| Menestrel | |
|---|---|
 Nicollier HN-700 Menestrel at St. Cyr Aerodrome | |
| General information | |
| Type | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Designer | Henri Nicollier |
| Number built | More than 95 |
| History | |
| First flight | 25 November 1962 |
TheNicollier Menestrel family ofFrenchhomebuilt low-wing single-enginelight 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.
The Menestrel (en: Minstral), a single-engine low-wingcantilevermonoplane, was designed for homebuilders. Three variants have appeared over the course of about 27 years: the original single seatHN 433 Menestrel flew in 1962, the more powerfulHN 434 Super Menestrel in 1985 and the larger two-seatHN 700/1 Menestrel II in 1989.[1]
All Menestrel variants are wooden framed andfabric 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 ahorn balance. The tailplane is mounted on the top of the fuselage.[3]
Thefuselage 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 hasside 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 atricycle undercarriage.[1]
Menestrels have been powered by a variety of engines, mostly variants of theVolkswagen flat-4 engine. Early versions of these were entirelyair-cooled, but more recently the cylinder heads have beenwater-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 twoLimbach engines of 2.0 L or 2.4 L capacity.[1]
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]
ACentre d'essais en vol evaluation of the HN 434 declared it to be the best handling sportplane in Europe.[10]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992-93[2]
General characteristics
Performance
