Heldeberg Marathon

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title: "Heldeberg Marathon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990s-united-states-ultralight-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft", "powered-parachutes"] description: "American powered parachute" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heldeberg_Marathon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American powered parachute ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Marathon
aircraft_type	Powered parachute
national_origin	United States
manufacturer	Heldeberg Designs
status	Production completed
::

| name = Marathon | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Powered parachute | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Heldeberg Designs | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Heldeberg Marathon, also called the Blue Heron Marathon, is an American powered parachute, that was designed and produced by Heldeberg Designs of Altamont, New York.

Design and development

The Marathon was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles two-seat trainer rules and today is marketed as a light-sport aircraft. The aircraft takes its name from its design goal of an aircraft with long range and endurance and features a range of 115 mi. It features a parachute-style high-wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and originally a single 50 hp Rotax 503 engine in pusher configuration. The 64 hp Rotax 582 was the standard engine used on later models.

The aircraft is built from a combination of bolted dural aluminium and stainless steel tubing. It features a double ring propeller guard that has been roll-over tested. The 10 u.s.gal fuel tank is made from aluminium. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals, or optionally a control stick, that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates gas strut suspension. The aircraft is factory supplied in the form of an assembly kit that requires 30–50 hours to complete.

Originally marketed by the factory under their own name, the aircraft was later marketed under the brand name Blue Heron, although the manufacturer remained the same.

Specifications (Blue Heron Marathon)

|ref=Manufacturer |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=9 |length in=8 |length note= |span m= |span ft=39 |span in=6 |span note= |height m= |height ft=6 |height in=6 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=500 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=308 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=850 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity=10 u.s.gal |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 582 |eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=32 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=115 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=900 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=1.7 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=

|see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists=

References

References

1. Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page D-8. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN. 0-9680628-1-4
2. Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 50. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
3. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 80. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
4. [[Heldeberg Designs]]. "Blue Heron Marathon".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::