). In-flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has nosewheel steering controlled by a butterfly steering wheel and the main landing gear incorporates bungee suspension.^[1][2]

As of August 2012, the design does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration's list of approved special light-sport aircraft.^[3]

Specifications (Steel Breeze)

Data from Kitplanes and Summit Aerosports^[1][2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
• Wing area: 500 sq ft (46 m²)
• Empty weight: 323 lb (147 kg)
• Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg) with Mustang S-500 wing
• Fuel capacity: 14 U.S. gallons (53 L; 12 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 twin cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
• Propellers: 3-bladed GSC Systems ground adjustable Tech 3 propeller, 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) diameter

Performance

• Cruise speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
• Maximum glide ratio: 4:1
• Rate of climb: 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)
• Wing loading: 1.7 lb/sq ft (8.3 kg/m²)