Hydro microlight: a 100% Breton project in Vannes

In Vannes, microlight pilot Arnaud Colléaux has set himself the challenge of bringing the Petrel X back to life. This future 100% Breton-built aircraft is under development. 2021 will be a pivotal year for the project.

We are not starting from a blank sheet. The PETREL X project builds on the SMAN PETREL microlight that existed in the 90s. It is an industrial process. The year 2020, devoted to financing and R&D, involved making changes better suited to today's technological requirements: the choice of materials, a change to the aircraft's centre of gravity, the kinematics of the undercarriage, the design of the step... For example, the airframe has been lengthened by 30 cm and redesigned to make the aircraft more aerodynamic.

Offered on a common airframe, the range is built around 3 models: the PETREL X80 (entry level, 80 hp, petrol engine, sold for less than €100 000 including VAT, ready to fly), the PETREL X100 (more powerful engine with a list of options, a version aimed more at professionals) and the PETREL XE (100% electric engine), which we are already working on. The aircraft will be built in France, in Brittany (making maintenance, overhauls and the supply of spare parts easier), using modern, innovative materials (flax fibre, carbon).

The sale of the PETREL X will be based on a close relationship with the customer, from the demonstrator trial flight to the actual sale of the aircraft, including: the customer's choice of options, and the pilot's air and water training, with each stage of the training validated by the INSTRUCTOR/PILOT pair.

Building the seaplane calls for close collaboration with our subcontractors, all of them local. We have approached specialist companies, each in its own field, to make the various parts of the aircraft (one-piece airframe, wings, undercarriage).

But the success of the project rests essentially on the skills of each member of the team and how well they complement one another.

Let me introduce them:

Lena : Administration, communication and export.

Emmanuel : Pilot/instructor, in charge of flight demonstrations and customer training.

Yann : Designer. He redesigned the aircraft taking the R&D results into account.

Stéphane : In charge of the whole technical file for the project.

Pascal : Materials specialist (wings and airframes).

Arnaud : Project coordinator

After the financing and R&D, the second stage is complete: building the "master mould" and digitising it.

The demonstrator should make its appearance at the next BLOIS show, in 2021.

Arnaud Colléaux