Prominent Member of 'Mosquito' Heli Community Perishes During Holiday Flight

The tight-knit experimental helo community devoted to the kit-built Mosquito helicopter series is mourning the loss of a prominent member after a Monday crash downed the single-seat machine. The Mosquito XEL was reportedly flying near the Arthur Dunn Airpark when unknown causes brought the aircraft down near a Publix Supermarket. No cause has been suggested and eyewitness reports in the local media have offered little credible detail.

Eddy Thompson's Mosquito XEL (Youtube ScreenGrab)

The pilot, Eddy Thompson, 66, of Viera Florida, was a well-respected pilot and member of the EAA community that thrives in that part of the state. In a painful addendum to the tragedy, the accident occurred on the 42nd birthday of his son, Marc, also a helicopter pilot.

The Mosquito XEL is powered by a 60HP Compact Radial Engines MZ202, a 2 cylinder, 2 stroke powerplant that has been used for a number of years on various iterations of the Mosquito design. The XEL configuration is equipped with floats and reportedly requires 25-300 to build or may be built fully assembled and operated as an ultralight rotorcraft. The 312 pound Mosquito XEL has a gross weight of 610 pounds and a fuel burn of 4.5 gph and a fuel capacity of 5 gallons (due to ultralight regs, though the Experimental version can carry 12 gallons). Ultralight range is 60 miles and HIGE is 8000 feet and HOGE is 6500' with a top speed (Exp) of 80 mph.

FMI: www.innovator.mosquito.net.nz, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXvIL7SeIn0&feature=player_embedded