Partenair Mystere Explained
The
Partenair Mystere is a Canadian two-seat,
pusher configuration monoplane that was designed by Partenair Design of
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
Quebec and intended for
amateur construction from kits.
[1] [2] Two prototypes were completed and flown and one kit delivered before the project was ended. One customer-built S45 was eventually completed and first flew on 10 November 2015.
Design and development
The Mystere is an all-composite, low-wing monoplane powered by a pusher piston engine. It has a pod and boom configuration with a T-tail and a fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants. The cockpit has room for two occupants in tandem with dual controls and a two-piece canopy and windscreen.
The prototype S44 Mystere first flew on 16 November 1996 powered by a Rotax 912 engine. The second prototype S45 was powered by a 1600NaN0 Lycoming IO-320 flat-four piston engine and first flew on 4 October 2001.
The kit was to be supplied in three sub-kits made from primer-surfaced parts of low-odour epoxy. The construction time from the kit was estimated to have been 1,000 hours.[3] [4]
Variants
- S44 Mystere
Initial 800NaN0 Rotax 912UL powered version. Empty weight 7000NaN0 and gross weight 12500NaN0, cruise speed 1400NaN0. The price of the complete S44 kit, including engine in 1999 was US$38,000. Only one prototype was flown.
- S45 Mystere
Second version with increased power. Acceptable power range 100to, with the standard engine a Lycoming O-320 of 1500NaN0. Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown.
- S45 Mystere Mark II
Third version with aerodynamic refinements, an increase in top speed to 1800NaN0 and an increase in gross weight to 19250NaN0. The engine was raised so that the aircraft could accept a larger diameter propeller and to increase clearance between the tail boom and the propeller. The engine cowling was also re-shaped to smooth airflow into the propeller. These changes were all to reduce the original S45's noise signature. Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown and it was the original S45 prototype in a modified Mark II configuration.[5]
- S45 Mark III RG
A proposed retractable gear model that was never built. The Mark III was announced by the company in 2003, with a first flight initially forecast for 2004. It was intended to have a shorter wing and accept engines up to 2500NaN0 to greatly increase cruise speed.Accidents and incidents
The prototype Partenair S44 Mystère was involved in a fatal accident on 24 October 1998. While departing Montréal/Les Cèdres Airport, the Rotax 912 engine failed and the aircraft impacted the ground, killing both occupants.[6]
This accident led to the aircraft being redesigned as the S45 with a Lycoming O-320 engine replacing the Rotax powerplant. Kitplanes magazine described the subsequent S45 as a "repowered aircraft for better overall performance and reliability".
References
Bibliography
- Book: Jackson. Paul . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-2004. 2003. Jane's Information Group . Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom. 0-7106-2537-5.
External links
Notes and References
- Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 71. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 57. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
- Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 61. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 65. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
- Web site: Partenair Announces Third Model . 24 December 2011. Aero News Network. 24 July 2003.
- Web site: Occurrence # 23492. 24 December 2011. Aviation Safety Network. 2011.