Photograph:
HM-1000 Balerit 24-8334 (c/n 530743) at Maryborough, QLD in May 2016 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two-seat light sporting aircraft
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 582 UL-DCDI two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled engine with dual electronic ignition
Specifications:
- Wingspan [front]: 7.5 m (24 ft)
- Wingspan [rear]: 5.5 m (18 ft)
- Length: 5 m (16 ft 4 in)
- Height: 1.96 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Total wing area: 17.55 m² (188.83 sq ft)
- With extensional surfaces: 19.24 m² (207 sq ft)
- Max speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Minimum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph)
- Take-off distance: 60 m (198 ft)
- Landing distance: 25 m (83 ft)
- Minimum sink rate: 150 m/min (492 ft/min)
- Range at cruising speed: 150 km (94 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 44 litres (9.7 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 174 kg (384 lb)
- Payload: 200 kg (441 lb)
- Max wing loading: 21.3 kg/m² (4.36 lb/sq ft)
- Loaded weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
History:
Societe D’Exploitation De Aeronefs Henry Mignet was set up in France in Saintonge Provence to develop the Mignet series of ultralight aircraft and has developed the HM-1000 Balerit (Balerit – Hawk or Falcon, a small bird of prey) which is a much simpler aircraft to fly but only has two-axis controls for pitch and yaw. It is said it “can’t stall and so can’t get into a spin.” It is also said it is extremely manageable and has inherent stability in turbulence.
The wings have unswept leading and trailing edges and constant chord; the tail has vertical surfaces only, the pitch being controlled fully by the wing; and the yaw is controlled by a separate fin. The undercarriage is three wheels in tricycle configuration but may be installed in reverse tricycle configuration. The wings longerons and ribs are constructed from duralumin 2017 with Dacron covering. The wings can be folded for storage and trailering and are retained in position by four bayonet bolts. The fuselage is built from 5086 and 2017 duralumin tube. The aircraft is fitted with dual controls so it may be used for training. Rotax-Bombardier engines can be installed, being 39 kw (52 hp), 48 kw (64-hp) and 55 kw (74 hp), models using multi-V-belt reduction ratio of 3.5/1 driving a four blade propeller.
A number of examples have been imported or built in Australia, registered under RAA regulations, these including 24-7091 (c/n 124 – ex G-MZPB) registered on 16 March 2009 with a Rotax 582 UL DCDI engine; 24-8334 (c/n 5307-438) registered in May 2013; and 24-8346 (c/n 117) fitted with a Rotax 618 engine.