| Menestrel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| HN.454 Super Menestrel from France at a Rally at Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton, in September 2010 | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Designer | Henri Nicollier |
| First flight | 25 November 1962 |
| Number built | More than 95 |
The Nicollier Menestrel family of French homebuilt low-wing single-engine light 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-wing cantilever monoplane, was designed for homebuilders. Three variants have appeared over the course of about 27 years: the original single seat HN 433 Menestrel flew in 1962, the more powerful HN 434 Super Menestrel in 1985 and the larger two-seat HN 700/1 Menestrel II in 1989. [1]
All Menestrel variants are wooden framed and fabric 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 a horn balance. The tailplane is mounted on the top of the fuselage. [3]
The fuselage 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 has side 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 a tricycle undercarriage. [1]
Menestrels have been powered by a variety of engines, mostly variants of the Volkswagen flat-4 engine. Early versions of these were entirely air-cooled, but more recently the cylinder heads have been water-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 two Limbach 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]
A Centre 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
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