BAT HAWK SOUTH AFRICA

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

THE BAT HAWK

The Bat Hawk is a proudly South African “Light Sport Aircraft” designed and built by Micro Aviation SA in Africa for African conditions.

The aircraft 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.

It features a strut-braced high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine 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 maneuverability is breath-taking.

Several important designs are incorporated into the Bat Hawk, which include a 100 hp 4-cylinder Rotax® engine with substantial cheekplates 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 liters), 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. 

MULTIPLE ROLES

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:

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).

SERVICE & SALES

All Bat Hawks are delivered 100% complete with the Rotax® 4-cylinder 100 hp engine installed.

Spare and replacement parts and accessories are readily available through Micro Aviation in Nelspruit along with comprehensive technical advice on all aspects of flight training, maintenance and repairs. Micro Aviation South Africa will provide on-going assurance that each Bat Hawk will be produced to an exacting specification, under stringent quality and safety controls of SA CAA.

BAT HAWK SPECIFICATIONS

The Bat Hawk is a high wing monoplane with the crew of two seated side by side in an under slung tubular framed structure surrounded by a glass fibre composite fairing.

Crew members are protected from the weather by a very large wrap around windshield. The propeller and the engine are mounted in a tractor position above and ahead of the crew. The empennage is conventional in location and layout. The undercarriage is a tricycle arrangement with a steerable nose-wheel. The wing, which is strut and lift wire braced, has two tubes forming the spars, one at the leading edge and one at the rear edge of the wing. All the above parts are manufactured from corrosion resistant aluminium alloy and stainless steel wires, whilst the air-frame and wings are covered with tensional Dacron sailcloth.

Attached to the rear spar are full span flaperons of similar construction and covering. They 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.

The fin, rudder, tail plane and the elevator are also of similar materials and construction .Tubes form the leading and trailing edges with the section being flat sided between. The rudder is actuated by cables running from the pedals. A control stop for the pedals is fitted at the front of the fuselage tube. The 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 which has built-in stops.

The main wide track undercarriage has the wheels supported by an inverted ‘V’ shaped glass fibre channel which, due to the material used, also acts as an effective spring. The nose wheel is held by two hydraulic shock absorbers, fixed directly to the top plate through a bearing which in turn is attached to the main fuselage cross tube. The shock absorber system allows the Bat Hawk to operate on rough terrain. The tried and tested Black Max Disc brake system is fitted to simultaneously actuate these brakes my means of a hand lever on the control stick. Differential braking is not provided and directional control on the ground is achieved by nose wheel steering. A MGL EMS is installed as standard equipment and enables one to monitor all 2 CHT’s and 4 EGT’s, voltage, oil pressure, oil temperature and RPM simultaneously.

DIMENSIONS

Overall length – nose to rudder TE 18.19 feet (5.544m) 

Length – propeller plane to rudder TE 17.40 feet (5.304m) 

Undercarriage wheel track 5.42 feet (1.652m) 

Main wheel size 8.00 x 6.ins 

Nose wheel size 4.00 x 4.ins

Typical empty weight–standard equipment 573.2 lbs (260 kg) 

Maximum fuel 123.0 lbs (56 kg) 

Maximum weight all-up weight 1204.2 lbs (540 kg) 

Minimum solo crew weight 163 lbs (74 kg) 

Average dual crew weight 396.8 lbs (180 kg) 

Take-off weight with full fuel/average crew 1100.0lb (499 kg)

BAT HAWK 100 H.P. 4 CYLINDER 4 STROKE

Cruise Speed:        77 knots

Stall Speed:           36 knots

Vne:                       92 knots

Length:                  6,00

Wingspan:             9,50m

Height:                  3,20m

MTOW:                  540 kg

Empty:                   260 kg

Useful Load:         280 kg

Take-off Run:       30-50m

Landing length:    50-60m

COLOUR OPTIONS

Below are some sample colour options, but the Bat Hawk colour scheme can be customised according to your needs. (Click pictures to enlarge)

SERVICE BULLETINS & FORMS

BAT HAWK PLANE

VIEWS FROM BAT HAWK

BAT HAWK IN CONSERVATION