Wings of Change
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founder | Markus Gründhammer |
| Headquarters | Fulpmes , Austria |
| Products | Paragliders, lightweight mountain gliders |
Overview
Wings of Change is an Austrian manufacturer of aircraft, headquartered in Fulpmes, and established by Markus Gründhammer. The firm focuses on crafting ready-to-fly paragliders, combining innovative design with practical functionality.
Product Range and Development
By 2003, the company's portfolio featured several models including the two-seat Chinhook Bi tandem, the intermediate-level Taifun and Twister, as well as the high-performance Tsunami paraglider.
In a 2003 evaluation, reviewer Noel Bertrand highlighted that Markus Gründhammer consistently produces paragliders that prioritize safety without compromising on flight performance.
Moving forward to 2011 and subsequent years, the lineup expanded to include models such as the Deathblade, Predator, and Psychohammer.
Design Philosophy
Markus Gründhammer described his Deathblade, featuring an aspect ratio of 13.01:1, a wing composed of 113 cells, and a maximum velocity of 68 km/h (37 kn), as a wing that fulfills his criteria for both performance and handling. He expressed that while some individuals seek high-performance vehicles like a Ferrari, he prefers to develop his own paragliders to enhance his skills as a test pilot and for personal growth. Gründhammer emphasized that pushing boundaries in design fosters mental resilience and embodies the essence of experiencing 'pure life'.
Additional Offerings
Besides their main range, Wings of Change manufactures the Skyman series, which consists of lightweight mountain gliders tailored for activities such as bivouac flying.
Aircraft
An overview of the aircraft produced by Wings of Change includes:
- Wings of Change Acrominator
- Wings of Change Braveheart
- Wings of Change Chinhook Bi
- Wings of Change Crossblade
- Wings of Change Deathblade
- Wings of Change Druid
- Wings of Change Edonis
- Wings of Change Reinhold
- Wings of Change Ötzi
- Wings of Change Predator
- Wings of Change Psychohammer
- Wings of Change Speedy Gonzales
- Wings of Change Taifun
- Wings of Change Tsunami
- Wings of Change Tuareg
- Wings of Change Twister
- Wings of Change X-Fighter
- Wings of Change XPlor-air
- Skyman Amicus
- Skyman The Rock
- Skyman CrossCountry
- Skyman Heartbeat
- Skyman CrossAlps
- Skyman PassengAir
- Skyman Tandem
- Skyman Reinhold II
- Skyman Furio