Piel CP-20 Pinocchio

The Piel CP-20 Pinocchio is a single engine French sport monoplane first flown in 1951. Only two were built but one was still flying over sixty years later.

CP-20 Pinocchio
Role Single seat sports aircraft
National origin France
Designer Claude Piel
First flight 1 July 1951
Status active
Number built 2

Design and development

Despite sharing the name Pinocchio, the CP-20 was a completely different design from Claude Piel's first aircraft, the CP-10 Pinocchio. The CP-20 is a conventional low wing cantilever monoplane whereas the CP-10 was a Pou-du-Ciel style tandem wing design;[1] it did inherit the CP-10's rudder, wheels and firewall. The centre section of the Pinocchio's wing is rectangular in plan and the outer panels are semi-elliptical. It has broad-chord ailerons but no flaps.[2]

The fuselage is almost flat sided and bottomed but with raised, rounded decking behind the single seat cockpit and canopy.[3] The empennage is conventional, with tapered horizontal surfaces mounted near the top of the fuselage and a curved fin carrying a broad, balanced rudder. The rudder extends down to the keel, so the elevators are cut away to allow its movement. The Pinocchio has a wide track tail wheel/skid undercarriage with main wheels on vertical, cantilever legs from the wings.[2]

Only two Pinocchios were built. The first had a 34 kW (45 hp) converted Volkswagen 1.1 litres (67 cu in) litre engine. The second, built by Pierre Bordini, was originally designated the CP-210 and was powered by a 34 kW (45 hp) Salmson 9 AD engine. In July 1961 it became the CP-211, with the same Salmson engine but with a one-piece sliding canopy and more raked screen, faired landing legs and a tailwheel rather than a skid, greater fuel capacity, and a cropped vertical tail. Its time as the CP-211 was brief, for at the end of 1961 it became the CP-212, fitted with a 48 kW (65 hp) Continental A-65 air-cooled flat-four engine.[1][2][4]

Operational history

In 1951 the CP-20 won the 4th RSA Cup, flown at Montargis.[2] During the 1960s the CP-212 had several owners but its certificate expired in 1970.[4] In the 1990s it was restored and eventually re-registered in October 2001 as the CP-215.[4] It remained on the French civil register in 2014.[5]

Variants

Data from Massé (2004)[2]

CP-20
First airframe, as below.
CP-210
Second airframe with 34 kW (45 hp) Salmson 9 ADb radial engine[6]
CP-211
Second airframe, as CP-210 but with one piece, sliding canopy and cropped vertical tail.
CP-212
Second airframe, as CP-211 but with 48 kW (65 hp) Continental A65 engine.
CP-215
Second airframe restored.[2]

Specifications (CP-20)

Data from Massé (2004) pp. 21-28[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 9.5 m2 (102 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.9
  • Empty weight: 177 kg (390 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 270 kg (595 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 35 l (7.7 imp gal; 9.2 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen 1.1 l air-cooled flat-four, 19 kW (25 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed, 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) diameter wooden, fixed pitch

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn) [1]
  • Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
  • Range: 480 km (300 mi, 260 nmi)
  • Endurance: 4 hr
  • Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
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References
  1. Gaillard, Pierre (1990). Les Avions Francais de 1944 à 1964. Paris: Éditions EPA. pp. 75, 122. ISBN 2 85120 350 9.
  2. Massé, Xavier. Avions Piel: du CP 10 de 1944 au CP 1950 de 1983 (2004 ed.). Nouvelles Editions Latines. pp. 21–8.
  3. A view of the fuselage during a reconstruction project
  4. Chillon, Jacques. Fox Papa-Registre des avions Français amateur (2009 ed.). Brive: Ver Luisant. p. 86. ISBN 978-2-3555-1-066-3.
  5. Partington, Dave (2014). European registers handbook 2014. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-465-6.
  6. Cutaway view of CP-210 (from Piel website)
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