Photograph:
A Mosquito Air XEL VH-XER (c/n MXE1048J07) at Caloundra, QLD in August 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single seat light sport helicopter
Power Plant:
One 45 kw (64 hp) Compact Radial Engines MZ202 two-cylinder, two-stroke air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Frame length: 4.87 m (16 ft)
- Overall length: 6.09 m (20 ft)
- Width: 1.82 m (6 ft)
- Height: 2.13 m (7 ft)
- Main rotor diameter: 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
- Tail rotor diameter: 1.016 m (3 ft 4 in)
- Max speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Hover in ground effect: 2,438 m (8,000 ft)
- Hover out of ground effect: 1,981 m (6,500 ft)
- Range: 97 km (60 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 54.5 litres (12 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 135 kg (298 lb)
- Useful load: 109 kg (240 lb)
- Loaded weight: 277 kg (610 lb)
History:
The Mosquito series of light helicopters was developed in the United States by Innovator Technologies. It is fitted with a cabin which is a structural part of the airframe. It meets Part 103 ultralight regulations in the US and is able to be fitted with floats, this model being known as the XEL. The floats weigh 6.8 kg (15 lb), this model having the fuel capacity reduced to 19 litres (4.16 Imp gals). The series is offered in kit form in five sub kits, the XE, XEL, XE3 and XET, and one being an open-frame variant.
The helicopter for a period was known as the Dragon Wings Mosquito and was available in XEL and XET variants. The XEL met US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicle regulations and was fitted with floats. Power of the XE is a Zanzottera MZ 202 engine which provides 45 kw (64 hp), the engine weight being 27.2 kg (60 lb). It was fitted with an electric start and a centrifugal clutch. Power to the main rotor was via a reduction drive belt system. The series was built in Florida.
A number of variants of the machine are available. The XE has a fuel capacity of 45 litres (10 Imp gals) and has the Compact Radial Engines MZ 202 two-cylinder two-stroke engine, the main rotor operating at 540 rpm and the tail rotor at 2,500 rpm. The Mosquito XE3 has a CRE MZ 301 three-cylinder two-cycle engine which provides 63 kw (85 hp), and has a fuel capacity of 45 litres (10 Imp gals). The XET can be fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank with a capacity of 30 litres (6.6 Imp gal) which provides a range of 257 km (160 miles) and is fitted with a Solar T62-2A1 turbine which provides an output of 67 kw (90 hp).
The XE machine is built from Aircraft Grade 6061-T6 aluminium with a triangulated structure with straight tubing and has a carbon fibre tailboom. The tripod legs are equipped with small skidpads and ground handling wheels can be installed for ground handling. The XE model is basically the same machine but has the open framework replaced with an enclosed body.
One engine which became available was the Inntec 800 two-cylinder fuel injected liquid-cooled engine which provided 63 kw (85 hp), the main rotor of models with this engine turning at 590 rpm and the tail rotor at 2,670 rpm. This unit is fitted to the XE285 model, an example of this model, an amphibian, becoming VH-XEW (c/n MXE1085.C09) to its owner at Yarra Glen, VIC on 26 June 2017.
First of the series seen in this region was ZK-JNG (c/n 1083) registered to its owner in Auckland in March 2008. Further New Zealand examples include ZK-IOS, ZK-HNG and ZK-IXE. Examples have been registered in Australia, including Model XEs VH-NIT (c/n MXE1212L128), the latter later being exported to New Zealand where it became ZK-HWV; VH-XEO (c/n MX1196) which in September 2017 was exported to China; VH-AHT (c/n MXE1231) a model XET; and VH-ATL6 (c/n MXE1146) an XET registered on 5 December 2016.