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.
| Menestrel | |
|---|---|
| |
| HN.454 Super Menestrel from France at a Rally at Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton, in September 2010 | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Designer | Henri Nicollier |
| First flight | 25 November 1962 |
| Number built | More than 95 |
Design 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
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]
Variants
edit- 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)
editData from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992-93[2]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 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 occupants
References
edit
- ^ 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 & Co. Ltd. p. 48.
- ^ a b Chillon, Jacques. Fox Pappa - Registre des avions Français 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