News

16 March 2022

Bat Hawk South Africa

The new South African Bat Hawk has been designed and developed by Micro Aviation South Africa primarily for surveillance and is the most affordable light sport aircraft on the market.

The Original BantamThe Micro Aviation B22 Bantam is a New Zealand “microlight aircraft” designed and produced by Max Clear in New Zealand.

The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The aircraft complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules as well as the United Kingdom BCAR Section ‘S’ regulations. It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

As a conventional 3-axis microlight, the Bantam 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.

Performance of the Bantam in its multiple options has been widely acclaimed as nothing short of sensational.

In the hands of a learner it remains perfectly balanced for fingertip control and hands off flight, but pushed to the maximum by an experienced pilot the maneuverability is breath-taking.

Bat Hawk LSA – Big BrotherSeveral major design changes were incorporated into the Bat Hawk, which included a larger six-cylinder Jabiru engine with more substantial cheekplates and engine mountings and increased all up weight to 540 kg, stronger main gear, larger ‘bush’ tyres, improved brakes, increased fuel tank capacity to 80 / 100 liters, zip open / close luggage area, MGL EMS, stronger wing spars and wing struts, re-designed more streamlined nose pod and a much larger windscreen for improved visibility. Perhaps the most obvious visual change is the fact that the new larger windscreen is now positioned forwards of the front no.1 downtube, thereby creating a much roomier cockpit.

There is a big demand for this LSA aircraft in the surveillance and conservation industries and Micro Aviation believes that contrarily to what is published, the Bat Hawk is the only true ‘bush-plane’ on the market. “Other manufacturers advertise ‘bush planes’, but they all have propellers that are far too close to the ground, which are damaged by grass, sticks, stones and sand. On the other hand the Bat Hawk has its engine and propeller installed high up out of the ‘damage area’ and also very importantly,” out of the pilot’s line of sight”. All of the other supposed ‘bush planes’ have high instrument panels which severely limit and restrict outward visibility. 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 have been sourced in South Africa, fabricated and approved.

Test FlightsDuring flight tests conducted over the weekend of 1 December 2012, test pilot CC Pocock managed to pull 4 Gs during VNE tests, with maximum pull-up and climb testing. He entertained everyone with a magnificent display of loops, barrel rolls and stall turns in the Bat Hawk. All this was recorded on the G-meter, which was installed, as well as on the MGL S/D card. Wing loading tests up to 3000 kg on the Bat Hawk wing have been conducted and she carried it with ease.

The Bat Hawk is a delight to fly and like its ‘baby brother the Bantam’, needing zero rudder input while flying. There are no ‘excess yaw’ tendencies at all. She takes off in 50 metres and climbs out at 1200 feet/min with a 100kg pilot and full tanks at Nelspruit altitude at 3000 feet above mean sea level.

I had the opportunity to fly with Andrew to a nearby farm so that I could conduct the aerial photography from a Kitfox and I was convinced that the Bat Hawk presented similar flight characteristics to the Bantam, but with a more ‘solid feel’ due to the increased power to weight ratio and strengthened structure. Andrew says the Bat Hawk provides a much more solid feel with its thicker cheek plates, whilst the cruise speed has increased to 75 knots from the Bantam’s cruise speed of 65 knots using the same engine. Stall speed remains 35 knots, although with a single pilot and half tanks this comes down to 32 knots.

Multiple Roles

The Bat Hawk airframe 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 characteristicsFence checking and stock mustering on farmsAerial topdressing and sprayingAerial photography and surveyingReconnaissance and surveillanceRegular ranger patrols.Carcass location.Water-point monitoringMonitoring of rare speciesGathering 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.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).

16 March 2022

Bat Hawk-the most affordable light sport aircraft on the market

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.

Performance of the Bat Hawk in its multiple options has been widely acclaimed as nothing short of sensational. In the hands of a learner it remains perfectly balanced for fingertip control and hands off flight, but pushed to the maximum by an experienced pilot the manoeuvrability is breath-taking.

Several important designs are incorporated into the Bat Hawk, which include a 100 hp 4-cylinder Rotax® engine with substantial cheek plates and engine mountings and an all up weight of 540 kg, strong main gear, large ‘bush’ tyres, hydraulic disk brakes, large fuel tank capacity (80 litters), zip open / close luggage area, MGL Engine Monitoring System, strong wing spars and wing struts, streamlined nose pod and a large windscreen for improved visibility.

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 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).

From left to right: Bat Hawk’s Terry and Andrew Pappas and Aero Club Chairman Paul Lastruci.

At the 2018 Aero Club of South Africa’s Awards Dinner Bat Hawk South Africa was presented with the PGS Trophy a fitting tribute to a company whose product and reputation has made it a household name in aviation circles not only in South Africa but also in continental Africa.

12 February 2022

Bat Hawk: Well-Established South African Aircraft Lands in America

FEBRUARY 11, 2022 BY DAN JOHNSON 11 COMMENTS

It’s always exciting to welcome a new entry into recreational aviation. Two Bat Hawks are presently inside the USA and will be debuted at Sun ‘n Fun 2022.

Bat Hawk is a well-established, conventional microlight-style light aircraft powered by a Rotax 912 that helps it provide “sensational” performance.“We now have two planes in the country,” said importer and representative Gary Saitowitz, “and we just received our FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate at the end of 2021.” At this time, Bat Hawk is not a Special LSA. As they get started with the new-to-Americans model, both are registered Experimental Exhibition. After Bathawk Aircraft USA can gauge market interest, they may pursue another level of FAA approval.

LSA with a Purpose

“Like a bat outta…” in this case, South Africa not that hotter place. Kidding aside, Bat Hawk is positioning itself as a very capable workhorse. Their website shows a great many activities for which this aircraft is being used, perhaps most notably, as a workhorse for rhino anti-poaching actions.

Such working duties should not surprise anyone since LAMA has (apparently) successfully convinced FAA that these light aircraft are more than capable of certain types of for-hire activities LAMA called “aerial work.” LAMA didn’t call it “commercial use” as that could imply passenger hauling or air freight and those were not included in the request. Instead Bat Hawk in South Africa refers to work such as anti-poaching and follow-up patrols; water-point monitoring; patrolling rivers and gathering valuable data on crocodiles; vegetation mapping and erosion monitoring; and, monitoring and mapping burning programs, to select only a few. Most of these are surveillance of one kind or another and any of us who enjoy aerial sightseeing can comprehend that use easily.

I’m pleased our fun flying aircraft might be pressed into some useful duties. These aircraft are capable and offering manufacturers another potential customer base can help keep them healthy so they keep developing and building recreational aircraft for the majority who simply fly for fun.

What is Bat Hawk?

As the South African describe it, “Bat Hawk is a high-wing monoplane with crew of two seated side by side in an under-slung tubular framed structure surrounded by a glass fiber composite fairing.” Occupants are protected from the elements by “a very large wrap-around windshield.”

Bat Hawk’s engine and prop are mounted in a tractor position at wing level. Its tailplane is conventional in location and layout. Tricycle gear has a steerable nose-wheel. Bat Hawk’s wing is strut- and lift-wire braced. Once common, wire bracing has largely disappeared from fixed wing but it remains a very strong configuration.

Bat Hawk’s wing is built around two larger aluminum tubes forming the spars, one at the leading edge and one at the rear edge of the wing as is very common of aircraft with this construction. Sewn Dacron sailcloth covers all wing and tail surfaces plus the aft cockpit fairing.

Bat Hawk uses full-span flaperons attached to the rear spar; flaperons work independently as ailerons and together as flaps. There is no flap position indicator but approximate settings can be determined from the flap selector angle. Maximum flap movement is restricted by a limit stop mounted on the flap lever quadrant.

Side by side seating offers full dual control based on a center stick that no doubt makes entry a bit easier. Bat Hawk’s rudder is actuated by cables running from the pedals. Ailerons are controlled by cables from a torque tube connected to the central control stick, which has a built-in control stop. The elevator is actuated by a push/pull cable attached directly to the control stick with built-in stops.

Manufacturer Micro Aviation said a wide track undercarriage has the main wheels supported by an inverted ‘V’ shaped glass fiber that provides suspension. Bat Hawk’s nose wheel is supported by two hydraulic shock absorbers that “allows Bat Hawk to operate on rough terrain.” Black Max disc brakes are actuated using a hand lever on the control stick. Differential braking is not available.

Instrumentation is provided by an also South African MGL EMS (sold and serviced in America by Michigan Avionics). The MGL digital instrument is standard equipment and “enables the pilot to monitor dual CHTs and four EGTs plus voltage, oil pressure, oil temperaturem and RPM simultaneously.”

Price? — What will this multi-purpose aircraft set you back? In Experimental Exhibition category for now, the first aircraft is listed for sale at $79,500 plus shipping. Bathawk Aircraft USA is investigating Experimental Amateur Built or Light-Sport Aircraft for the future. More about that as I learn about it.

Bat Hawk
SPECIFICATIONS

All specifications provided by the factory

Overall length — nose to rudder trailing edge 18.2 feet (5.5 meters)
Length — propeller to rudder 17.0 feet (5.3 meters)
Wingspan — 31.2 feet (9.50 meters)
Height — 10.5 feet (3.20 meters)
Undercarriage wheel track — 5.4 feet (1.7 meters)
Main wheel size — 8 x 6 inches
Nose wheel size — 4 x 4 inches
Powerplant — Rotax 912 100 horsepower 4-cylinder, 4-stroke
Maximum weight all-up weight (gross weight) — 1,204 pounds (540 kilograms)
Typical empty weight with standard equipment — 573 pounds (260 kilograms)
Maximum fuel — 20.5 gallons / 123 pounds (56 kilograms)
Minimum solo crew weight — 163 pounds (74 kilograms)
Payload with full fuel — 508 pounds (231 kilograms)
Cruise speed — 77 knots
Stall speed — 36 knots
Vne — 92 knots
Take-off run — 100-165 feet (30-50 meters)
Landing roll — 165-200 feet (50-60 meters

For more info, Bathawk in America is finishing their new website, so email importer, Gary Saitowitz, or call 404-408-0305. You can also check the South African website for Bat Hawk producer Micro Aviation SA.

I’ll be looking for Gary and his two Bat Hawks at Sun ‘n Fun 2022. I’ll report more then. Hope to see many of you in Lakeland!

19 September 2020

Micro Aviation Bat Hawk – Wildlife conservations first choice

Photos by Willie Bodenstein

Mpumalanga based Micro Aviation has been building light sport aircraft since 2013 and the companies’ Bantam and Bat Hawk LSAs have sold in large numbers not only locally, but also throughout the continent.

There is barely an African country where Bat Hawks are not being used in the nature conservation and ant poaching roles. The Bat Hawk’s cockpit is very similar to that of a helicopter and it provides excellent forward visibility on either side of the cockpit.

Micro Aviation’s Terry Pappas has confirmed that they are currently developing a wider body amphibian version to enable parks with extreme wet seasons to be able to access all areas throughout the year that can also be utilised for fisheries management in such areas. The amphibian version, they feel, will also find a market in the USA and Canada.

Bat Hawk are built from scratch in Nelspruit at the company’s factory that has a capacity to build five units a month, with an order usually taking about eight weeks to complete. All the components used to build the Bat Hawk, besides its 100 hp four-cylinder Rotax engine and its propeller, are sourced locally.

Designed for African conditions, the Bat Hawk’s engine is mounted in a tractor position above and ahead of the crew with the propeller positioned up and away to reduce the risk of damage to the aircraft by grass, sticks, stones and sand. The Bat Hawk features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seat in side-by-side configuration open cockpit and fixed-tricycle landing gear. The high-wing has two tubes forming the spars, one at the leading edge and one at the rear edge of the wing. The full span flaperons attached to the rear spar are of similar construction and covering.

All these parts are manufactured from corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy and stainless-steel wires, while the air-frame and wings are covered with tensional Dacron sailcloth. Equipped with substantially tough landing gear for rugged terrain, the aircraft is also ultraviolet light proof and can handle winds of up to 30 knots in flight and a cross wind component of 16 knots.

As a conventional thee-axis light sport aircraft, 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.

Supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft, the Bat Hawk complies with the ASTM2245 Build Standard rules and regulations, as well as has a South African Civil Aviation Type Acceptance Certificate.

8 August 2019

Micro Aviation SA developing wide-body and amphibious Bat Hawk versions

8TH AUGUST 2019 BY: TRACY HANCOCK – CREAMER MEDIA CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Nelspruit-based aircraft manufacturer Micro Aviation SA is developing a wide-body and amphibious version of its Bat Hawk surveillance and conservation aircraft.

The company has been building the light sport aircraft since 2013, owing to the lack of a low-cost observation platform on the market. The company has a conservation background and assembled the Bantam series of planes for ten years.

To date, the company has built more than 200 bantams and 172 Bat Hawks, and is building the eighth and ninth Bat Hawk of the year.

Micro Aviation SA MD Terry Pappas admits that business is a lot quieter than normal, with the company only producing one unit a month.

“We manufacture the Bat Hawk from scratch in Nelspruit and can build five units a month, with an order usually taking about eight weeks to complete.”

All the components used to build the Bat Hawk, besides its 100 hp four-cylinder Rotax engine and its propeller, are sourced locally.

Designed for African conditions, the Bat Hawk’s propeller is positioned up and away to reduce the risk of damage to the aircraft by grass, sticks, stones and sand. Equipped with substantially tough landing gear for rugged terrain, the aircraft is also ultraviolet light proof and can handle winds up to 30 knots in flight and a cross wind component of 16 knots.

The Bat Hawk features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration open cockpit and fixed-tricycle landing gear, with the propeller and the engine mounted in a tractor position above and ahead of the crew.

The high-wing has two tubes forming the spars, one at the leading edge and one at the rear edge of the wing. All these parts are manufactured from corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy and stainless steel wires, while the air-frame and wings are covered with tensional Dacron sailcloth, explains Pappas.

The full span flaperons attached to the rear spar are of similar construction and covering.

“As a conventional thee-axis light sport aircraft, 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,” explains Pappas.

He says, as the Bat Hawk’s cockpit is very similar to that of a helicopter, it provides excellent forward visibility on either side of the cockpit.

The Bat Hawk is used by surveillance and conservation industries across Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and “very soon” Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, because of its significant and well-organised conservation efforts, as well as foresight, Botswana presents the greatest demand for the Bat Hawk.

Supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft, the Bat Hawk complies with the ASTM2245 Build Standard rules and regulations, as well as has a South African Civil Aviation Type Acceptance Certificate.

6 August 2019

Bat Hawks going to India

Written by defenceWeb -6th Aug 2019

Nelspruit, Mpumalanga-based Micro Aviation South Africa will export the first of 200 Bat Hawk light sport aircraft (LSA) to India in the near future.

The export contract is valued at R50 million according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The deal was finalised last month during a DTI outward selling mission to the sub-continent. Terry Pappas, Micro Aviation chief executive, is reported by the DTI as saying the export deal was three years in the making.

A DTI statement said: “Bat Hawk Aircraft designs and manufactures light sport aircraft surveillance aircraft primarily for surveillance and conservation purposes. Aircraft are supplied as ready to fly and feature a strut-braced high-wing, two seats in a side-by-side configuration open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration”.

Pappas is reported by the DTI as saying: “Previous discussions more than three years ago kicked off with a commitment for ten aircraft we were scheduled to sign on the margins of the recent outward selling mission. With the help of the DTI, the SA High Commission in India and the Confederation of Indian Industry, we succeeded in signing a contract to supply 200 Bat Hawk aircraft to Max Adventure Sports in India”.

Signing of the contract will be followed by a site visit by Max Adventure Sports to the factory in Mpumalanga, to finalise contract details.

The contract will lead to more jobs at the Nelspruit factory, especially on the manufacturing side. The big advantage of manufacturing aircraft in South Africa is the cost of the local aluminium the company sources. With most labour going into installation of the engine and wiring, the contract is expected to create new work in the factory on the raw material side.

The Bat Hawk was developed as an LSA with particular use areas identified as conservation and surveillance.

The aircraft complies with the ASTM2245 Build Standard rules and regulations as well as SA Civil Aviation Authority Type Approval.

As a conventional three-axis Light Sport Aircraft, Bat Hawk does not rely on pilot weight shift to affect control. Side-by-side seats give full dual control and both crew members are protected from weather by an aerodynamic fibreglass pod and wraparound windshield. The aircraft is powered a four-cylinder Rotax engine giving an all-up mass of 540kg with an 80 litre fuel tank. Bat Hawks have also been powered by CAMIT engines.

The manufacturers maintain the Bat Hawk’s propeller being “up and out of the way” reduces the risk of damage by grass, sticks and stones, making it a “true bush plane”.

Bat Hawk is in service by the Botswana Defence Force which has 14 in its fleet and plans to arm at least some. This will enable the pilot to fire a 5.6mm light machine gun fitted outside the cockpit.

The Bat Hawk is widely used in the conservation role and operates in a number of game reserves and parks, including Kruger for anti-poaching, surveillance and game spotting duties, among others.

6 September 2018

An eye in the sky will assist rangers

Written by Lowvelder

LETABA – He has done it on foot, but now, with an aerial perspective, section ranger Andrew Desmet can serve his beloved Kruger National Park (KNP) even better.

Desmet is one of three ranger pilots in the park with a newly upgraded Bat Hawk light sport aircraft, designed and built by Micro Aviation SA in Mbombela, at his disposal.
This ranger of the Letaba section in the KNP is no stranger to the challenges of game ranging and anti-poaching operations. In 2013 he miraculously recovered after having been shot four times with a high-calibre assault rifle during such an operation.

The Bat Hawk is sponsored by the Conservation Services National Project of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, which also recently paid for an engine upgrade at a cost of R175 000.
This project is chaired by John Turner, and the craft is now fitted with an improved and more reliable Rotax engine. This engine is water-cooled and extremely suitable for circumstances in the KNP.

During a demonstration of the aircraft in the Kruger, Desmet explained the benefits of having the services of such an ultralight craft. It is comparatively cheap to buy and maintain, but can still reach an airspeed of 75 knots (about 140 kilometres per hour).

It is valuable as a surveillance tool for normal reconnaissance in his section, but with a range of four and a half hours, he can also reach any point within the park with still some fuel left. The craft flies on standard fuel and consumes about 12 litres per hour.

With excellent visibility from the cockpit, a fitted GPS, radio and transponder (with which it can be tracked from nearby airports), it is ideal for use in surveys of rare animals and of course counter-poaching action. It can fly at only 200 feet above the ground and at a speed as low as about 54 knots (100 kilometres per hour).

Desmet explained that the craft is an indispensable complementary device to all other means of anti-poaching and the park would hopefully eventually have one per region.
Apart from being able to quickly respond to tracking situations, it is very effective in suppression work to enable teams on foot to catch up with suspects.

Desmet and the Bat Hawk have already been involved in a few success stories and he hopes to be of more service in future. “I love the park,” he said. “Flying the Bat Hawk gives me a unique and better perspective of my job.

“I had done it on foot many times, but seeing the terrain from the air now puts everything in place.”

Bat Hawk South Africa