Jim Vukelic just returned from a drug court conference in   Biloxi , Mississippi.  He returned to his old stomping grounds, Mott, ND to deliver the Memorial Day address and played in a scramble at the Mott Country Club.  Always looking for a new form of excitement (must be the risk-taking gene inherited from the Bohemian side of the family), he researched the net and found a local dealer for Six-Chuter powered parachutes.  Eldon Lippert has been building and flying powered parachutes for three years.  After visiting his home, watching a video on the pastime, and reading about the contraptions, Jim decided to go for a ride with El on a calm morning.
Like a go cart with a huge propeller, the powered parachute is a fairly simple flying machine that needs only 50 - 100 feet to take off or land.  Here Eldon lays out the parachute.  It's a one-man operation from start to finish.  Eldon has a nice trailer to haul the machine to the Badlands or wherever he's flying that day.

The plexiglass canopy or windshield is El's invention.  Two people sit, one in back of and slightly higher than the front one (the pilot).  These photos are taken at the Mandan Airport.

As the "go cart" moves forward, powered by a 65-horse engine, the chute open and fills with air.

In seconds, the crafts lifts off.  Eldon took the machine for a test run before coming back to pick me up for my ride.
Helmets equipped with radio and intercom allow pilot and passenger to talk as well as keep in contact with the control tower, if need be.  Eldon explained we were traveling at about 200 feet.  The craft has an altimeter and El has flown it as high as 8,000 feet!

Cruising speed never exceeds 30 m.p.h. so it makes for a lazy, though exciting flight.


We also saw a coyote but I was too slow on the shutter release to catch him.


I got a little nervous flying over the powerlines but we were plenty high.  "Altitude is your friend," El says.


Birds-eye views are wonderful!  Think I'll do this again.

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