Chasle Tourbillon
The Chasle YC-12 Tourbillon ("Whirlwind") was a single-seat light sporting aircraft developed in France in the mid-1960s and marketed for homebuilding via plans. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration. As designed, it featured fixed tailwheel undercarriage, but it could also be fitted with fixed tricycle gear.
| YC-12 Tourbillon | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Recreational aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Homebuilt |
| Designer | Yves Chasle |
| First flight | 9 October 1965 |
| Number built | 3 |
The Tourbillon flew for the first time on 9 October 1965. Though fifteen sets of plans were sold, only two other Tourbillons were built,[1] both in the UK.[2] The prototype remains on the French Civil register[3] but the two UK aircraft are now deregistered. Their engine types are not recorded in the registration documents.[2]
Variants
- YC-12
- prototype with Continental A65 engine
- YC-121
- similar to prototype with enlarged tailfin for limited certification
- YC-122
- similar to YC-121 but with Continental C90 engine
- YC-123
- similar to YC-121 but with Potez 4E-20b engine
Specifications (typical YC-121)
Data from Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
- Aspect ratio: 6
- Airfoil: NACA Srs.7
- Empty weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 432 kg (952 lb) without radio
- Fuel capacity: 60.5 l (16.0 US gal; 13.3 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 48 kW (65 hp) (typically)
- Propellers: 2-bladed EVRA fixed pitch wooden propeller, 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn) at 70% power
- Stall speed: 75 km/h (47 mph, 40 kn)
- Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (910 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 57.5 kg/m2 (11.8 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.112 kW/kg (0.068 hp/lb
References
- Gaillard, Pierre (1991). Les Avions Francais de 1965 à 1990. Paris: Éditions EPA. p. 43. ISBN 2 85120 392 4.
- G-BHX; G-AYBV
- Partington, Dave (201). European registers handbook 2014. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-465-6.
- Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1975). Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76 (66th annual ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Inc. p. 54. ISBN 978-0531032503.
Further reading
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 254.
- Taylor, John W.R.; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1977). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1977-78 (Sixty-eighth year of issue. ed.). London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 484–85. ISBN 9780531032787.