Helite Skydancer

{{Short description|French powered parachute}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use British English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Skydancer | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Powered parachute]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[France]] | manufacturer = [[La Mouette]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} 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.<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 83. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lamouette.com/en/index.php|title=La Mouette - Ailes delta et ULM - Vol libre - Vol moteur|work=lamouette.com|accessdate=1 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://helite.com/airbag-about.php?lg=en|title=Helite airbag technology expert for sports with high accident rate|work=helite.com|accessdate=1 March 2016}}</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft was designed to comply with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It features a [[parachute]]-style wing, two-seats-in-[[tandem]] accommodation, [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA04"/>

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.<ref name="WDLA04"/>

==Specifications (Skydancer) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bertrand<ref name="WDLA04"/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=450 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, [[two-stroke]], liquid-cooled [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|perfhide=Y

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{La Mouette aircraft}}

[[Category:La Mouette aircraft|Helite Skydancer]] [[Category:2000s French sport aircraft]] [[Category:2000s French ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Powered parachutes]]