By Photos by Willie Bodenstein
The Bat Hawk, a conventional 3-axis light sport aircraft LSA, the most affordable light sport aircraft on the market, is supplied as a complete ready to fly aircraft. The aircraft complies with the ASTM2245 Build Standard rules and regulations as well as South African Civil Aviation Type Approval.
Designed and developed by Micro Aviation South Africa primarily for surveillance and conservation features for African conditions is a strut-braced high-wing, two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine aircraft in tractor configuration.
As a conventional 3-axis light sport aircraft LSA, the Bat Hawk does not rely on pilot weight shift to affect control. Twin seats are positioned side by side for full dual control and both crew members are well protected from the weather by an aerodynamic fibreglass pod and large wrap-around windshield.
There is a big demand for this LSA aircraft in the surveillance and conservation industries and with the Bat Hawk’s propeller up and out of the way it reduces the risk of damage by grass, sticks, stones and sand making it a true “Bush Plane”.
The Bat Hawk’s cockpit is very similar to that of a helicopter with excellent forward visibility as well as to both sides. All parts and materials are sourced in South Africa, fabricated and approved.
The Bat Hawk’s cockpit is very similar to that of a helicopter with excellent forward visibility as well as to both sides. All parts and materials are sourced in South Africa, fabricated and approved.
The Bat Hawk air-frame is strong and durable, allowing it to be used in many roles. With the second seat available to take significant loads, a number of Bat Hawks have been adapted for use in a variety of applications such as game reserve aerial surveillance, where the type is particularly well adapted due to its very slow forward cruising speed, relative silence and stealth characteristics.
Other uses are: Fence checking and stock mustering on farms, aerial topdressing and spraying, aerial photography and surveying, reconnaissance and surveillance, regular ranger patrols, carcass location, water-point monitoring, monitoring of rare species, gathering of Scientific data for research purposes, radio telemetry and chemical immobilization of animals, anti-poaching and follow-up patrols, patrolling rivers and gathering valuable data on crocodiles for the Kruger Park Scientific services, monitoring and mapping burning programs in the Parks, including aerial burning of fire breaks with the Raindance Aerial Incendiary machine, patrolling the Kruger/Mozambique/ Zimbabwe borders and vegetation mapping and erosion monitoring.
Side by side seating, dual controls, comprehensive instrumentation and flying characteristics totally free of vices, make the Bat Hawk an ideal flight training aircraft. Due to the conventional 3-axis aircraft controls, the Bat Hawk is ideally suited for initial flight training towards a National Pilot’s Licence (LSA).
