Masquito M80

{{Short description|Belgian ultralight helicopter}} __NOTOC__  {{Infobox aircraft | name = M80 | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight [[helicopter]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Belgium | manufacturer = [[Masquito Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 4 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = May 1996 (M58) | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Maschelin M58 Masquito | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Masquito M80''' was a [[Belgium|Belgian]] two-seat ultralight [[helicopter]] designed and built by [[Masquito Aircraft]].<ref name="Janes" />

==Design and development== The prototype was designated the '''Maschelin M58 Masquito'''. It was a conventional pod and boom design and was powered by a {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine driving a two-bladed main rotor and a two-bladed tail rotor.<ref name="Janes" /> It had two side-by-side seats and was fitted with two fixed skids as a [[landing gear]].<ref name="Janes" /> 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.<ref name="Janes" /> 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 {{convert|92|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[flat four]]) and, later, the [[D-Motor LF39]] (a {{convert|125|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[flat-six]]). Unlike the Jabiru motor, these Belgian [[horizontally-opposed]] engines have [[fuel-injection]], [[Radiator (engine cooling)|liquid-cooling]] and, having [[flathead engine|side-valves]], are ultra-compact, .

==Variants== ;Maschelin M58 Masquito :Prototype with a [[Rotax 582]] engine.<ref name="Janes" /> ;Masquito M80 :Production variant with a [[Jabiru 2200]] engine.<ref name="Janes" />

==Specifications (M80)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref name="Janes" /> |prime units? = met |crew=2 |length m=5.80 |length ft=19 |length in=0.25 |rot number=1 |rot dia m=4.60 |rot dia ft=15 |rot dia in=1 |height m=2.25 |height ft=7 |height in=4.5 |rot area sqm=16.62 |rot area sqft=178.9 |empty weight kg=170 |empty weight lb=375 |gross weight kg=390 |gross weight lb=859 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Jabiru 2200]] flat-four piston |eng1 kw=60 |eng1 hp=80 |max speed kmh=180 |max speed mph=112 |cruise speed kmh=148 |cruise speed mph=92 |range km=680 |range miles=422 |ceiling m=3050 |ceiling ft=10000 |climb rate ftmin=1100 }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |sequence= |lists= *[[List of rotorcraft]] }}

==References==

===Notes=== <references>

<ref name="Janes">Jackson 1999, pp. 13-14</ref>

</references>

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |editor=Paul Jackson |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-2000|year=1999 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Limited|isbn= 0-7106-1898-0}} {{refend}}

[[Category:1990s Belgian helicopters]]