Eye In the Sky

STORY BY WRIGLEY HEIDE »
Chances are, you’ve seen powered parachutes
flying near Eudora before. The practice has been
recreational for almost 100 years and is commonly
used as a cheaper alternative to more expensive
aircraft. The colorful vehicles do need a bit of space
to take off, and that’s why some pilots choose the
open spaces near Eudora High School as a runway.
Locally, the pioneer of this hobby is Dwayne

Richardson, the owner of the locally-based Rich-
ardson Jumpstarters. While at first, it was almost a

guarantee that any local flyer you might see would
be Richardson, the number of different powered
parachute pilots that enjoy surveying the Eudora
landscape have soared exponentially.
If you find this hobby interesting, there is some
good news. Most single-seated crafts do not
require a pilots license to fly, although it may be

a good idea to be properly trained by an experi-
enced pilot. In addition, the price for most pre-built

and kit aircraft can be as low as $1,500 for a basic
setup.