Excel

The Skymaster Powered Parachutes Excel entered the market in 1998 as the flagship model of Skymaster, an American builder specializing in lightweight, recreational aircraft. Conceived to blend the simplicity of a powered parachute with the performance of a conventional ultralight, the Excel quickly gained a reputation for reliability and ease of use. The aircraft is constructed from aircraft‑grade aluminum tubing with a fabric‑covered wing, and it is powered by a 64‑horsepower Rotax 582 two‑stroke engine driving a three‑blade composite propeller. Its 35‑square‑meter parachute canopy provides a stable, low‑speed flight envelope of 22 to 40 knots and a glide ratio of roughly 4:1, allowing safe landings even in marginal weather. The cockpit accommodates a single pilot and optional rear‑seat passenger, with an instrument panel that includes GPS, engine monitoring, and a dual‑antenna communication system.

The Excel’s significance lies in its role in popularizing powered‑parachute flight for flight schools and hobbyists alike. Its modular design, low operating cost, and straightforward maintenance lowered the barrier to entry for many aspiring aviators, contributing to the growth of the ultralight sector in the early 2000s. Today, more than 500 units remain active worldwide, a testament to Skymaster’s enduring engineering.