What This Programme Is
A Development Partnership, Not an Early-Access Offer
ParaBaro is a wing pressure monitoring system that reads internal pressure across your canopy in real time. The physics works. The sensing hardware works. What we are doing now is collecting diverse flight data across different wings, pilots, and conditions to develop and validate the detection algorithms that will make collapse early warning reliable.
Beta pilots are technical partners in that process. You fly with development hardware, report what you observe, upload your data, and give us the feedback that shapes the next firmware release. Your contribution is substantive — this is not a survey or a referral scheme.
What You Contribute
- Pressure and GPS flight recordings across real conditions
- Structured feedback on hardware behaviour and usability
- Bug reports and edge-case observations from the air
- Input on feature priorities and interface decisions
- Validation of detection system outputs against your experience
Honest Expectations
What the Hardware and Software Look Like Today
We would rather be straightforward about where we are than oversell and disappoint. Here is the actual state of the beta hardware.
What Works Well
- Pressure sensing across all wing cells — accurate and stable
- Flight recording with GPS track and full pressure logs
- Audio vario with configurable tone settings
- Visual inflation arc display on-screen during flight
- Voice alerts for key in-flight events
- Bluetooth connectivity to the web dashboard
- Earn-back credit system — tracked automatically
Known Limitations
- Case: Custom 3D-printed enclosure — functional but clearly pre-production
- Display: 2.8" TFT screen — readable in shade and overcast, limited visibility in direct bright sunlight
- Battery: 4–6 hours per charge depending on conditions
- Collapse warnings: Collapse detection is visual-only during beta as the system develops — not yet a certified safety instrument
- Sync: No Wi-Fi sync yet — data upload is via USB to the web platform
- Firmware is updated regularly via USB — expect to install updates and occasionally report regressions
A note on collapse warnings: The pressure signatures that precede a collapse are real and measurable. We can see them in our recorded data. What we do not yet have is enough labelled examples across diverse wings and conditions to make the detection system reliable enough to act on in real time. That is precisely what this programme generates. Beta pilots see the visual output and tell us whether it matches their experience — that feedback is how the detection system is validated.
Who We Are Looking For
Pilots With an Engineering Mindset
This programme is suited to a specific kind of pilot. Please read this honestly before applying.
Good Fit
- Experienced pilots — 50+ hours preferred, ideally with XC or SIV background
- Comfortable with pre-production equipment and the tolerance for imperfection that requires
- Willing to write detailed feedback — not just "it worked" or "it didn't work"
- Able to upload flights regularly and engage with the web platform
- Interested in the problem — wing aerodynamics, pressure sensing, safety research
- Based anywhere worldwide — diverse flying environments are valuable
Not the Right Fit (Yet)
- Pilots expecting a polished consumer product straight out of the box
- Anyone relying on collapse warnings as a primary safety device at this stage
- Pilots with fewer than 20 hours who may not yet have context for interpreting the data
- Anyone who would find firmware update requests or occasional bugs frustrating
The retail product will be a different experience. If you prefer to wait for that, we understand completely.
Programme Options
Two Ways to Participate
Both tiers give you the same hardware and the same access to the development team
The ParaBaro device is priced at £449 inc. VAT for retail. Beta programme pricing reflects the fact that you are contributing to an active research and development effort — your flight data and feedback have real value to us.
£95
inc. VAT — part payment
Full device price: £449
- £95 upfront; earn the remaining £354 through your contribution
- Credits are compensation for the data you generate — £10 to £15 per flight hour
- 23–35 flight hours to full ownership depending on flight types
- Full web platform access
- Direct support from the engineering team
Credit rates by flight type
| Standard flight | £10/hr — ~35h to own |
| Long flight (>2h) | £12/hr — ~30h to own |
| XC flight (>15km) | £13/hr — ~27h to own |
| SIV / safety training | £15/hr — ~23h to own |
£350 total credit needed. Hours depend on the flights you do.
£299
inc. VAT — beta programme price
Full retail price: £449 — save £150
- Own the device immediately — no flight hours required to retain it
- Beta programme pricing — returns to £449 at retail launch
- Extended 2-year warranty
- Full platform + flight analytics
- Direct line to the engineering team throughout development
Beta programme pricing
This price applies during the beta testing period. The retail price is £449. Device ownership is immediate — no flight hour commitment required.
How It Works
From Application to Active Contributor
Apply and Get Reviewed
Submit your application with your flying background and experience. The team reviews applications and gets in touch directly. We are looking for fit, not volume.
Receive Your Device and Onboarding
We ship the hardware with setup instructions and invite you to our beta pilot channel. You get direct access to the engineering team from day one.
Fly, Upload, and Report
Mount the sensors on your wing and fly your normal season. Upload your flight data via USB to the platform. Credits are applied automatically per validated flight hour.
Own Your Device and Shape the Product
Starter pilots reach full ownership at £350 in credits — 23–35 hours depending on flight types. Your structured feedback directly influences firmware releases and feature decisions throughout.
Interested in Joining the Development Programme?
Applications are reviewed individually. Tell us about your flying background and what draws you to this work — that context helps us understand whether it is a good fit on both sides.