The Helite Skydancer is a French powered parachute that was designed and produced by La Mouette of Messigny-et-Vantoux under their Helite brand. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.^[1]

The aircraft is no longer advertised for sale by either La Mouette or Helite. In 2015 Helite was singularly a producer of air bag products.^[2][3]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration.^[1]

The aircraft carriage is built from a combination of bolted aluminium and 4130 steel tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.^[1]

Specifications (Skydancer)

Data from Bertrand^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)

References