Colomban Cricri

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This article is about the French aircraft. Cri-cri is also the name of a fictional character. Cri-cri is also a spicy crispy nut concoction.
French-built homebuilt Cri-Cri F-PCLF at Air Expo 2007
French-built homebuilt Cri-Cri F-PCLF at Air Expo 2007

Cri-cri (after the French word for cricket) is a very light twin-engined kitplane, recognized as the smallest twin-engined aircraft in the world.

Designed in the early 1970s by a French aeronautical engineer Michel Colomban, the Cri-cri aircraft is the world's smallest twin-engine aircraft. At only 4.9 m (16.1 ft) wingspan and 3.9 m (12.8 ft) length, it is obviously a single-seater, making an impression of a dwarf velomobile with wings at close range.

Cri-cri has superior aerobatic performance; e.g., the one in the picture is capable of 1 roll a second. There are approximately 30 Cri-cri aircraft in airworthy condition in the U.S. and over 100 around the world as of 2003. Word of the mouth around the exhibit said that the designs are no longer available by the author's request, except as a personal favor to those homebuilders that are his friends. However, the fan site below still lists his address, saying that, if you are not in North America, you might still be able to get a design. Also, occasionally, unfinished kit projects are sold, as with every other homebuilt design.

According to the fan site, the MC-10 Cri-Cri has a cruisng speed of 170 km/h (92 knots, or 105.6 miles per hour) and a range of 750 km (466 standard miles, 405 nautical miles). The MC-12 model has a cruising speed of 185 km/h (100 knots, or 114.9 miles per hour) and range of 500 km (310.6 standard miles, 270 nautical miles).

As with any homebuilt aircraft, the existing Cri-cri planes have often been modified by their builders, departing from the original design to a varying degree, resulting in different performance. As an experiment, one flying Cri-cri, F-PZPR, was even equipped by its pilot Nicolas Charmont with jet engines, increasing the cruising speed from 170 km/h (92 knots, or 105.6 miles per hour) for the regular propeller-driven version to around 240 km/h (130 knots, or 149.1 miles per hour).

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[edit] Specifications (Colomban Cri-Cri)

Source: Pilotfriend.com General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Length: 12 ft 10 in (3.9 meters)
  • Wingspan: 16 ft 0 in (4.87 meters)
  • Height: ()
  • Wing area: 34 ft² (3.16 m²)
  • Empty weight: 160 lb (73 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 380 lb (172 kg)
  • Useful load: 220 lb (100 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 380 lb (172 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Solo 210, Wood prop, 30 hp (2x15 hp) (11 kw) each

Performance

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