La Mouette

{{Short description|French aircraft manufacturer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use British English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = La Mouette | logo = La Mouette Logo 2012.png | type = [[Private company]] | genre = | foundation = 1974 | founder = Gérard Thevenot and Jean-Marc Thevenot | location_city = [[Fontaine-lès-Dijon]] | location_country = [[France]] | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = [[Aerospace]] | products = [[Hang glider]]s, [[ultralight trike]]s, [[paramotor]]s, [[paraglider]]s, [[powered parachute]]s | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = Helite | subsid = | homepage = [http://www.lamouette.com/ www.lamouette.com] | footnotes = | intl = }}

'''La Mouette''' ({{langx|en|[[Gull|Seagull]]}}) is a French aircraft manufacturer headquartered in [[Fontaine-lès-Dijon]]. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of [[hang glider]]s, [[paraglider]]s and [[ultralight trike]]s. At one time they also produced [[paramotor]]s.<ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', pages 45-46 and 82. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page D-27. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesFeb2000">Downey, Julia: ''2000 Trike and 'Chute Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2000, page 52. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851</ref>

Founded in 1974 by brothers Gérard Thevenot and Jean-Marc Thevenot, the company was formed to produce versions of the American Seagull hang glider. Their glider was named La Mouette, after which the company was named. In 1979 they produced the [[La Mouette Atlas]] which remained in production through 2012 and of which there are over 8000 examples flying.<ref name="Hist">{{cite web|url = http://www.lamouette.com/en/histoire1.html|title = History|accessdate = 3 March 2012|last = La Mouette|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111225204513/http://www.lamouette.com/en/histoire1.html|archive-date = 25 December 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 1986 the company started building [[paramotor]]s and in 1995 introduced the "topless" hang glider, deleting the [[kingpost]] and upper [[flying wires]].<ref name="Hist" />

In 2010-11 the company developed an [[electric aircraft]], the [[La Mouette Samson|Samson]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 216. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The company also built a rigid wing hang glider, the [[Helite Tsunami|Tsunami]] and a [[powered parachute]], the [[Helite Skydancer|Skydancer]] under the brand ''Helite''. Helite is today a company that specializes in [[air bag]] designs.<ref name="WDLA04" /><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=29 July 2015}}</ref>

== Aircraft ==

{| class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"| '''Summary of aircraft built by La Mouette''' |- style="background:#efefef;" ! Model name ! First flight ! Number built ! Type

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.lamouette.com/}} {{La Mouette aircraft}}

[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of France]] [[Category:Hang gliders]] [[Category:Companies based in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté]] [[Category:French companies established in 1974]]