Chasle Tourbillon

The Chasle YC-12 Tourbillon ("Whirlwind") was a single-seat light sporting aircraft developed in France in the mid-1960s and marketed for homebuilding via plans. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration. As designed, it featured fixed tailwheel undercarriage, but it could also be fitted with fixed tricycle gear.

YC-12 Tourbillon
Role Recreational aircraft
Manufacturer Homebuilt
Designer Yves Chasle
First flight 9 October 1965
Number built 3

The Tourbillon flew for the first time on 9 October 1965. Though fifteen sets of plans were sold, only two other Tourbillons were built,[1] both in the UK.[2] The prototype remains on the French Civil register[3] but the two UK aircraft are now deregistered. Their engine types are not recorded in the registration documents.[2]


The prototype Chasle Tourbillon at Chavenay-Villepreux airfield near Paris in June 1967

Variants

YC-12
prototype with Continental A65 engine
YC-121
similar to prototype with enlarged tailfin for limited certification
YC-122
similar to YC-121 but with Continental C90 engine
YC-123
similar to YC-121 but with Potez 4E-20b engine

Specifications (typical YC-121)

Data from Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
  • Aspect ratio: 6
  • Airfoil: NACA Srs.7
  • Empty weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 432 kg (952 lb) without radio
  • Fuel capacity: 60.5 l (16.0 US gal; 13.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 48 kW (65 hp) (typically)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed EVRA fixed pitch wooden propeller, 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn) at 70% power
  • Stall speed: 75 km/h (47 mph, 40 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (910 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 57.5 kg/m2 (11.8 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.112 kW/kg (0.068 hp/lb

References

  1. Gaillard, Pierre (1991). Les Avions Francais de 1965 à 1990. Paris: Éditions EPA. p. 43. ISBN 2 85120 392 4.
  2. G-BHX; G-AYBV
  3. Partington, Dave (201). European registers handbook 2014. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-465-6.
  4. Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1975). Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76 (66th annual ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Inc. p. 54. ISBN 978-0531032503.

Further reading

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 254.
  • Taylor, John W.R.; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1977). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1977-78 (Sixty-eighth year of issue. ed.). London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 484–85. ISBN 9780531032787.
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