RC Paraglider

Overview

The rc-paraglider is a tethered electric paraglider designed for indoor and outdoor recreational flying. Unlike free-flight paragliders piloted by humans, the rc-paraglider carries only the motor, battery, and radio receiver in a lightweight pod harness suspended beneath a ram-air paraglider canopy. Dual servos control the brake lines, enabling the pilot to modulate descent rate and perform precision landings. A 30-meter safety tether anchors the aircraft, preventing loss and enabling repeated flights from the same location. The platform is popular for indoor sports halls and outdoor fields where space is limited.

How it works

The 3S LiPo battery powers the electronic speed controller, which drives the brushless motor through its throttle signal from the radio receiver. The motor spins the pusher propeller, creating thrust that inflates the ram-air canopy and provides lift. The canopy inherently balances pitch and provides passive stability; weight is distributed between the suspension frame attachment points and the pod harness, which carries the pilot (in full-scale aircraft) or receiver and battery (in RC scale).

Brake control is independent: the receiver channels brake servo commands to the two brake servos, each pulling on one side of the brake lines. Pulling both brakes equally increases drag and slows descent; pulling one brake turns the aircraft in that direction. The brakes are also used to flare, pulling full brakes on approach stalls the wing and reduces sink rate for a soft landing.

The braided tether is attached to the pod leg rest via a ball-bearing swivel to prevent twisting. The other end is secured to a ground anchor carabiner. As the paraglider ascends under thrust, the tether extends; reducing throttle and applying brakes brings it back down on controlled descent, making the aircraft fully retrievable.

Stability and handling

The ram-air design is inherently stable: air pressure maintains the airfoil shape, and the wing naturally resists pitch oscillations. The four-riser suspension frame distributes load evenly, preventing asymmetric collapse. Brake servo authority is proportional, small brake inputs for gentle turns, full brake deflection for emergency flare or rapid descent.

Flight envelope

Typical flights operate at 30–50% throttle for gentle climb or hover; full throttle provides maximum ascent rate (0.6 m/s) but drains the battery faster. Descent on minimum throttle is controlled by brake lever position. The 30-meter tether constrains ceiling altitude but ensures the aircraft is never lost and simplifies recovery. Indoors, lower ceilings call for conservative throttle; outdoors in open fields, the aircraft can use the full tether length and practice more aggressive maneuvers.

Design heritage

RC paragliders evolved from sport paragliding, scaling down the pilot to a servo-controlled pod. Early models used fixed-pitch propellers; modern variants use electronically controlled speed controllers to vary thrust in real time, giving finer climb-rate adjustment. The tether-based constraint is deliberate: it trades the complexity of autonomous stabilization for guaranteed retrieval and simplified radio link (no need for sophisticated autopilot feedback).