Régnier 12

Carlos Régnier (no relation of the aircraft engine builder) intended that his low wing monoplane would be capable of carrying two, three or four people, using a variety of engines with powers in the range 75–134 kW (100–180 hp). The prototype and only example built was a side-by-side two-seater.[1]

The Régnier 12's wing was in three parts with a short span, rectangular plan centre section and almost triangular plan outer panels, strongly tapered with a tip angle of about 20°. The outer panels had a dihedral of 4.5°. The wing was built around two wooden box spars; its ribs were also wooden and the skin was birch plywood. Long ailerons filled much of the outer panels' trailing edges.[1]

Like the wings the fuselage was wooden, with four longerons defining its flat-sided form; it, too, had stressed birch ply skin. A 30 kW (40 hp) Train 4T four-cylinder, air-cooled, inverted straight engine drove a two-blade propeller. The two occupants sat side by side in an open cockpit, fitted with dual control, over the wing. Its empennage was conventional, with a horizontal tail mounted on top of the fuselage and strongly straight-tapered like the wing. The elevators were inset and separate, with a gap between them to allow the movement of a deep, balanced rudder mounted on a small fin. The construction of the rear surfaces was similar to that of the wings.[1]

The Régnier 12 had a wide track, conventional undercarriage. Each mainwheel was at the end of a vertical oleo strut mounted on the forward wing spar, together with a rearward drag strut to the lower fuselage longeron. Its steel tailskid had two coil springs.[1]

The Régnier 12 was registered as OO-REG on 8 August 1936;[2] the date of its first flight is not known, though tests with an unknown type of 20 kW (27 hp) engine had started before May 1937.[1] It appears that the Train engine was fitted by the time of the 1st Brussels Aero Salon in late May 1937.[3] By July 1937 it had been flown solo by its designer, a pilot with only ten hours experience.[4]

Data from Les Ailes 10 June 1937[1]

General characteristics

• Length: 7.65 m (25 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 11.60 m (38 ft 1 in)
• Height: 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 15.20 m² (163.6 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 290 kg (639 lb)
• Gross weight: 490 kg (1,080 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Train 4T 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline, 30 kW (40 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph, 84 kn)
• Cruise speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
• Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
• Landing speed: 55–60 km/h (34–37 mph)