Australian brand Flow Paragliders has launched the RPM3, successor to the RPM2 in its paramotor range. This is not a simple update: as the brand describes in its own spec sheet, it is a design built from scratch, with a new reflex profile, brand-new winglets and a renewed cloth. It comes in four sizes, from 15 to 23 m², aimed at intermediate-advanced to expert pilots, both for XC flying and for long-distance record attempts.
Flow attributes the performance jump to a combination of three elements: a shark-nose reflex profile, a 3-line design that reduces total line length and therefore aerodynamic drag, and new winglets that, according to the brand, improve directional stability and reduce oscillations even in turbulent air. The wing is built in Porcher Skytex 38g fabric on both top and bottom surfaces, with aramid lines (sheathed Liros TSL and unsheathed Edelrid 8001) chosen to keep the trim stable in the long run with minimal maintenance.
The riser system includes tip-steering with trimmers marked from 0 to 10: up to position 5, Flow recommends flying with the main brakes and tip-steering combined; from position 6 and up to full reflex, it indicates to use only the tip-steering to keep the wing stable at speed. Risers and lines are colour-coded for an easier pre-flight check.
| RPM3 | 15 | 17.5 | 20 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat area (m²) | 15.20 | 17.60 | 20.20 | 23.20 |
| Cells | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Aspect ratio | 5.70 | 5.75 | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| Glider weight (kg) | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Take-off weight, advanced level (kg) | 60-125 | 70-135 | 85-150 | 95-160 |
| Take-off weight, intermediate level (kg) | 55-105 | 65-115 | 80-130 | 90-140 |
Flow’s spec sheet describes the RPM3 as a wing designed “for intermediate pilots in progression up to experts, from recreational flying to long-distance record attempts”. The line plan and user manual are available for download on the brand’s website.
