Does the CRI CRI count as a MEP?
Nope, it has no asymmetry (VMCA = VS 
)
Previously, in France has some class rating “single seat X” where X refers to,
These disappeared with FCL and SEP is enough
Does the CRI CRI count as a MEP?
Seems like some of the Honda 4-stroke commercial engines in the GX series should be possible. A little heavier, of course, but you get 4-stroke reliability.
LeSving wrote:
I wonder what kind of Rotax engine can be used on the Cri-CriThe smaller of their 2-stroke engines. Now out of serial production, but you find plenty of these on old or discarded UL, trikes and sailplanes.
gallois wrote:
What do you mean a mod kit. Each Cri Cri is individual based on Michel Colombans plans.
Anything can be done, but that doesn’t mean it should be done, or that it can be done by the average person. IMO the best choice of engine would be a paramotor engine. Lots of them around, high quality, light, high power to weight, the ability to produce high power continuously over longer periods of time, low weight, right HP range. By the face of it just perfect. But looking a bit closer, you cannot simply grab one and put it on a Cri-Cri. You have to modify it for direct drive of the prop, which most certainly requires a hub + most possibly an extra bearing. You have to make the (tuned) exhaust from scratch for it to be streamlined. You probably also need a to rework the fuel system. There is a whole lot of things that has to be done, and they are definitely not easy tasks for an average builder. For a guy with skills and tools, this is no problem however. Lots of work and trial and error, but nothing that isn’t doable. For the average amateur aircraft builder, forget it. Even if the guy with skills and tools offers a kit for others to purchase, this is no easy task.
A model aircraft engine would fit right in, no problems whatsoever of any kind. But what do you get? You get high power, low weight, but low TBO, high fuel consumption. It’s not really fit for the mission profile at all when looking a bit closer.
A drone engine would also be perfect. Then you also get durability and some sort of TBO, but what? 30h instead of 10h ?. The problem is they cost 10x that of model aircraft engines. A 20 HP model aircraft engine isn’t cheap to start with, €2-3k ?
Then there are tons of garden variety powered tools. Compared with all of the above, you get some durability in some cases, but low power to weight.
The original JPX was perfect by the looks of it, and this is what made the Cri-Cri popular in it’s time. Building an aircraft (even from scratch from drawings) is easy compared to re-working engines from scratch (and get a reliable result). It’s just the way it is.
If I were to build a Cri-Cri, I would probably first ask some of the paramotor engine makers if they could modify a couple of engines for me. The certainly could, it’s more a question of price. It will not be cheap I guess, maybe around €5-10k or more per engine. A unmodified paramotor engine cost about €4-6k (and up). Then again, I could end up with a model aircraft engine instead. They are simple and easy to work with, easy to get spare parts and so on. It could be a better choice, even if it results in fiddling with the engines every 2-3 flight hours. It would work, but it’s not a long tern viable solution IMO.
An aircraft without an obvious choice of a running and reliable engine, is dead in the water. A thing for the extreme enthusiast. I’m not saying no such engine exists for the Cri-Cri, but so far in this thread I have not seen any. Going electric is probably the best choice? Then you get reliability, TBO and also weight (if you can sacrifice endurance). + lots and lots of coolness
gallois wrote:
Ha great they could be just perfect for the Cri Cri.
That guy really tops it… highly innovative of totally useless but fun objects. He has space, time and nobody to stop him is the line of those commercials. The only commercial ever I downloaded all of them. (Ok, there was the Pepsi one with We will Rock You but well…. )
Ha great they could be just perfect for the Cri Cri.
If i decide to build one I’ll bear them in mind :)
gallois wrote:
. A friend here has just done it the expensive way and got 2 of the type used to drive a STIHL garden tool. I’m not sure if he was talking strimmer, chain saw or hedge cutter.
This reminds me of something.
It’s german but watch it to the end anyway. And no, it is not a fake, it’s real.
What do you mean a mod kit. Each Cri Cri is individual based on Michel Colombans plans.
The engines are on mounts, very close to the fuselage of the aircraft and forward of the pilot’s seat. Each exhaust runs along the exterior either side of the cockpit, venting towards the rear. The exhaust does provide some heat to the cabin interior by its closeness to the fuselage.
Many different engines have been tried and work perfectly well. A friend here has just done it the expensive way and got 2 of the type used to drive a STIHL garden tool. I’m not sure if he was talking strimmer, chain saw or hedge cutter.
As far as I know 2 types of jet engine have and are being tried. These are of the mini variety possibly used in drones or model aircraft.
AFAIK only one, at present, is flying with 2 electric motors. Its performance is only 10kph slower than the jet engine versions.
The Airbus electric test Cri Cri has 4 electric motors 2 each side. The test pilot loved it, but it will never go into production of course. Its an experiment.
So as you can see it is quite flexible in terms of engine usage and is open to the builder to experiment.
I rather like the idea of some of the lightweight rotary engines that are being developed. If they ever really come to fruition. Mistral, Wilksch, Wankel and Mazda all had a programme for these at one time or another.
We don’t have an LAA here. We have an RSA which is a bit like the EAA and we have OSAC, part of the DGAC which checks out experimental aircraft and can deliver a CDNR.
