The Colomban Cri-Cri, also spelled Cricri, is the smallest twin-engined crewed aircraft in the world, designed in the early 1970s by French aeronautical engineer Michel Colomban.
The name Cri-Cri comes from the nickname of Christine, one of Colomban's daughters.[1][2][3] 'Cri-cri' 'or 'cricri' is also the French term for the sound of a cricket or a cicada, or an informal name for the insects themselves,[4][5] but it is unclear if this double meaning was intended by Colomban himself.
Colomban designed the aircraft to be easy to build and fly, and the closeness of the two engines to each other, around the centreline, meant that it could be flown by pilots only qualified to fly single-engined aircraft because even with the complete failure of one engine, with hands and feet off the controls, the only effect would be a gentle turn. The cockpit canopy was carefully designed to direct effective airflow over the tail surfaces in this situation. The plans-built aircraft was also designed to be easy to store in a garage and tow on a trailer, with assembly and disassembly each taking only five minutes.[6]
The Cri-Cri features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and twin engines mounted on pylons to the nose of the aircraft in tractor configuration. The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet glued to Klegecell foam. Its 4.9 m (16.1 ft) span wing employs a Wortmann 21.7% mod airfoil, and has an area of 3.1 m2 (33 sq ft). The aircraft is also capable of aerobatics within the limitations of twin-engined aircraft.[7][8][9]
The first flight of the prototype was made on 19 July 1973 and within a few days it had proved to be easy to fly and capable of aerobatics, being stressed to +10g and -5g. It was powered by two Rowena 6507J single cylinder two-stroke engines, each giving 6.7 kW (9.0 hp) and weighing 6.5 kg (14.3 lb).[6]
Variantsedit
MC-10 Cri-Cri
Prototype and early examples
MC-12 Cri-Cri
Model with a cruising speed of 185 km/h (100 knots, or 114.9 miles per hour) and range of 500 km (310.6 statute miles, 270 nautical miles).[citation needed]
MC-15 Cri-Cri
Model powered by two JPX PUL 212 15 horsepower (11 kW) engines.[7]
MC-15 Cri-Cri Jet
Model powered by two PBS VB TJ20 210 newtons (47 lbf) turbojet engines.[10]
Operational useedit
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 varying performance. Most versions can climb with one engine inoperative.[11]
In June 2010, EADS partnered with Aero Composites Saintonge and the Greencri-cri Association to present an electric-powered Cri-Cri at the Green Aviation Show in Le Bourget. The modified airframe with composite components can fly for 30 minutes at 110 km/h. The aircraft uses four brushless electric motors with counter-rotating propellers, which makes the aircraft one of the world's smallest four-engine aircraft.[12]
On September 5, 2010 Electravia accomplished a world record speed of 262 km/h (162.33 mph) for a lithium polymer-powered aircraft using a Cri-Cri with two electric motors (each producing 25 hp) during the attempt. The company claimed engine and cooling drag reductions of 46 per cent versus the conventional combustion engine arrangement.[13]
Cri-Cri (F-PRCQ), the first all-electric four-engine aircraft under an Airbus A380 at the 2011 MAKS airshow.
On 9 July 2015 the electric-powered Electravia version of the design flew across the English Channel hours before the Airbus E-Fan,[14] becoming the third electric aircraft to do so. It was pulled aloft by another aircraft and did not take off on its own.[15][16] The first was the MacCready Solar Challenger in 1981[17] and the second used electric motors powered by hydrogen.[18]
^"MC-15 Cri-Cri". free.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
^"Le plus petit avion du monde – Cricri, un moustique sur l'aile des géants". parismatch.com. August 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
^. ailesahs.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
^"CRICRI : Définition de CRICRI". cnrtl.fr. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
^Swanson, Molly (28 May 2006). "Cri-Cri Homebuilt Aircraft". aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved 12 March 2017. Colomban dubbed his unique aircraft the Cri-Cri, French for "cricket", after the nickname of his daughter.
^ abTaylor, John W.R. (1979). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1979-80. London: Jane's Publishing Company. p. 471. ISBN0-354-00589-8.
^ abBayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 110. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^Lednicer, David (2010). . Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
^Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 116. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
^První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš, a. s. . Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^"Big fun in small package". 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
^EADS (18 June 2010). . Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
^"Cri Cri sets electric speed record". Sport Aviation. January 2011.
^"French pilot in tiny one-seater beats Airbus to first electric cross-Channel flight". telegraph.co.uk. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^"Did Duwal Beat Airbus Across the Channel?". AVweb. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^Bertorelli, Paul (9 July 2015). "Airbus' Asterisked Record". AVweb. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
^"First Electric-Powered Channel Flight Was 34 Years Ago". AVweb. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
^. CAFE Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colomban Cri-cri.
Photo of Nicolas Charmont's Cri-Cri F-PZPR with jet engines
January 01, 1970
colomban, redirects, here, mexican, singer, francisco, gabilondo, soler, fictional, character, character, italian, television, series, series, colomban, also, spelled, cricri, smallest, twin, engined, crewed, aircraft, world, designed, early, 1970s, french, ae. Cri cri redirects here For the Mexican singer see Francisco Gabilondo Soler For the fictional character see Cri cri character For the Italian television series see Cri Cri TV series The Colomban Cri Cri also spelled Cricri is the smallest twin engined crewed aircraft in the world designed in the early 1970s by French aeronautical engineer Michel Colomban Cri Cri French built homebuilt Cri Cri at Airexpo 2007 Role Homebuilt recreational aircraft Designer Michel Colomban First flight 19 July 1973 Introduction 1973 1984 Colomban MC 15 Cri cri in England The name Cri Cri comes from the nickname of Christine one of Colomban s daughters 1 2 3 Cri cri or cricri is also the French term for the sound of a cricket or a cicada or an informal name for the insects themselves 4 5 but it is unclear if this double meaning was intended by Colomban himself Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operational use 4 Specifications MC 15 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDesign and development editColomban designed the aircraft to be easy to build and fly and the closeness of the two engines to each other around the centreline meant that it could be flown by pilots only qualified to fly single engined aircraft because even with the complete failure of one engine with hands and feet off the controls the only effect would be a gentle turn The cockpit canopy was carefully designed to direct effective airflow over the tail surfaces in this situation The plans built aircraft was also designed to be easy to store in a garage and tow on a trailer with assembly and disassembly each taking only five minutes 6 The Cri Cri features a cantilever low wing a single seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy fixed tricycle landing gear and twin engines mounted on pylons to the nose of the aircraft in tractor configuration The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet glued to Klegecell foam Its 4 9 m 16 1 ft span wing employs a Wortmann 21 7 mod airfoil and has an area of 3 1 m2 33 sq ft The aircraft is also capable of aerobatics within the limitations of twin engined aircraft 7 8 9 The first flight of the prototype was made on 19 July 1973 and within a few days it had proved to be easy to fly and capable of aerobatics being stressed to 10g and 5g It was powered by two Rowena 6507J single cylinder two stroke engines each giving 6 7 kW 9 0 hp and weighing 6 5 kg 14 3 lb 6 Variants editMC 10 Cri Cri Prototype and early examples MC 12 Cri Cri Model with a cruising speed of 185 km h 100 knots or 114 9 miles per hour and range of 500 km 310 6 statute miles 270 nautical miles citation needed MC 15 Cri Cri Model powered by two JPX PUL 212 15 horsepower 11 kW engines 7 MC 15 Cri Cri Jet Model powered by two PBS VB TJ20 210 newtons 47 lbf turbojet engines 10 Operational use editAs 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 varying performance Most versions can climb with one engine inoperative 11 In June 2010 EADS partnered with Aero Composites Saintonge and the Greencri cri Association to present an electric powered Cri Cri at the Green Aviation Show in Le Bourget The modified airframe with composite components can fly for 30 minutes at 110 km h The aircraft uses four brushless electric motors with counter rotating propellers which makes the aircraft one of the world s smallest four engine aircraft 12 On September 5 2010 Electravia accomplished a world record speed of 262 km h 162 33 mph for a lithium polymer powered aircraft using a Cri Cri with two electric motors each producing 25 hp during the attempt The company claimed engine and cooling drag reductions of 46 per cent versus the conventional combustion engine arrangement 13 nbsp Cri Cri F PRCQ the first all electric four engine aircraft under an Airbus A380 at the 2011 MAKS airshow On 9 July 2015 the electric powered Electravia version of the design flew across the English Channel hours before the Airbus E Fan 14 becoming the third electric aircraft to do so It was pulled aloft by another aircraft and did not take off on its own 15 16 The first was the MacCready Solar Challenger in 1981 17 and the second used electric motors powered by hydrogen 18 Specifications MC 15 editData from Michel Colomban 19 General characteristicsCrew one Length 3 9 m 12 ft 10 in Wingspan 4 9 m 16 ft 1 in Wing area 3 1 m2 33 sq ft Airfoil Wortmann 21 7 Empty weight 78 kg 172 lb Max takeoff weight 170 kg 375 lb Powerplant 2 JPX PUL 212 single cylinder piston engines 11 kW 15 hp each Propellers 2 bladed Performance Maximum speed 220 km h 140 mph 120 kn Cruise speed 190 km h 120 mph 100 kn Range 460 km 290 mi 250 nmi Service ceiling 3 700 m 12 100 ft g limits 4 5 2 5 Rate of climb 6 6 m s 1 300 ft min Wing loading 55 kg m2 11 lb sq ft See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aerosport Rail Beaujon Enduro Beaujon Mach 07References edit MC 15 Cri Cri free fr Retrieved 29 January 2017 Le plus petit avion du monde Cricri un moustique sur l aile des geants parismatch com August 2015 Retrieved 15 March 2017 Le MC 15 Cri cri Ailes Anciennes de Haute Savoie ailesahs com Archived from the original on 18 August 2018 Retrieved 15 March 2017 CRICRI Definition de CRICRI cnrtl fr Retrieved 15 March 2017 Swanson Molly 28 May 2006 Cri Cri Homebuilt Aircraft aerospaceweb org Retrieved 12 March 2017 Colomban dubbed his unique aircraft the Cri Cri French for cricket after the nickname of his daughter a b Taylor John W R 1979 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1979 80 London Jane s Publishing Company p 471 ISBN 0 354 00589 8 a b Bayerl Robby Martin Berkemeier et al World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011 12 page 110 WDLA UK Lancaster UK 2011 ISSN 1368 485X Lednicer David 2010 The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage Archived from the original on 20 April 2010 Retrieved 7 October 2012 Tacke Willi Marino Boric et al World Directory of Light Aviation 2015 16 page 116 Flying Pages Europe SARL 2015 ISSN 1368 485X Prvni brnenska strojirna Velka Bites a s TJ20 Turbojet Engine Archived from the original on 8 May 2018 Retrieved 8 December 2016 Big fun in small package 2014 Retrieved 1 December 2014 EADS 18 June 2010 Cri Cri the all electric aircraft Archived from the original on 29 June 2010 Retrieved 7 October 2012 Cri Cri sets electric speed record Sport Aviation January 2011 French pilot in tiny one seater beats Airbus to first electric cross Channel flight telegraph co uk 10 July 2015 Retrieved 8 December 2016 Did Duwal Beat Airbus Across the Channel AVweb 10 July 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2015 Bertorelli Paul 9 July 2015 Airbus Asterisked Record AVweb Retrieved 10 July 2015 First Electric Powered Channel Flight Was 34 Years Ago AVweb 12 July 2015 Retrieved 13 July 2015 Man of La Manche CAFE Foundation Archived from the original on 13 July 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2015 Cri Cri MC 15 Information Pack Michel ColombanExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colomban Cri cri Photo of Nicolas Charmont s Cri Cri F PZPR with jet engines Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colomban Cri cri amp oldid 1216770921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
