Piel CP.500

CP.500
Role	utility aircraft
National origin	France
Designer	Claude Piel
Status	Abandoned project

The Piel CP.500 was a light aircraft of unusual configuration designed in France^[1] in the 1970s with the intention of marketing it for homebuilding.^[2]^[3] This did not transpire, however, and no prototype was actually built. It was a tandem wing design,^[3]^[4] somewhat reminiscent of the Mignet Pou-du-Ciel but considerably larger.^[2] Also, unlike the Pou-du-Ciel's unusual control system, the CP.500's pitch and roll control was to come from more conventional elevons mounted on the rear wing.^[2] The rear wing was also to carry endplate-style fins and rudders.^[2] Twin engines were to be mounted in push-pull fashion at the nose and tail ends of the fuselage, with the aircraft capable of single-engine operation in case of emergency.^[2] Two seats were to be provided at the front of the fully enclosed cabin, with a bench seat for three passengers behind them, plus an optional seat for a sixth occupant behind this.^[2] The undercarriage was to be of fixed, tricycle configuration.^[2] Construction was originally planned to be of wood, with engine cowlings and wingtips of composite construction. However, as development progressed, Piel considered metal as the main construction material.^[2]

Specifications (as designed)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78, p.497

General characteristics

Crew: One pilot
Capacity: 4-5 passengers
Length: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 8.80 m (28 ft 11 in)
Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 20.3 m² (218 sq ft)
Empty weight: 866 kg (1,910 lb)
Gross weight: 1,500 kg (3,310 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-320 , 120 kW (160 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 300 km/h (186 mph, 162 kn)
Range: 1,200 km (745 mi, 647 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,800 m (22,300 ft)
Rate of climb: 9.0 m/s (1,770 ft/min)

Notes

^ Taylor 1989, p.726
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78, p.497
^ ^a ^b Roskam 1997, p.29
^ Gunston 1993, p.238

References

Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78. London: Jane's Publishing.
Roskam, Jan (1997). Airplane Design Part II: Preliminary Configuration Design and Integration of the Propulsion System. Lawrence, Kansas: DARcorporation.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.

[JAE-1] Taylor 1989, p.726

[JAWA_77-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78, p.497

[Roskam-3] Roskam 1997, p.29

[Gunston-4] Gunston 1993, p.238

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