Wings of Change

Wings of Change is an Austrian aircraft manufacturer based in Fulpmes and founded by paraglider designer and test pilot Markus Gründhammer. The company specializes in paragliders supplied as ready-to-fly aircraft, positioning its work at the intersection of aerodynamic performance, flight safety, and specialized mountain flying. Its products are intended for pilots who use paragliders for recreational, tandem, performance, and expedition-oriented activities. By 2003, Wings of Change had established a product range covering several parts of the paraglider market. The range included the Chinhook Bi, a two-place tandem wing, as well as the intermediate Taifun and Twister and the performance-oriented Tsunami. A contemporary profile of the company credited Gründhammer with pursuing a combination of safety and performance, reflecting the brand's emphasis on technically demanding but controlled free flight. The company later became associated with highly specialized and aggressively named performance wings, including the Deathblade, Predator, and Psychohammer. The Deathblade was described as having a 13.01:1 aspect ratio, 113 cells, and a stated top speed of 68 km/h. Gründhammer presented the design as a personal expression of advanced development and test flying, emphasizing the pursuit of new aerodynamic and handling limits rather than mass-market positioning. Alongside its Wings of Change-branded aircraft, the company also builds the Skyman line of lightweight mountain gliders. These products address activities such as bivouac flying, in which low weight and packability are especially important for pilots operating in mountainous terrain. Skyman models listed in reference material include the Amicus, The Rock, CrossCountry, Heartbeat, CrossAlps, PassengAir, Tandem, Reinhold II, and Furio. The available reference material documents a specialist manufacturer with a broad catalogue of paragliders and related lightweight aircraft, but it does not establish a complete current corporate structure, ownership profile, financial history, distribution network, or present operating status. Accordingly, Wings of Change is best characterized as an Austrian specialist aviation brand whose documented identity rests on performance paragliders, tandem wings, and mountain-oriented lightweight designs.

Wings of Change is an Austrian paraglider manufacturer established by Markus Gründhammer and based in Fulpmes. The available historical record presents the company primarily through its aircraft catalogue and the work of its founder as a designer and test pilot. Rather than operating as a broad aerospace conglomerate, Wings of Change developed a specialist identity around ready-to-fly paragliders and technically focused designs for free-flight pilots. By 2003, the company offered a range that covered tandem, intermediate, and performance applications. The Chinhook Bi was identified as a two-place tandem paraglider, while the Taifun and Twister served intermediate pilots. The Tsunami represented the performance end of the range. This spread indicates that the company was not limited to a single niche within paragliding, although its public profile remained closely connected to advanced design and pilot-oriented development. A 2003 profile of the company described Gründhammer as producing paragliders that sought to preserve safety without sacrificing performance. That characterization is consistent with the company's later product direction and with Gründhammer's own account of his design philosophy. His work was presented not only as commercial manufacturing but also as a means of advancing his skills as a test pilot and exploring the limits of paraglider performance and handling. The company's later catalogue included models such as the Deathblade, Predator, and Psychohammer. The Deathblade was a particularly performance-focused design, with a reported aspect ratio of 13.01:1, 113 cells, and a top speed of 68 km/h. Gründhammer described the model as a wing that met his expectations for performance and flying qualities while continuing to challenge his abilities. The model therefore illustrates the brand's association with demanding, high-performance free-flight equipment rather than entry-level recreational products alone. Wings of Change also developed or manufactured the Skyman line of lightweight mountain gliders. Skyman products were associated with activities including bivouac flying, where pilots carry equipment into mountainous areas and therefore place a premium on low weight and portability. The documented Skyman catalogue includes the Amicus, The Rock, CrossCountry, Heartbeat, CrossAlps, PassengAir, Tandem, Reinhold II, and Furio. Reference material lists a wider Wings of Change aircraft family that includes the Acrominator, Braveheart, Chinhook Bi, Crossblade, Deathblade, Druid, Edonis, Reinhold, Ötzi, Predator, Psychohammer, Speedy Gonzales, Taifun, Tsunami, Tuareg, Twister, X-Fighter, and XPlor-air. The sources do not provide reliable launch dates, production volumes, ownership changes, financial information, or a fully documented chronology for these individual models. They also do not establish the company's current operating status beyond the existence of historical and later product references. The documented history therefore supports a profile of a small, technically specialized Austrian aircraft maker centered on paraglider design and mountain-oriented lightweight flight.

• 2011

  Later performance-wing catalogue

  [1]Wings of Changeen.wikipedia.org

  The company's 2011 and subsequent line is described as including specialized models such as the Deathblade, Predator, and Psychohammer.

• 2003

  Documented multi-segment paraglider range

  [1]Wings of Changeen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material records the Chinhook Bi tandem, Taifun and Twister intermediate wings, and the performance-oriented Tsunami in the company's product range.

A specialist Austrian paraglider manufacturer focused on technically ambitious wings that combine flight performance, handling, and safety, with an additional lightweight-mountain focus through the Skyman line.

• Tandem paraglider

  Chinhook Bi

  A two-place tandem paraglider documented in the company's range by 2003. It represents Wings of Change's offering for flights involving a pilot and passenger rather than solo performance flying.

• Intermediate paraglider

  Taifun

  An intermediate-level paraglider listed in the company's early-2000s range. The model formed part of Wings of Change's offering for pilots seeking an aircraft positioned between basic recreational equipment and specialized performance wings.

• Intermediate paraglider

  Twister

  An intermediate paraglider included in the product range documented around 2003. The available material identifies its market level but does not provide detailed technical specifications or production information.

• Performance paraglider

  Tsunami

  A performance-oriented wing present in the company's early documented catalogue. It illustrates the manufacturer's longstanding focus on higher-performance paraglider design.

• High-performance paraglider

  Deathblade

  A specialized performance wing associated with the company's later range. Reference material gives it a 13.01:1 aspect ratio, 113 cells, and a reported top speed of 68 km/h, making it one of the most technically distinctive Wings of Change models documented in the available sources.

• Performance paraglider · 2011

  Predator

  A performance paraglider listed among the company's 2011 and later models. The available reference identifies the model but does not specify its detailed aerodynamic configuration or production period.

• Performance paraglider · 2011

  Psychohammer

  A specialized wing named in the company's later product line. It belongs to the group of performance-focused models associated with Wings of Change's advanced design identity.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman CrossAlps

  A model in the Skyman line of lightweight mountain gliders. The Skyman range is associated with activities such as bivouac flying, where portability and low carrying weight are important.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman Amicus

  A lightweight glider listed under the Skyman brand. The available material identifies it as part of the mountain-oriented line but does not provide further specifications.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman The Rock

  A Skyman lightweight mountain glider included in the documented catalogue. Its specific performance and launch details are not available in the supplied references.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman CrossCountry

  A model in the Skyman family of lightweight gliders intended for mountain and free-flight applications. No additional technical or commercial details are established by the supplied material.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman Heartbeat

  A lightweight mountain glider listed in the Skyman catalogue. The source material does not describe its specifications, target pilot level, or current availability.

• Tandem glider

  Skyman PassengAir

  A Skyman model whose name and catalogue placement indicate a passenger-oriented or tandem application. The supplied source does not provide enough detail to characterize its design beyond that listing.

• Tandem glider

  Skyman Tandem

  A tandem model listed in the Skyman lightweight-glider range. Further information about its dimensions, certification, or production status is not provided.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman Reinhold II

  A lightweight glider in the Skyman product list. The available references do not establish its launch year or distinguish its technical characteristics from other Skyman models.

• Lightweight mountain glider

  Skyman Furio

  A model documented within the Skyman line of lightweight mountain gliders. It is associated with the same portable, mountain-flying product family, but detailed specifications are unavailable.

1. 1Wings of Changeen.wikipedia.org