The Masquito M80 was a Belgian two-seat ultralight helicopter designed and built by Masquito Aircraft.^[1]

Design and development

The prototype was designated the Maschelin M58 Masquito. It was a conventional pod and boom design and was powered by a 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine driving a two-bladed main rotor and a two-bladed tail rotor.^[1] It had two side-by-side seats and was fitted with two fixed skids as a landing gear.^[1] The M58 first flew in May 1996; it was later modified to the proposed production standard with a Jabiru 2200 engine and re-designated the M80.^[1] Three further M80 prototypes were built but the type failed to gain the appropriate certification and no others were produced.

A Belgian company, D-Motor was set up to design and build a suitable motor for the M80. Two engines with a high power-to-weight ratio were produced: first, the D-Motor LF26 (a 92 hp (69 kW) flat four) and, later, the D-Motor LF39 (a 125 hp (93 kW) flat-six). Unlike the Jabiru motor, these Belgian horizontally-opposed engines have fuel-injection, liquid-cooling and, having side-valves, are ultra-compact, .

Variants

Maschelin M58 Masquito

Prototype with a Rotax 582 engine.^[1]

Masquito M80

Production variant with a Jabiru 2200 engine.^[1]

Specifications (M80)

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 5.80 m (19 ft 0.25 in)
• Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 4.5 in)
• Empty weight: 170 kg (375 lb)
• Gross weight: 390 kg (859 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Jabiru 2200 flat-four piston , 60 kW (80 hp)
• Main rotor diameter: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
• Main rotor area: 16.62 m² (178.9 sq ft)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph, 97 kn)
• Cruise speed: 148 km/h (92 mph, 80 kn)
• Range: 680 km (422 mi, 367 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 5.6 m/s (1,100 ft/min)

See also

Related lists

• List of rotorcraft

References