Southern Powered Parachutes

Southern Powered Parachutes was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Nicholson, Georgia. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of powered parachutes in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft for the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight and the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles trainer rules. The company's designs were never listed in the American light-sport aircraft category.[1][2]

Southern Powered Parachutes
TypePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
Foundedcirca 2001
FounderJohn Massey
Defunct2006
FateOut of business
Headquarters
Nicholson, Georgia
,
United States
ProductsPowered parachutes

The company was founded as Condor Powered Parachutes by John Massey in about 2001 as a result of his experience as a powered parachute pilot and dealer for other brands. He wanted to produce a lower-cost aircraft and Massey had a chance meeting with the president of Aerostar that led to a manufacturing relationship. As the model line expanded the company changed its name to Southern Powered Parachutes.[1][3][4]

Southern produced two models, the Condor and Raptor, with the airframes built by Aerostar in Romania. The airframes were shipped to the US and assembled in Georgia for domestic sale. At least 15 Condors and eight Raptors were built. The company seems to have gone out of business in about 2006.[1][3][4][5][6]

Aircraft
Summary of aircraft built by Southern Powered Parachutes
Model name First flight Number built Type
Southern Condor 2001 at least 15 Two seat powered parachute
Southern Raptor 2004[7] at least 8 Two seat powered parachute

References
  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 81. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Federal Aviation Administration (April 30, 2015). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. "Condor PPC". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. "Southern Powered Parachutes". condorppc.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  5. Federal Aviation Administration (June 9, 2015). "Condor Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  6. Federal Aviation Administration (June 9, 2015). "Raptor Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  7. "Condor Powered Parachutes". condorppc.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
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