4-Stroke Paramotor Engine With Electronic Fuel Injection, Water-Cooling, Clutch, & a NEW High-Output Design…
A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT:
BlackHawk Paramotors USA & Helvenco of Switzerland have been collaborating for years to develop one of the finest Aviation-Grade 4-Stroke engines. Ever.
In search of the perfect engine for his Trikes / Quads, Mike Robinson – BlackHawk’s CEO, found Helvenco engines to have an edge… “They’re well known for cart racing” said Mike. “Cart racers are notoriously hard on their engines. They push them to the max for achieving peak performance. This puts the focus on engine reliability and longevity.”
After discovering this gem of an engine, Mike and his Team went to work right away on developing an adjustable mounting system for it. A system that would reduce vibration while positioning the motor at the perfect angle. Once the Team felt the configuration was flawless, they debuted the new Paramotor at the world’s largest airshow… EAA in Wisconsin.
“People were stopping by BlackHawk’s booth all day long to take a look at the new Paramotor” said Mike Robinson. “It was a big hit!
Incidentally, BlackHawk’s booth was located right next to Quicksilver – a very well-known manufacturer of Ultralight Aircraft. This got Mike Robinson talking to Quicksilver’s Gene “Bever” Borne, and his son Ken.
“As vendors do, I struck up a conversation with Bever & his son. I was explaining that many of my PPG customers want to investigate fixed-wing flying. We came to an agreement that Quicksilver would try to implement BlackHawk’s new configuration on the Quicksilver line.”
Fast forward a few months and the collaboration has been a huge success! Bever stated that “the final installed weight of the Aero 1000 – with reduction drive, exhaust, and all other components – is only 15 lbs heavier than the Rotax 447! Most pilots will readily give up 15 pounds of useful load to have four-stroke reliability, fuel injection, water cooling, and reduced noise.
When asked if this particular aircraft (with the Aero 1000 powering it) honestly stays within Part 103 limits, Ken responded without hesitation, “Yes, it does.”
HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER:
The 2022 Aero 1000 is a precision-built, single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a clutch, water-cooling, and electronic fuel-injection. It also has some very impressive specifications and a sleek new look.
Many wonder how such a small displacement engine (250cc) can harness this kind of power from a single cylinder. As Mike Robinson explained: “Part of the secret is high RPM capability. This ‘powerhouse engine’ runs at 9200 RPM and idles at around 1800-2000 RPM.”
The latest version of the Aero 1000 has 10% more HP (39hp) and a sleek new look. This high-output design is similar to Rotax’s 447 and it’s “extremely economical on fuel.” Pilots can enjoy hours of flight, on a single tank of gas, with the extraordinary reliability of a 4-stroke.
SOUNDS GOOD?
Upon starting the engine, pilots will notice that it has a great sound to it. Very smooth, with a robust 4-stroke rumble. This is much different from a typical 2-stroke Paramotor. As Mike Robinson stated: “Most 2-stroke engines sound like a weed-eater! This baby sounds like an actual aircraft engine!”
PUTTING THE “POWER” BACK INTO “POWERED PARAGLIDING”:
In this sport, power-to-weight ratio is extremely important. Not just for performance, but for legal reasons. Paramotors have to be under a certain weight to qualify as a non-licensed sport. Aircraft manufacturers (like BlackHawk) seek to squeeze every last drop of power out of their engines. In the case of the Aero 1000, they did just that. “The first generation Aero 1000 had so much potential that we pushed forward with the new design” said Robinson. “The 2022 High-Output configuration, or “The Bush Dawg” as we call it, is simply the finest 4-stroke paramotor on the market right now. And not just the engine. From the glider to the Alaskan Tundra tires, this is the ultimate Quad package.”
If you have any questions about the Aero 1000, or the sport of Powered Paragliding, we’d love to hear from you: (833) PPG-FLYR
