The Mosquito Aviation XE is a single seat homebuilt helicopter.
| XE | |
|---|---|
| |
| XEL variant with floats | |
| Role | Kit helicopter |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | Mosquito Aviation Innovator Technologies Composite FX |
| Designer | John Uptigrove |
| Introduction | 2004 |
| Number built | 37+ |
| Developed from | Mosquito Air |
By 2015 Mosquito Aviation was out of business and the design was being produced by Innovator Technologies of Rockyview, Alberta, Canada.[1] By 2019 the design was being produced by Composite FX of Trenton, Florida.[2]
Design and development
editThe XE is a development of the Mosquito Air, with a cockpit fairing and a more sophisticated exhaust system, plus a rotor diameter increased by 40 cm (15.7 in) to support the higher gross weight. The aircraft was designed to comply with the US Experimental – Amateur-built and European microlight aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor and tail rotor, a single-seat enclosed cockpit with a windshield, skid landing gear and a two-cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke 64 hp (48 kW) MZ 202 engine.[1]
The aircraft fuselage is made from composites and metal tubing. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 5.95 m (19.5 ft) and a chord of 17 cm (6.7 in). The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 135 kg (298 lb) and a gross weight of 280 kg (617 lb), giving a useful load of 145 kg (320 lb). With full fuel of 45 litres (9.9 imp gal; 12 US gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 112 kg (247 lb).[1]
Variants
edit- AIR
- (2002) Open aluminum frame with tripod landing gear[3]
- XE
- (2004)
- XEL
- XE with floats. Meets United States FAA FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules for 254 lb (115 kg) and under for ultralight aircraft.[4]
- XE285 – Discontinued
- 85 hp (63 kW) Inntec 800 2 cylinder 2 cycle
- XE3 – Discontinued
- 85 hp (63 kW) CRE MZ 301 3 cylinder 2 cycle
- XE 290
- 90 hp (67 kW) CFX 800 2-stroke, fuel injected, water cooled[5]
- XET
- 90 hp (67 kW) Solar T62-2A1 turbine
Specifications (XE)
editData from manufacturer
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Empty weight: 135 kg (298 lb)
- Gross weight: 277 kg (610 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Compact Radial Engines MZ 202 2 cylinder, 2 stroke, 48 kW (64 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 130 km/h (80 mph, 70 kn)
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 208. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ "About". Composite FX.
- ^ "Your own helicopter for under $20,000". September 21, 2005. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ Flying Magazine: 39. February 2008.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "XE 290". July 9, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2022.