A chance conversation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 brought the handsome aircraft below into clearer focus. I already knew about Mosquito and received a briefing to fly one captured in this 2013 video. I did not grasp how the producer evolved after original developer John Uptigrove‘s unfortunate demise in 2018.
What appeared in Composite-FX‘s display in the Fun Fly Zone at Oshkosh were beautifully done flying machines that looked heavier and much more complex than John’s original Mosquito. They are neither, fortunately.
Owner Dwight Junkin and friend George Boynton replaced John’s open-cockpit Mosquito with a composite fuselage, using long experience with such constructions. Dwight’s Florida company ultimately took over John’s work, moving the contents of the Canadian’s workshop to his base in Trenton, Florida.
Composite-FX’s XEL is a factory-built helicopter, bargain priced at $52,000.
XEL qualifies as a Part 103 ultralight aircraft by complying with limitations as clarified in AC-103-7, “The Ultralight Vehicle.”
Powered by the MZ202 engine and equipped with floats, XEL weighs in at 312 pounds, two pounds shy of the 314 pounds allowed by regulations.
After John died, his company, Innovator Technologies, shut down and Composite-FX assumed the brand. Their work with John earlier and continuing on their own today has led to more than 400 kit deliveries and about 150 XEL Part 103 ultralight helicopters flying in the USA.
Can You Fly a Helicopter?
While at Oshkosh, I asked Composite-FX Operations Director Norbert Richter how they handle flight instruction because Composite-FX only makes single place machines. While a two-place has been contemplated, that project has been shelved while other work demands their time. Besides making four varieties of the original Mosquito, a non-piloted model has also found a market.
Until a two-place model emerges, company officials recommend the popular Robinson R22 as a basic trainer, although they note the R22 “is regarded universally as a ‘squirrely’ helicopter due to its tricky handling characteristics. While the Mosquito is smaller than an R22, it has more docile handling characteristics.”
Better training choices are a Hughes 269, Schweizer 300, or Enstrom, however, these are less available than the Robinson line.
The company also has a virtual reality training system that can help familiarize new pilots.
Richter noted most pilots will become rather capable in just 10 to 20 hours.
Pilot training is not legally required to fly a compliant Part 103 ultralight, but to encourage proper training, Composite-FX builds an incentive into the price. A customer with a minimum of 10 logged hours of dual instruction receives a $2,000 discount. That won’t pay for the whole 10 hours, Richter said, but it will cover a good portion of the cost and encourages buyers to obtain at least minimal training.
Based on the low number of accident/incident reports, they appear to enjoy a decent safety record. That may be the best proof of a “docile to fly” designation.
Specifications
- Powerplant: MZ202, Carbureted, Air Cooled
- Empty Weight: 312 pounds*
- Gross Weight (240 pound pilot): 610 pounds
- Maximum Airspeed: 70 mph
- Cruise Speed: 62.5 mph
- Main Rotor Speed: 540 revolutions per minute
- Tail Rotor Speed: 2,500 revolutions per minute
- Climb Rate (estimated): 900 feet per minute
- Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons
- Fuel Consumption (estimate): 5 gallons per hour
- Flight Duration: 1 hour
*Calculation of empty weight is based on the FAA’s allowance of 60 pounds for floats. Adding that to the 254 pound maximum empty weight for a Part 103 ultralight vehicle yields an allowed total empty weight of 314 pounds. Landing on floats has been demonstrated, Richter stated, but it is only advised for expert pilots on calm water as water makes an unstable surface.
Expermental Models
Composite-FX‘s full XE-series model line includes the Part 103 ultralight XEL or three Experimental Amateur Built models: XE, XE 290, and the turbine-powered XET. The XE is essentially the XEL with 12 gallons of fuel, while the XE 290 uses a more powerful engine and has a higher-than-103-compliant weight.
The flagship of the XE models, the XET is powered by a modified T62-T2A Solar Turbine engine. An XET kit runs $50,000 before engine, but a T62-T2A engine might be bought for as little as $12,500. For $15,000 more the factory will help you finish it. That makes $62,500 to $77,500 for a turbine-powered helicopter.
Customers may build experimental category XE models on their own or through a factory-assist program, and the average build time is 400 to 500 hours. The Part 103 XEL is available in kit form or factory built.
Do you have any used or demonstrated helicopter for sale ? Do you know of any thing around PA.
Yes
Hi
Is the any been shipped here to the UK yet?
I’m very interested but not sure about cost of getting it to the UK.
Looks a great ship to fly!
Tommo
Looking for the Mosquito types and price.
Very interested in building mosquito. Outdoor consider taking over tried kit to finish. Let me know what maybe available in the Sandstone Minnesota area or Western Wisconsin.
Thanks
Pat
What happened to the mosquito air?
They discontinued it due to lack of popularity. Honestly it was probably the most fun version being totally open cockpit, but seems like most people wanted a windscreen.
Where can i learn to fly one helicopter
Interested in a two seater
Would this be something recommended for a new, 0 experience pilot? I have never piloted anything but I am very interested in flying my own heli eventually, with proper training of coarse. I have dreamed of flying my own helicopter all my adult life and now that they are getting affordable I intend to make that dream a realization!
As long as you have helicopter training, YES. The Mosquito XE Series helicopters actually fly really well. It’s a agile but stable platform and in a short time will feel like your wearing it. I’ve had mine flying over a year now and absolutely love it! Best bang for the buck by far and has one of the safest records. Good luck with your venture!
How tall is the Mosquito XE? It looks like the main rotor is pretty low. And in the Youtube videos, the service guy who checks the engine while the rotor is spinning has to crouch down to avoid injury.
you do realize you fly helicopters from a seated position
Just to add to Dan’s reply and to help make things a little clearer for those that are not familiar with the Composite-FX XE Series line of helicopters. All the models (XEL, XE, XE285/XE290 and XET) are basically the same helicopter with the same rotor blades and mechanics with the only difference being power plant and performance. The XEL “Ultralight” is basically a stripped down XE with floats and the restrictions of FAR 103-7.
Great flying helicopters by the way!
What does these helicopter run on, and is there any plans for electric helicopter being built in the near future.
Can the Mosquito be insured.
Short answer is yes. BUT, be warned, it is stupid expensive! Insuring experimental aircraft is expensive enough but as soon as you say the word “Helicopter” with it, the insurance companies either run or jack the premiums way, way up. So much so that you can simply replace the helicopter with just a few years of premiums which is why most just self insure. Homeowners insurance can cover for theft/fire and such.
I missed your booth at AirVenture. sad to say ‘ I would really see one fly . Missed ever thing. I am a Helicopter AG crop duster . 25 yrs 5000.0 hrs. This really hit my interest. Do you put out any Brochures? I know it cost money to send things. That price is unbelivable. Man that will over take the drones, at that price.
I’ll be happy to mail you an info packet, just send me your address to the email attached, or check out my website http://www.vacoaviation.com, or check the factories webpage http://www.composite-fx.com .
Please check out the factory website http://www.composite-fx.com for more information. Check out their dealers page for a dealer near you. Dealers here in the U.S. are http://www.vacoaviation.com and http://www.storeyaviation.com.
My business partner began flying an R-22 and loved it so I took 20 hours of instruction in one and loved flying the little heli. But I did not actually fo ahead and buy one because unlike my several Cubs, there is a constant work load. No putting the stick between your legs and having a snack. No more taking out a chart also but mostly it is the contrast between an autorotation and a dead stick glide in a fixed wing aircraft-I chose the glide.
I would hope that anyone with $52,000 in their pocket for a pocket-sized helicopter would be smart enough to get sufficient training. My single lesson in a Schweizer 300 some 15 years ago taught me that there’s a huge difference between fixed wing and rotary wing ops. I’m a relatively competent fixed wing pilot with close to 3000 hours, but I wouldn’t attempt to fly any rotary wing without a whole lot more training.
What’s missing from the published specs is how well it does at altitude. I live at 5000’, so any helicopter needs a pretty good hover-out-of-ground effect capability for me to even consider it.
I live east of Denver and have had no issue with power. I just finished the upgrade to my XE285 to 290 specs and while dialing in the fuel map hovered for 15 min. on an 89 degree day without overheating. They are great little machines!
We have a customer with a XE290 model in Denver area, no issues with 5,000 ft. I don’t have the specs in front of me but if I recall correctly, it’s 8,000 ft out of ground effect.
You picture what appears to be a liquid cooled engine in this article.. how ever your spec list shows an mz202 air cooled.. please clarify..
Different models: XEL, the Part 103 ultralight model, uses the MZ202. Experimental XE models may use different spark engines, and the XET uses the turbine. The specs all describe the XEL model.
i would like more info on this
The web site is included in the article, but the text is different.
https://composite-fx.com/