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The futuristic Zenith chassis fitted with the Vittorazi Moster Plus 185 engine. This lightweight yet powerful 2-stroke engine produces 75kg thrust. The moster has one of the best power to weight ratio’s of any power plant currently available in the paramotor market. Combine this with the capabilities of the zenith and you have one fun flying.
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The pilot has two controls, a throttle on the right to adjust height and speed and a grip on the left to turn left or right. The pilot adjusts the craft's attitude by shifting body weight.
'The stability on this unit is your body,' said Robert F. Courter, a test pilot who has flown several varieties of one-man devices.
The advance represented by the device is its time and distance in flight, according to the company and Army spokesmen. The military has tested various jet belts, one-soldier craft and rocket packs over 20 years. Some varieties were widely displayed and appeared in adventure movies, but were impracticable because they could carry enough fuel for only a few seconds or minutes, Fort Benning officials said. Can Stay Up Half an Hour
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This device can fly for 30 minutes, reaching 60 miles an hour and altitudes as high as 10,000 feet under certain conditions, the company said.
'The early units were powered with rocket fuel and that has a very high consumption per pound of thrust,' Sam B. Williams, the company president, said.
The Army has invested $3 million to $4 million into developing a lifting device at Williams, Mr. Williams said, adding that $2.4 million was specifically invested in the WASP. The two-week test at Fort Benning will cost $50,000, the Army said.
Three Fort Benning staff sergeants, all in their mid-20's, volunteered for the test. None have experience as pilots. That is one of the objects of the test, Maj. Jack Satterthwaite said. The Army wants to know if the device is safe, how much trouble it will be to maintain and if soldiers without experience piloting aircraft can use it.
Officers say the WASP's noise could be a problem. And the demonstration was in the cool morning hours because the small turbofan engine does not work as well in hot weather.
Some possible uses would be carrying messages and observation, especially in cities where helicopters could not fit.