Powered parachuters turn flying passion into fundraiser

It’s half sitting on a cloud and half magic carpet ride.

It’s 100 percent good time.

For those who have never experienced riding in a powered parachute, it’s almost impossible to accurately describe the feeling of floating effortlessly through the air 1,000 feet above the ground.

People around the nation have turned this experience into their hobby and dozens came to Carthage for the 13th annual Baugh Flight Park Fly-In, hosted by the Sho-Me Chute Flyers, to share their passion.

They also come together to give back. Ernie Baugh, owner of Baugh Flight Park and original member of the Show-Me Chute Flyers, said event attendees try to get at least one sponsor for $100 or “as many as you can get.”

Baugh said the group realized that most people who have the opportunity to fly powered parachutes are fortunate so they wanted to give back.

“We realized it’s a blessing to get to own these and fly them,” Baugh said. “Not everybody gets the opportunity to go out and purchase one of these.”

The money raised goes to Camp Quality of the Ozarks. Baugh said the first year of the fundraiser their group instantly became the largest Camp Quality of the Ozarks contributor.

It’s been so successful the Sho-Me Flyers have started splitting the funds between charities.

“For the last two years we’ve given to camp quality and the crisis center,” Baugh said.

It’s also a unique experience for the pilots. Fields like Baugh’s aren’t all that common.

Even rarer is Baugh’s control tower. He said it helps convey a professional flying experience to the pilots.

Powered parachutes

The name pretty much says it all about powered parachutes.

The chutes are 40-feet wide and encompass 500 square feet. They’re attached to a three-wheeled, often two-seated frame with a fan cage in the back. It resembles an airboat with wheels.

Gary Lewis, a Sho-Me Flyers member and avid powered parachuter, said in the right conditions the aircraft can get off the ground in almost no time at all. The conditions have to be right though. Baugh said the best time of day to fly is early in the morning or in the evening when there is little-to-no wind.

Flying in the middle of the day can be rough because of the thermals rising that can lift a powered parachute 40 feet in the blink of an eye. That’s why Baugh’s field is usually closed during adverse conditions.

“The last thing you want is someone to get hurt,” Baugh said.

Other than that the powered parachutes are relatively safe. Even if the engine fails the parachute produces enough drag to put the craft down safely. Lewis said most deaths are a result of pilot error. When the weather is perfect, the ride is incredibly smooth and headphones smother the roar of the prop creating a relaxing ride. The views, especially at sunset, can be breathtaking.

Adding to the relaxing ride is the fact that the top speed of powered parachutes is about 30 mph. The chutes prevent the craft from going any faster. The aircraft is surprisingly nimble, however. It can be raised and lowered with ease and will turn nearly in place.

A 15-gallon tank can provide nearly three hours of unbridled fun, depending on the weather.
It’s an addictive thrill.

“I fly every night if I get the chance,” Lewis said.

The Show-Me Flyers

Baugh and three friends started the Sho-Me flyers in 1998.

Club membership has increased rapidly since then.

“Through the love of aviation it just grew from there,” Baugh said.

There are now 54 members in the club. Baugh has a hanger that many store their powered parachutes in and there’s a large clubhouse on the grounds. It makes returning to the Fly-In a desirable experience for everyone each year.

“It’s like a family gathering,” Baugh said. “All these people come back year after year after year.”

The club is made up of an older crowd with plenty of time and money on their hands. Powered parachutes range in price from $16,000 to $30,000 new. That doesn’t include getting certified to fly and the general maintenance.

Baugh said certification can take anywhere from a month to a year or more. It just depends on how much time one has available. That’s yet another thing Baugh’s has to offer.

There are three certified flight instructors and a designated pilot examiner in the club. When people aren’t flying at Baugh’s, others are learning how.

This leaves little doubt the Sho-Me Flyers club will continue to grow through the years.