LAE Ultrasport 496T

The LAE Ultrasport 496T is a Cypriot helicopter that was produced by LAE Helicopters Cyprus of Larnaca. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

The aircraft was reportedly in production in 2015, but by the end of 2017 production had ended in favour of the new LAE Piranha.

Design and development
The Ultrasport 496T is derived from the American Sportscopter Ultrasport 496, replacing the two-stroke powerplant with a turboshaft engine.

The 496T was designed to comply with the European Class 6 microlight helicopter rules. It features a single main rotor and tail rotor, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with a windshield, skid landing gear and a 160 hp Solar T62 turbine engine.

The aircraft fuselage is made from composites. It has a two-bladed main and a ring-mounted tailrotor. The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 260 kg and a gross weight of 450 kg, giving a useful load of 190 kg.

Reviewer Werner Pfaendler, noted that it has "an exceptional power to weight ratio".