The La Mouette Atlas is a French

high-wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

, single-place,

hang glider Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...

, designed and produced by

La Mouette La Mouette ( en, Seagull) is a French aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Fontaine-lès-Dijon. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of hang gliders, paragliders and ultralight trikes. At one time they also produced paramotor ...

Fontaine-lès-Dijon Fontaine-lès-Dijon () is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France. It is known for the Couvent et Basilique Saint-Bernard, a collection of buildings on the site of the birthplace of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Population Se ...

.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 46. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

Design and development

The Atlas was initially conceived as a competition hang glider, and, in that role it achieved many competitive wins. Due to its ease of handling it was also used as a

flight training Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills. Flight training can be conducted under a str ...

aircraft. As its performance was surpassed by the newer double surface and later "topless" hang gliders it became no longer competitive, but retained its role as a training machine. Over 8000 have been built, making it one of the most produced hang gliders ever. The aircraft is made from

aluminum Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...

tubing, with the single-surface wing covered in

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sailcloth. All models have a span wing, which is cable braced from a single

kingpost A king post (or king-post or kingpost) is a central vertical post used in architectural or bridge designs, working in tension to support a beam below from a truss apex above (whereas a crown post, though visually similar, supports items above fro ...

. The nose angle is 120°. All models are certified as DHV Class 2.

Operational history

When the Atlas was competitive it won national championships in most European countries. It also won championships in Argentina, Brazil and Japan, as well as the European championships and world team championships.

Variants

;Atlas 14 :Small-size model for lighter pilots. Its wing area is and the aspect ratio is 6.25:1. Empty weight is and the pilot hook-in weight range is . The aircraft can be folded to a package as short as for ground transportation or storage. ;Atlas 16 :Large-size model for heavier pilots. Its wing area is and the aspect ratio is 6.20:1. Empty weight is and the pilot hook-in weight range is . The aircraft can be folded into a package as short as for ground transportation or storage.

Specifications (Atlas 16)

References

External links

Official webpage archive
on

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{{La Mouette aircraft

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Hang gliders