SKYRUNNER FLYING
GO;ANYWHERE UTV
Shreveport,
Louisiana-based
SkyRunner, LLC, manufactures the FAA-approved SkyRunner
off-road aircraft that combines the
thrill of a side-by-side with the freedom of an aircraft! A Polaris ProStar
1000 engine powers the ground system, while a Rotax 914 UL light-sport
aircraft engine enables SkyRunner to
take flight. It doesn’t use a fixed wing,
but rather the latest ram-air parafoil
wing technology. SkyRunner can reach
air speeds of 40 mph for a distance of
120 nautical miles.
SkyRunner’s two-seat design isn’t
standard UTV, either. The seats are
in line with the passenger behind the
driver/pilot. When not in use, the wing
folds into a bag that rides behind the
rear passenger. The chassis looks
capable, but the typical-for-aircraft
weight obsession leaves the occupants
without doors or much in the way of
bodywork. It doesn’t need an airport or
runway, and requires a mere 450 feet
to take off.
SkyRunner is a factory-built and
ready-to-fly aircraft. An off-road enthusiast can earn a Sport Pilot license in
eight days and just 12 hours of flight
training. Sport pilots can legally and
safely use 98 percent of U.S. airspace
without having to talk to air traffic
controllers (ATC). It currently retails for
$139,000 and is available today for purchase from the factory direct. Dealers
are coming. You can schedule a test
flight at www.flyskyrunner.com.
OVER THE BARS
ALL;NEW CAN;AM
MAVERICK X; MAX
We have been patiently
awaiting this day. Can-
Am just released the
four-seat version of their
impressive Maverick
X3 called the Maverick
X3 Max. The wheelbase
has been lengthened
to accommodate a
spacious and most like-
ly comfortable rear row
of seats. Can-Am claims that
the X3 Max is 15 percent longer than
its closest competitor, which will help
the UTV rip through high-speed sec-
tions in a smoother manner, but until
we get our paws on one, we won’t
know the effect that has on cornering.
The powerplant remains the same: a
strong, turbo-assisted, three-cylinder,
four-stroke engine that is paired to a
CV-style transmission.
Can-Am recalibrated the Fox shocks
for the longer wheel-
base and added weight
of the extra row of seats,
so the machine will still
have a great, sporty ride
and feel. The Can-Am
Maverick X3 still offers
the longest suspension
travel numbers in the
major manufacturer market, and this
machine shares the same suspension.
You can get the new X3 Max in three
flavors: the $25,000 Maverick X3 Max
Turbo R, the $27,400 Maverick X3 Max
X ds Turbo R and the wider $29,099
Maverick X3 Max X rs Turbo R.
