The Nicollier Menestrel family of Frenchhomebuilt low-wing single-engine light aircraft includes both single- and two-seat variants and a wide choice of engines. First flown in 1962, nearly 100 have been built and others remain under construction.
Menestrel
HN.454 Super Menestrel from France at a Rally at Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton, in September 2010
The Menestrel (en: Minstral), a single-engine low-wing cantilevermonoplane, was designed for homebuilders. Three variants have appeared over the course of about 27 years: the original single seat HN 433 Menestrel flew in 1962, the more powerful HN 434 Super Menestrel in 1985 and the larger two-seat HN 700/1 Menestrel II in 1989.[1]
All Menestrel variants are wooden framed and fabric covered. The wing is built around a single spar and has constant chord to mid span, with semi-elliptical outer panels. There are no flaps fitted on the single seat variants, though they are an option on the Menestrel II.[2] The fin and rudder are curved, the rudder having a horn balance. The tailplane is mounted on the top of the fuselage.[3]
The fuselage is structurally of simple square section, with a curved decking aft of the cockpit. The latter was originally open but the prototype later flew with a smooth plexiglass canopy that merged into the decking.[3] The Menestrel II has side by side seating. Most Menestrels have a tailskid or, later, tailwheel undercarriage[2] with cantilever main legs bearing Vespa scooter wheels. Many Menestrels have faired legs and spatted wheels. At least one Menestrel II, with the type number HN 701TM,[4] uses a tricycle undercarriage.[1]
Menestrels have been powered by a variety of engines, mostly variants of the Volkswagen flat-4 engine. Early versions of these were entirely air-cooled, but more recently the cylinder heads have been water-cooled. Some early Menestrels with air-cooled engines have exposed cylinder heads for cooling but more have semi-cylindrical, bulged fairings to enclose them. The water-cooled engines used in the Menestrel II have cowlings which enclose the whole engine without additional fairings, with an air intake behind the propeller. The first HN 433 Menestrel had a 22 kW (30 hp) 1.3 L engine; later HN 433s have had engines in the 22-37 kW (30-50 hp) power range.[2][3] Super Menestrels have used 1.6 L engines, producing powers of 26-49 kW (35-65 hp). The HN 700 Menestrel II uses one of two Limbach engines of 2.0 L or 2.4 L capacity.[1]
Operational historyedit
British registered two-seat HN700 Menestrel II
The first prototype HN 433 flew on 25 November 1962 and Menestrel aircraft have continued to be home built from plans since then. 4 more HD 433s have appeared on the French register.[5] The more powerful HN 434 proved more popular, with 23 on the French register[5] and 1 on the Finnish.[6]
The two-seat HN 700 has been the most successful of the three variants in numerical terms. 56 have been registered in France[5] and at least one in Spain.[7] In the UK 8 examples have had Permits to Fly.[8] Others remain under construction. The only HN 701 to appear on the French register, F-PLMT, has a tricycle undercarriage.[9]
A Centre d'essais en vol evaluation of the HN 434 declared it to be the best handling sportplane in Europe.[10]
Variantsedit
HN 433 Menestrel
Single seat. Volkswagen engines, particularly Rectimo-VWs, in the range 22-37 kW (30-50 hp) range. Span 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in).
HN 434 Super Menestrel
Single seat with enlarged cockpit and increased tankage. Powered, typically, by a Volkswagen 1.6 L in the 26-49 kW (35-65 hp) range.[11][10]
HN 435RL Ménestrel
One-off HN434 modified by builder Roland Lamglais[4]
HN 700 Menestrel II
Side-by-side configuration two-seat version with span increased to 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in). Powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Limbach L2000 (2.0 L) flat four engine with water-cooled piston heads.[11][10]
HN 701 Menestrel II
As HD 700 but with 65 kW (87 hp) Limbach 2400 (2.4 L) flat four engine with water-cooled piston heads.
Specifications (Menestrel II)edit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992-93[2]
^ abcTacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 100. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
^ abBayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 94-95. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
December 15, 2023
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The Nicollier Menestrel family of French homebuilt low wing single engine light aircraft includes both single and two seat variants and a wide choice of engines First flown in 1962 nearly 100 have been built and others remain under construction MenestrelHN 454 Super Menestrel from France at a Rally at Sywell Aerodrome Northampton in September 2010Role Homebuilt aircraftNational origin FranceDesigner Henri NicollierFirst flight 25 November 1962Number built More than about 95 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications Menestrel II 5 ReferencesDesign and development editThe Menestrel en Minstral a single engine low wing cantilever monoplane was designed for homebuilders Three variants have appeared over the course of about 27 years the original single seat HN 433 Menestrel flew in 1962 the more powerful HN 434 Super Menestrel in 1985 and the larger two seat HN 700 1 Menestrel II in 1989 1 All Menestrel variants are wooden framed and fabric covered The wing is built around a single spar and has constant chord to mid span with semi elliptical outer panels There are no flaps fitted on the single seat variants though they are an option on the Menestrel II 2 The fin and rudder are curved the rudder having a horn balance The tailplane is mounted on the top of the fuselage 3 The fuselage is structurally of simple square section with a curved decking aft of the cockpit The latter was originally open but the prototype later flew with a smooth plexiglass canopy that merged into the decking 3 The Menestrel II has side by side seating Most Menestrels have a tailskid or later tailwheel undercarriage 2 with cantilever main legs bearing Vespa scooter wheels Many Menestrels have faired legs and spatted wheels At least one Menestrel II with the type number HN 701TM 4 uses a tricycle undercarriage 1 Menestrels have been powered by a variety of engines mostly variants of the Volkswagen flat 4 engine Early versions of these were entirely air cooled but more recently the cylinder heads have been water cooled Some early Menestrels with air cooled engines have exposed cylinder heads for cooling but more have semi cylindrical bulged fairings to enclose them The water cooled engines used in the Menestrel II have cowlings which enclose the whole engine without additional fairings with an air intake behind the propeller The first HN 433 Menestrel had a 22 kW 30 hp 1 3 L engine later HN 433s have had engines in the 22 37 kW 30 50 hp power range 2 3 Super Menestrels have used 1 6 L engines producing powers of 26 49 kW 35 65 hp The HN 700 Menestrel II uses one of two Limbach engines of 2 0 L or 2 4 L capacity 1 Operational history edit nbsp British registered two seat HN700 Menestrel IIThe first prototype HN 433 flew on 25 November 1962 and Menestrel aircraft have continued to be home built from plans since then 4 more HD 433s have appeared on the French register 5 The more powerful HN 434 proved more popular with 23 on the French register 5 and 1 on the Finnish 6 The two seat HN 700 has been the most successful of the three variants in numerical terms 56 have been registered in France 5 and at least one in Spain 7 In the UK 8 examples have had Permits to Fly 8 Others remain under construction The only HN 701 to appear on the French register F PLMT has a tricycle undercarriage 9 A Centre d essais en vol evaluation of the HN 434 declared it to be the best handling sportplane in Europe 10 Variants editHN 433 Menestrel Single seat Volkswagen engines particularly Rectimo VWs in the range 22 37 kW 30 50 hp range Span 7 00 m 23 ft 0 in HN 434 Super Menestrel Single seat with enlarged cockpit and increased tankage Powered typically by a Volkswagen 1 6 L in the 26 49 kW 35 65 hp range 11 10 HN 435RL Menestrel One off HN434 modified by builder Roland Lamglais 4 HN 700 Menestrel II Side by side configuration two seat version with span increased to 7 80 m 25 ft 7 in Powered by a 60 kW 80 hp Limbach L2000 2 0 L flat four engine with water cooled piston heads 11 10 HN 701 Menestrel II As HD 700 but with 65 kW 87 hp Limbach 2400 2 4 L flat four engine with water cooled piston heads Specifications Menestrel II editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1992 93 2 General characteristicsCapacity 2 Length 5 30 m 17 ft 5 in Wingspan 7 80 m 25 ft 7 in Height 1 47 m 4 ft 10 in Wing area 9 80 m2 105 5 sq ft Empty weight 282 kg 622 lb Max takeoff weight 500 kg 1 102 lb Powerplant 1 Limbach L2000 4 cylinder horizontally opposed with water cooled piston heads 60 kW 80 hp Performance Cruise speed 187 km h 116 mph 101 kn maximum Range 1 000 km 620 mi 540 nmi with 83 km reserves Rate of climb 6 5 m s 1 280 ft min from sea level with two occupantsReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicollier Menestrel a b c Simpson Rod 2001 Airlife s World Aircraft Shrewsbury Airlife Publishing Ltd p 397 ISBN 1 84037 115 3 a b c d Lambert Mark 1992 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1992 93 Coulsden Surrey Jane s Information Group Ltd p 480 ISBN 0 7106 0987 6 a b c Taylor John W R 1966 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1966 67 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co Ltd p 48 a b Chillon Jacques Fox Pappa Registre des avions Francais amateur 2009 ed Brive Ver Luisant p 217 ISBN 978 2 35551 066 3 a b c French civil aircraft registrations Archived from the original on 5 December 2010 Retrieved 22 September 2010 Finnish civil aircraft registrations Retrieved 22 September 2010 EC ZHN image Retrieved 22 September 2010 Current Menestrel II registrations on UK list Retrieved 22 September 2010 F PMLT image Retrieved 22 September 2010 a b c Tacke Willi Marino Boric et al World Directory of Light Aviation 2015 16 page 100 Flying Pages Europe SARL 2015 ISSN 1368 485X a b Bayerl Robby Martin Berkemeier et al World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011 12 page 94 95 WDLA UK Lancaster UK 2011 ISSN 1368 485X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nicollier Menestrel amp oldid 1123846364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
