Dell Schanze's Honest Review Of The SkyTap Angel Paramotor - Side by Side Comparison
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 10. 2021
- (Call or Text) 801-631-1731
flattopglobal.com/
Whatsapp: wa.me/18016311731
Facebook messenger: / superdell.schanze
WHAT THE...?
Here's the thing - I am all for safety advancements in the sport and I more than anyone else would love to see more paramotors adapt features that keep pilots safe!
However, when it comes to the SkyTap Angel, they BADLY messed up a lot of things...
I'm not here just to dog on and trash this frame.
But I am going to tell it how I see it from the years of experience I have flying and building paramotors.
In this video, you get my real first impressions and a detailed walkaround of the frame.
In conclusion, although it's safer in some ways than other paramotors out there, It has a LONG WAY to go before it's on the same level as the Flat Top.
The so-called "improvements" are nothing more than a failed marketing gimmick.
The quality of the frame overall is nothing shy of a cheap Chinese copy. (seriously disappointing)
Here is a shortlist of the many things I found in the first 2 hours of looking at it:
➡️ 4-pound weight increase (that was just the frame, cage, and comfort bars. I imagine it will be more when fully built up. People have claimed up to 7 pounds more than the Flat Top fully assembled.)
➡️ Poorly welded and manufactured
➡️ Horribly sewn velcro, mounted velcro, and overall velcro quality and strength
➡️ Aluminum rivets (much weaker and easier to break off compared to the steel ones on the Flat Top)
➡️ Cage lugs hangover causing lines to catch on launch
➡️ Giant gaps between the cage pieces and mainframe
➡️ Improperly placed mounting plate (cant use an electronics pack and increases prop strike chances)
➡️ Unsure if it's powder-coated which WILL cause cracks in the frame and make it weaker overall
➡️ Warping in the frame and cage
➡️ Weak velcro attaching the comfort bars (Flat Top backs the velcro up with a 3500-pound strap. SkyTap does not)
➡️ Netting wrapped around cage pieces support bars causing warping and failure over time
➡️ Assembly time takes 3 times longer at least (2-5 minutes on average for the Flat Top vs 15-20 minutes for the skytap)
➡️ Horrible fit and finish
➡️ Horrible customer service and buying process
➡️ Weak main frame causing engines to fall off during high G forces or hard landings (this is something that has actually happened to many people)
➡️ The seat is shorter by 2 inches and the lumbar adjustments don't go all the way out (which means this will be EXTREMELY uncomfortable for larger pilots)
➡️ The seat is skinnier by 1 inch which will also make it less comfortable and harder to weigh shift
➡️ Weak carabiner hook in points (less metal to grab onto which will increase failure and reduces overall strength)
➡️ 3 Additional buckles which make the quick release harness unusable (it's no longer a quick-release)
➡️ 2 Inches taller overall
➡️ Sharp edges that grab and catch onto you when getting into and out of the harness (could cut you or your jacket if you're not careful)
➡️ Main skids are longer by roughly an inch and they are not angled outward which makes the skids a lot easier to hit with the back of your legs when running (the Flat Top skids are 1 inch wider apart and 1 inch farther back which makes them much harder to hit when running)
➡️ Foam in harness making it harder and less comfortable to weigh shift in flight and provides no comfort
➡️ Raised comfort bars by 1 inch and lowered seat by 1 inch which means it is no longer certified height hook-in points
➡️ Less reclined seat which makes it less comfortable over a long period of time
➡️ Less aerodynamic gas tank
➡️ No dual tank option
➡️ Poorly secured gas tank
➡️ Gas tank bar is already rusting
➡️ Lose threads and already falling apart
➡️ Comfort bar support beam gets in the way of the pilot when taking tandems or standing up
➡️ Curved bar on the bottom rear of the frame which makes it more likely to catch the ground and send you face-first into the ground
➡️ No steel reinforcement in top center connection point to the frame (which means the entire cage will break more easily)
➡️ Lateral supports are 2 3/4 vs 4 inches on the Flat Top (makes the comfort bars significantly weaker and increases chances of snapping them during hard acro or hard impact)
➡️ Welds are made with much cheaper spool gun MIG process
➡️ Only one rivet per cage plug (Flat Top has 2 which increases strength by more than double)
36 things were found right off the bat... we had more but ran out of space!
Just wait until we fly it and cut into it!
If you're ready to take your first flight, Super Training is my 10-day paramotor training school where I personally take you from never having touched the glider to a master pilot in only 10-days. I do 5 training classes a year with 12 students a class down in Corpus Christi, Texas. I've been running these training classes for 20 years and have trained over 1038 students safely.
I grew up in Saratoga Springs, UT so I'm very familiar with that beautiful backdrop, knew right away the area of the world. Very cool, your units are the best made in my experience.
Well you should come learn to fly with us. We could use another flying buddy in the area. :) 800-707-2525
I'm so impressed with you Dell. I haven't heard one word you've said in all the videos I've watched that was a lie oe exaggeration. Coming out of a religious cult and being lied to and manipulated I really cherish the kind of person you are. Thank you so much for looking out for all of us even if the truth hurts other people's feelings.
Did they kick wildlife in your cult?
@@landon_8888 Maybe you should know the truth before your ass starts talking. Lol
cant wait to see the flying part!!!
I think the main point was missed with the Flat Top. I have watched your channel for a decade. You, your wife and your kids flying these paramotors not to mention all the people who bought these things. It's nice to see it sitting in the driveway but how many thousands of hours in the air has the Flat Tops flown?
There is one video out there where a guy flies into a canyon and ends up smashing into not only one wall but two. The Flat Top was completely destroyed. The pilot who should have never flown it into the canyon was standing there without a scratch.
The Flat Top shaved the pilot's life.
The Flattop will be my wife approved unless I can find life insurance in the $10 million range. Life insurance = hey, husband. Take up free climbing 🧗♀️!
Amazing attention to detail. Great video. Thanks
I liked It!!! I'll be in St. George Utah 1st week of November. It's only a 5 hour drive to ya.
Greetings, Dell. I've watched many of your videos. I can honestly say you are the best and most experienced in the game. You are a speaker of truth and that is what we need in avaition!
Can I fly a Flat Top being 6"4 280 lbs?
Yes piece of cake. The Flat Top will carry over 600 lbs. I have a guy on this class that is almost 300 lbs. It's no problem. The Flat Top is so powerful and the Dominator is so efficient that you can even fly the smallest Dominator ever made which is only 14sm. I literally fly it tandem with over 300 lbs. So your weight is a total non issue. Plus the Flat Top harness is designed to fit your height no problem. It's really the most comfortable for both really big people and really small people. What's funny is that the exact same unit you can fly my 10 year old can fly. The Flat Top harness design is really incredible.
@DellSchanze Wow, Flat Top, and dominator is the real deal! I will pursue paramotors after my fixed-wing training... I'm definitely going with the Flat Top, and your training.
Thanks for the information Dell 🪂
I may never fly in this life but if I could I would be giving you a visit. So beautiful to fly.
"Jimi bob" is not having a good week. Is kurt doing one next;))??
I see you changed the offset of the bars. In Andy's video, his flat top has squares and he said the corner of the square would hit the sides of his body giving him bruises. He did said that his machines are heat treated after welding. Also he talked about the connection point holes, that on the flat top they were too long letting the connection point slip forward or backward changing the balance. And on his flat top, the harness was sewn onto the frame so he said it had to be sent back to you guys to replace the harness for a lot of money, and his, a pilot could put their own harness on it.
Let's address each one of these:
1. "Kidney crushers" - This was never an issue that needed solving. We did make a really nice compound radius on the part quite awhile ago just to eliminate questions about that lie though.
2. Connection point holes - The "sliding" is again a completely made up thing that no pilot has ever really noticed. It was changed for personal preference and pitched as a marketing gimmick by the SkyTap. The reason you don't want that is because it greatly reduces the strength to have it done the way the SkyTap does. Again, we tried that and it failed way sooner than the current version we use. Plus we have no problems with adjustability and there is no such thing as "sloppy" when flying it. Totally made up problem that isn't really a problem.
3. Sewn on harness - The sewn on harness is WAY stronger than the way the SkyTap does it. The original Flat Top's had a buckle like the SkyTap and we QUICKLY switched away due to strength differences and because the buckle would wear a hole into the comfort bar which is BAD. Plus pilot rarely EVER have to replace a harness or a comfort bar and we work hard to make that very easy for them when they would like to.
All of these things were touched on in the video with a detailed explanation.
Every so called "improvement" the SkyTap claims is simply a failed marketing gimmick. Fake problems with worthless solutions pitched as an improvement. In all reality they made a frame that is worse than the Flat Top in AT LEAST 36 ways.
Would be interesting to see same kind of side by side comparison with other types of cages as well. E.g. one with low hanging point.
your detali to quality control is above and beyond.. why don't people understand it's there life there playing with..... I was looking at the Angle frame when it came out but never saw the details you explained.... Thank you for the video and I'll be sure to share it with my friends... LETS GO FLYING!!!!!! (Flattop forever)
Glad to see Dell. Great video!
I’d buy a flat top tomorrow but I’ve not seen one for sale in the UK. ( used). Either we don’t have them or the owners never sell them.
We have a few dozen of them in the UK and we can ship over there anytime!
So after watching this video, I assumed that I would find the SkyTap to be priced significantly lower -- several thousand cheaper, but it's not.
The first ever Paramotor video I've ever watched was Dell's.
When he unloaded the stuff from the back of a truck and says " Lets go flyin' ".
That was years back.
👀👀👀 Tuckers latest video (tiny wing on trike) talks about how he actually deleted footage of this Sky Tap. I’m not sure I completely understand what he meant, but apparently they did something very dangerous because of the design of this unit. SOOO I posted a link to this video!!!!!
Well he's just a front man anyway for the younger crowd.
Are there any plans to update the flattop?
The Flat Top is the most advanced unit on the market. It's constantly improved in any possible way. What do you mean update? There is nothing else even comparable. If there were any possible way to improve it then it would be implemented.
is there a recommended paramotor instructor in the Layton UTAH area?
There are no honest or competent instructors in Utah let alone Layton. The way training is done is you first want to master control of the paraglider by flying in like a bit kite. To fly a kite you need wind and the only place in the world the wind blows very consistently all day long is at specific beaches. So to get 25-60 hours of kiting practice and up to 530 flights of experience into a 10 day class you need to travel to the perfect location and the best instructor. Even if the best instructor in the world tried to train you in Layton it would be completely worthless as it would take over a year to try to get 25-60 hours of glider control practice. So those who pretend to "train" in locations like that are actually frauds. They don't actually train anyone to have any actual skills. They just chuck people in the air without the slightest ability to properly control the glider and that's why you hear of constant carnage & death all the time. Do it right and with the correct gear, Flat Top & Dominator, and your odds of death are almost zero. So call 801-631-1731 and just do it the right way. Then you can knock it out in 10 days and possibly leave with up to 530 flights of experience and mastery level skills fully prepared to fly anywhere with incredible safety. So even if someone says they are an "instructor" if they claim to "train" in Utah you know without a doubt they are a fraud that has zero intention of actually training you. This sport is absolutely incredible if you do it right but it's a complete nightmare if you don't.
Gross weight? Do you carry a lightweight low power unit? Atom 80?
The Flat Top 200R is only 56 lbs dry. The Atom 80 is a terrible motor. Yes we have a mounting plate for it and can sell it but I would recommend against it because it had horrible torque steer. The Flat Top 200R is only slightly heavier but much easier to launch and much safer to fly because of the much higher power and about 80% less felt torque steer.
How much do you actually weigh?
Dell what's your view on parajet Maverick or the V3
Here's my thoughts:
Pros:
- Cool colors
- Good service for parts
Cons:
- Weak netting that can easily be flexed into the prop
- Weak cage and frame that can easily be flexed into the prop
- Weak cage that easily breaks when mistakes are made and are expensive to repair
- Very unsafe frame and cage design that makes it EASY to get your hand into the prop
- No "crumple zone" to help protect your spin on firm impact
- No weight shift authority
- Less comfortable in the air
- If you break the netting in 1 spot you have to replace the entire loop for $500
- No quick release harness which puts you at risk of drowning if you go over water
Here's my final thoughts - IT'S VERY UNSAFE!! I have one in my garage and I'll admit it looks cool but I can literally stretch the netting into the prop with almost no pressure. I can also easily touch the netting and cage with little force too. The netting and cage are so weak I'd never fly it for that reason ALONE!
Here's why a weak frame, cage, and netting is so important - When doing a forward launch you put lots of pressure and force on the cage with the lines. If you apply throttle by mistake or something unusual happens, you can easily get your hands into the propeller. Sadly, this happens ALL THE TIME even for people with lots of experience and skill. In addition to that, if you trip and fall down your first instinct is to put your hands out. As your hands slide around above your head or by your head the frame and cage can come down and go right into your hand. It's stupid.
I for the LIFE OF ME can't figure out why these paramotors have netting that's weak. The Flat Top Paramotors netting, frame, and cage are so tough you cant physically touch the prop and the cage together without SNAPPING the prop in half. IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN!!
To me that one safety feature alone is worth not flying those paramotors.
In addition to that, they swing arms they use have almost no weight shift authority compared to the Flat Top. I'd say it has about 40% of the weight shift authority of the Flat Top.
It was also less comfortable in the sky. The Flat Top is WAY more comfortable in the sky than people might think. It's like sitting in a perfectly fitted lawn chair. I'd say the Maverick is 10% less comfortable in the air.
Parts are more expensive too. If you break one piece of the netting it's $450+ shipping to get a whole new net. If you trip and fall down on the Flat Top, it's only $250 a cage piece and you rarely ever break more than one.
Getting into the seat was a lot more difficult too. The Flat Top scoops you up so easily and quickly you don't even realize it did. Most pilots don't even have to think about getting into the seat on the Flat Top. The maverick was about 20% harder to get into the seat. Had to let go and push on the seat to get myself into it.
I will stop rambling on now... Bottom line, It's a fine paramotor but I'd NEVER pick it over a Flat Top for any reason.
@@DellSchanze thank you for taking the time to explain Dell.
i wish that in my country i will have instractor like you . after 4 days my instractor said we are ready to fly, ans i think i need much more training days
That's just silly! Ground control is critical for safety and fun! You are the pilot in command, so just request more ground training before you fly! Don't fly if your not comfortable! And if you don't trust your instructors judgement, come to the US and learn with me at Super Training!
I've looked at pricing at all the motors. They're all priced close to the same, some being 1k less here, and some more. Most bend and twist or have small cage loops. You see vids of people botching a landing and the prop exploding. You can see clearly the difference in quality between these two frames. One looks like it's built for a Walmart store, and the other looks like it's built to be strong.
Yes amen to that. You can even see in the commons many people sharing their own experience of watching people shredded and destroying gear. It's messed up that people spend so much effort to push inferior gear. Very sad for those who fall for it.
@@DellSchanze Well thank you for being anal and building a great machine. 750k is no joke for design. To most it's 3-4x their life savings. You have to have some serious love for something to invest that kind of capital.
I don’t care what anyone says about flattops, they are built right. I’ve flown others but I’ve never found one that was more comfortable and safe… they scoop you right up after takeoff and you don’t have to struggle to get into the harness like other designs.
I love your passion
Now you've done it! I can never look at my Flattop the same again! I always knew it was built "RAM TOUGH", but I took it all for granted. Now I see the care, quality, workmanship, insight, foresight and outa-sight that is put into the design, I am forever more appreciative of my "Flying Machine". Any other paramotor design and I would've had to write this from the Great Beyond. My Flattop has battle scars instead of my decrepit body! Too bad I can't afford more Super Training!
Cool vid. Keep it up, Dell.
Such a great presentation and hilarious also with everything going on in the community. I know people talk but who's going to contest these facts...
Good looking dogs.
So wich is better, that wasn't clear on this video
FLAT TOP all the way!
After have watched the roundtop man comparing the flattop, I was kinda waiting for Dell to do the same.
This was very helpful for someone like myself just getting into the hobby. I'm an engineer with a background in the bomb squad. Everything you've said about the components makes complete sense. The structural commentary in regards to dissimilar medals and the tensile strength of the straps is very relevent. If your straps aren't load rated for your occupant(s), I don't even know why this death trap is available for sale. This mass produced lowest bidder product should be taken off the shelf.
Can I buy a flat top if I live in mexico
Yes! We are shipping one there soon!
Your machine is a lot more refined.
You can give him one kudo, he knew who's design to steal. If he had attention to detail and pretty paint they would sell better.I don't think in my entire life I've been ignorant enough to choose color over safety. I didn't know you ever had a Chinese employee. Lol
A thorough comparison with a measured, professional delivery.
Those Velcros are chinese made.
Yeah but the color is way prettier on the SkyTap. So...there's that.
I didn't like the unfair review on Tucker Gott, where it wasn't set up properly, but this show's different attention to detail. Can you name ANYTHING they improved on though?
Color is opinion based. Sure it's cool that they come in colors, but I was touching on fact's not opinions. Things that actually matter. Color's could be changed at any time.
I could not find one thing that they had improved on. I tried, Trevor tried, two other people tried and none of us could. I guess you could say color options... maybe. I personally like the black and silver better!
It has to be better than other frames from the webbing alone, no? I was hoping Trevor would try it on and see if it at least stayed higher off the ground when strapped in and standing up, because in Tucker's video it was barely off the ground and the pilot could hardly run. It really looked bad and also humorous. I guess Trevor won't be trying it on since it doesn't have a motor.
This was a detailed, thorough comparison of the two. Good video.
Flying video of both Trevor and I coming soon.
@@DellSchanze you sure you want to fly that disaster??
No competition. Flat top rules
Hahaha what's going on with buddies eyebrows about 12.5mins in
Yes yes we get it its the Sky Trap as in death trap....
So that's why the Flattop uses a right hand index finger trigger throttle, rather than a left hand...
Pretty much everything uses right hand throttle so it's important to keep it consistent.
Whats skytaps answer to that?...😜
None yet!
After fully watching this video! I am ever more convinced the flattop paramotor is the most superior of any paramotor!
I read... Sky trap... 🤔
The Flattop is a finely engineered and precision crafted machine. It’s an actual aircraft, not like all those flimsy “butt-fans” out there. PLUS, it’s still very competitively priced!!
It’s a bad COPY attempt of the Flat Top design anyway so a clear loser and not worthy of even giving them time and attention. However, I understand for safety reasons this comparison video had to be made.
Yea people pushing fakes are obviously not honest in the first place but this video really should show just how huge the difference is between those who create the best and those who push low end fakes and pretend they are "upgrades".
At least the SkyTap Angel is copying the excellent design of the Flattop. The netting of the SkyTap Angel is huge improvement over the standard netting of all other designs that are not Flattop's. Flattop's netting is still far superior. The problem with SkyTap Angel is the quality of the build and materials are really bad and should have just copied more closely the Flattop design. I am sure the SkyTap Angel is cheaper but spend the extra money for the Flattop because the build quality and materials and design are just so much better and your life depends on it.
It's not cheaper. The pile of crap fake is the same price. I think they are out of business now though.
The design, construction, and materials of the SkyTap Angel paramotor are reminiscent of the doomed ocean liner TITANTIC that sank in 1912. This massive ocean liner incorporated over one million wrought-iron rivets ....fastened to poor quality steel hull plates that were NOT heated during the riveting process. This steel was susceptible to a phenomenon known as "brittle fracture" which results in weakened steel in very cold temperatures. Many other design elements of the TITANIC were unsafe or compromised contributing the deaths of nearly 1500 men, women, and children in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
oh geez, guys missing a finger, yikes. I'm sure this has helped with improvements.
I lost my finger from a motorcycle accident but yes hundreds of people have been shredded in props on total crap paramotors like scout, parajet, blackhawk, nirvana and other crap like that. That's why 100% of competent pilots all fly Flat Top paramotors. There is just no way in heck you will see a real actual pilot flying anything other than a Flat Top. The safety difference is absolutely huge.
Could we EVER expect an unbiased review from this character?
Where is the bias in the zillions of facts shared? The facts are blatantly obvious for anyone to see when a real actual expert points them out.
Honestly, I think this is that review. He was so quick to throw out the 'why we changed this compared to that'. Idk I could see a huge difference between the quality between the two frames. I know it's easy to not like Dell, but damn those machines are built well.
If it's easy not to like the person telling you the truth to try to save your butt then imagine how difficult it would be to like the scammers pushing the horrible gear and lying to everyone. :)