Helite Tsunami

The Helite Tsunami (English: Tidal Wave) is a French high-wing, single-place, rigid-wing hang glider that was designed by Gérard Thevenot and produced by La Mouette under the Helite brand.[1]

Tsunami
Role Hang glider
National origin France
Manufacturer La Mouette
Designer Gérard Thevenot
Status Production completed
Developed from La Mouette Top Secret

Design and development

The Tsunami was developed from the La Mouette Top Secret as a rigid wing competition hang glider. Thevenot decided to market it under his Helite brand which was also used for a line of powered parachutes. Available c. 2003, the aircraft is now out of production and the brand is no longer used.[1]

The aircraft is made from tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 12.9 m2 (138.9 sq ft) area wing is a "topless" design with no kingpost. The nose angle is 145°.[1]

Operational history

The Tsunami won a number of hang gliding championships in the rigid wing class.[1]

Specifications

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wing area: 12.9 m2 (139 sq ft)

References

  1. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 45. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.