Highadventure Beamer 3 Light Steerable Emergency Parachute

A stable flight

When developing our Rogallo wings, we focus on the interaction between the reserve parachute and the paraglider. After the reserve parachute opens, the paraglider is not released (the most common emergency scenario). This is precisely the Beamer 3’s major advantage over smaller models available on the market: after a quick deployment, the Beamer 3 quickly takes control. It begins a slow horizontal drift without being disturbed by the paraglider. The Beamer 3’s stability is due, among other things, to a low wing loading.
We have also retained a unique and proven feature of the Beamer 2, which we developed ourselves: the braked configuration of the canopy upon deployment. As a result, it moves only very slowly in the horizontal plane, which meets the needs of many pilots: the advantages of a round reserve that falls vertically are combined with the advantages of a horizontally steerable Rogallo. Thus, during a deployment near a cliff or in strong winds, the Beamer 3 initially falls almost vertically. Only input on the controls causes this Rogallo reserve to move horizontally. If the pilot is high enough above the ground, they can then steer the Beamer 3 away from a hazardous area (cliff, flat terrain, waterway, building, etc.).
This braked configuration has another significant benefit: it effectively counteracts the “downplane” effect. This mirror effect between the paraglider and the reserve occurs (even with round reserve parachutes) when both canopies pitch forward due to their horizontal movement, thereby pulling rapidly downward. This significantly increases the rate of descent, and the risk of injury is therefore higher. The braked configuration of the Beamer 3 and its large surface area therefore effectively counteract this effect: when braked, the Rogallo surface cannot accelerate.

A major advantage: the Beamer steers and moves forward!

Paraglider entangled: In real-world situations and in most cases, when deploying the reserve, the paraglider “dragging” behind is a real problem. Often, the wing is already collapsed when the reserve is deployed and remains so afterward, preventing it from flying. The descent under the Beamer 3 is then a real pleasure. The reserve responds to control inputs without delay, thereby achieving a minimum sink rate. During reserve deployments in SIV training, when the main wing is flying normally, it can interfere with the descent attitude of a Rogallo or round reserve. When a paraglider opens after the reserve has been deployed, you can prevent it from flying by stalling the B-lines or pulling it toward you. This significantly improves reserve control. Countless practical examples confirm the flawless flight behavior of all Beamer models in every possible flight configuration.
Paraglider released: Pilots equipped with a quick-release system fully benefit from the Beamer 3’s qualities. The glide ratio doubles for a slightly higher sink rate. Quick-release carabiners are especially useful in competition (higher risk of collision) or in acrobatic flying. A suitable line cutter attached to a sufficiently long elastic cord also works in an emergency.