title: Helite Tsunami
text: # Helite Tsunami
  
  The Helite Tsunami (English: Tidal Wave) is a French high-wing, single-place, rigid-wing hang glider that was designed by Gérard Thevenot and produced by La Mouette under the Helite brand.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  The Tsunami was developed from the La Mouette Top Secret as a rigid wing competition hang glider. Thevenot decided to market it under his Helite brand which was also used for a line of powered parachutes. Available c. 2003, the aircraft is now out of production and the brand is no longer used.
  
  The aircraft is made from tubing, with the wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 12.9 $m^2$ (138.9 sq ft) area wing is a "topless" design with no kingpost. The nose angle is 145°.
  
  ## Operational history
  
  The Tsunami won a number of hang gliding championships in the rigid wing class.
  
  ## Specifications
  
  Data from Bertrand
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Wing area: 12.9 $m^2$ (139 sq ft)
  