Solo
Role Paramotor
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Fresh Breeze
Introduction 1980s
Status In production

The Fresh Breeze Solo is a German paramotor, designed and produced by Fresh Breeze of Wedemark for powered paragliding.[1][2][3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed in the 1980s to comply with German rules which are very stringent regarding safety and noise. It features a paraglider-style high-wing, single-place accommodation and a single 19 hp (14 kW) Solo 210 engine in pusher configuration, with a hand throttle control. As is the case with all paramotors, take-off and landing is accomplished by foot.[1][2][3]

As the company's first product it was initially known as just the Fresh Breeze, but as other models were added it was renamed the Solo for its fitted engine, the Solo 210.[1][2]

To comply with German safety requirements the Solo was initially designed with a harness that allowed jettisoning the engine package in flight. This was required to reduce the risk of the pilot drowning in the event of a water landing and also to deal with a possible engine fire in flight. This feature survives in the present day Solo Jettison model. To meet noise requirements the small two-stroke engine has a complex "wrap-around" style exhaust and extra-long muffler system that results in a low sound output. The engine cylinder head is modified to improve cooling and drives a two-bladed carbon fibre propeller.[1][2]

Variants

Fresh Breeze
Initial name given to the model, as the company's first product.[1][2]
Solo CB
Model with "comfort bar" flexible push rods that counteract engine torque.[3]
Solo Jettison
In production in 2012, this model retains the jettisonable engine feature of the earliest models.[3]

Specifications (Fresh Breeze)

Data from Cliche[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wing area: 290 sq ft (27 m2)
  • Empty weight: 50 lb (23 kg)
  • Gross weight: 278 lb (126 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 2 U.S. gallons (7.6 L; 1.7 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Solo 210 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 19 hp (14 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch, carbon-fibre

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page D-21. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 68. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. 1 2 3 4 Fresh Breeze (n.d.). "Solo". Retrieved 30 March 2012.
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