Booster Developments
Since the launch of the Booster a number of developments and modifications have been tried and incorporated into the Pegasus Mk2 and our own unit. All of these have been aimed at improving the Booster further and creating a Foot Launched Powered Hang Glider (FLPHG) power unit that;
Has very high efficiency in terms of fuel usage, low drag, low weight and very respectable climb and power performance.
Is easy to use, in terms of single handed operation and piloting
Has been thoroughly tested and is easily maintained.
Soarfoot Ethos
It is interesting to see the direction that FLPHG manufacturers are taking their units and who they are aiming them at. Some seem to be in danger of re-inventing micro-lights, be it light weight ones. Nothing wrong with that, if that is what some pilots want. In Soarfoot's opinion the Booster can provide excellent powered Hang Gliding opportunities, with the emphasis on Hang Gliding and soaring flight. FLPHG should provide another route to soaring flight that other forms of Hang Gliding can't easily provide (Wave flying for example). With an emphasis on performance in terms of energy efficiency. Performance should equate to getting around a 100mile course, from a flat field start, on as little fuel as possible. Not the ability of being able to maintain a 550ft/min climb rate on full power!
To kill the engine on a good day, and then continue to thermal for 2 hours is a fabulous experience. Its also great to kick-up the engine to get home afterwards!
But Powered Hang Gliding is cheating, isn't it?
When I first started FLPHG I had this strange guilty 'unclean' feeling that powered Hang Gliding just wasn't right: A bit of a contradiction with power and gliding together, although the experience was always good. After 17 years of almost religious weekend hill flying, adding power was quite a shock to the system. Initially I certainly wouldn't want to waste a good day flying power when I could be hill flying. FLPHG was just another opportunity to get some airtime when the conditions weren't too favourable for hill flying. Now however, I wouldn't want to waste a good day sitting on the hill!
Overall FLPHG is a very good form of Hang Gliding and certainly appeals to pilots (like me) who haven't got the time to waste sitting in their cars before getting to a suitable site, and who want to get the best quality flying from the limited time they do have.
Using Petrol to sustain flight isn't right is it?
How much petrol is used by hill pilots, or those XC hounds who burn up and down the UKs motorways in search of the best XC site for the day. I know that I used gallons when I went hill flying just in the North West of England.
5.5 litres of petrol is more than sufficient to get a great powered flight, and if flying in Hang Gliding mode on a half reasonable day will propel a reasonable pilot around the sky for the whole day, over very large distances (100 miles is very possible).
FLPHG is about having the ability to access great soaring flight potential from a field close to your home and it can be as competitive as any other form of Hang Gliding.
OK, so what have SoarFoot been up to then to improve the Booster further?
The main developments are primarily aimed at the mk1, although some may be suitable for the mk2 (or even other units).
Infusion Bonded Shell
Carbon Air Box
RK Endurance Chain
Fins
Prop Brake Spring
Fuel Gauge
Electronic Throttle
Large Capacity Fuel Tank
This page is still a work in progress.
