The La Mouette Sphinx 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 and two-place family of
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 ...
s, 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 ...
of
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 Sphinx is described by the manufacturer as "a beginner glider with a single surface and a floating crossbar".
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
Dacron
Polyethylene terephthalate (or poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods ...
sailcloth. All models have a nose angle of 120°.
Variants
;Sphinx
:Single-place model for a wide range of pilot weights. Its wing area is , wingspan is and the
aspect ratio is 5.9:1. Empty weight is and the pilot hook-in weight range is . The aircraft can be folded to a package in length for ground transportation or storage.
;Sphinx Bi
:Large-size model for two-place
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 ...
and familiarization. Its wing area is , wingspan is and the aspect ratio is 5.8:1. Empty weight is and the pilot hook-in weight range is . Swiss SHV certified. The manufacturer describes this model as "one of the most efficient two-seaters on the market, it is conceived to realize cross-country with a passenger."
Specifications (Sphinx)
References
External links
*
{{La Mouette aircraft
Sphinx
Hang gliders