Colomban Luciole

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:17 pm

Hi Trevor, I seem to recall that 95kg has been mentioned as max pilot weight but cannot find reference to that. There are also about three options for canopy height, and I think Richard built the mid size. The turtledeck height is increased to make the canopy taller. Francis is tall and slim, but he is certainly not scrawny and narrow so the fact that he fitted and felt their was ample room is quite impressive. It may well depend on whether you are tall in the body or in the leg. Not surprisingly I have never taken Francis' inside leg measurement!!
Michel Colomban no longer flies, and if he had designed the Luciole solely for himself it would have been too small for most people, he really is quite a petit fellow.

Tom Sheppard · Post by **Tom Sheppard** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:32 pm

I wonder if the design would lend itself to a larger wing with a lower stalling speed and loading. I suppose the issue would be whether the engine could drag it aloft.

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:58 pm

More wing tends to lower the stall speed, and hence the lift off speed. Motor-gliders like the Falke and Fournier have long wings and low powered engines.

Rod1 · Post by **Rod1** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:10 pm

According to a very reliable source the seat limit is 90kg (I am over that). A similar aircraft (same engine) been designed in the UK will have a 95kg limit.

Rod1

Bill McCarthy · Post by **Bill McCarthy** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:47 pm

Build a Jodel D9 !! Will hurtle along at 80odd knots with a canopy, stall at just above 22knots and burn in the order of 9 litres per hour. It will be less twitchy and have shorter take off and landing runs. If I could turn the clock back a few years I would build one. Just think - a D9 with an 80HP Rotax or Jabiru up front !

Paul Hendry-Smith · Post by **Paul Hendry-Smith** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:59 pm

I saw a nose wheel version of the Luciole at Blois the other day, looked quite different, so for those who want the trainer wheel at the front there is news on the horizon.

Rod1 · Post by **Rod1** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:15 pm

Bill,

The D9 is burning twice as much fuel to go 10kn slower and requires a much bigger workshop to build it.

The MC30 is a step towards the next generation of low cost low weight touring machines. The eventual aim is to run an industrial twin (costing around £2k) at 35hp in a machine which will carry two people at 90kn. This will cut the cost of operation to 1980’s levels and allow many more people to keep flying.

Rod1

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:35 pm

And the Luciole is quickly de-riggable, another major cost saving benefit which sadly the D9 does not enjoy.

Bill McCarthy · Post by **Bill McCarthy** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:00 pm

I've always had a soft spot for the D9.
I'll agree but what worried me about the Luciole was the very tight build tolerances and I think I recall having to work to within a half millimeter in wood ? The performance is brilliant from such a small power unit.
Anyone heard if there have been any developments regarding the small engines competition.

ColinC · Post by **ColinC** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:12 pm

Is it ok to mention the SD-1 Minisport in a Luciole thread?

There's a video here:

http://www.ul-gmbh.de/SD1/SD-1%20Luftau ... 0klein.wmv

I got a bit involved after making enquiries about the aircraft a while ago. At that time the designer was unaware of the approvals process over here but it seemed like just the sort of economical aircraft LAA members might be interested in. A key factor for me was that the payload is higher than others in its class. The construction is also a bit more traditional too.

LAA Engineering have expressed an interest in looking at the design so drawings have been provided and a dialog with the designer has just started.

Hopefully a formal review will be carrried out if there is sufficient interest from potential builders.

regards,

Colin

ColinC · Post by **ColinC** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:23 pm

There's also the PIK-26 but I don't know too much about that one

Bill McCarthy · Post by **Bill McCarthy** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:34 pm

And the B612 with retractable u/c. Take a look on Youtube.