Piel Beryl Explained

The Piel CP.70 Beryl is a French twin-seat, single-engine sport aircraft designed by Claude Piel. It was first flown in France in the 1960s and marketed for amateur construction.[1] [2]

Design and development

Designed by Claude Piel, the Beryl uses the same wing design as the Piel Emeraude but with a new fuselage, exchanging the Emeraude's side-by-side configuration seating for seating in tandem. As originally designed, the aircraft is fitted with fixed, tricycle undercarriage with a steerable nosewheel. Construction throughout is of doped fabric-covered wood.[2] [3] [4]

An aerobatic version, designated the CP.750 was also developed. This differs from the basic CP.70 in having a reduced wingspan, fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a slightly longer fuselage. It retains the CP.70's wooden wings, but the fuselage is built of welded steel tube and still covered in fabric.[3]

Operational history

The Beryl has been homebuilt by amateur constructors and in 2009 there were still four examples active on the French civil aircraft register. The prototype F-PMEQ, completed in 1965 with tricycle undercarriage, was still active in 2014 modified as a CP.703 with tail-wheel undercarriage. Examples of the design have also been completed in Brazil and the United States.

Variants

CP.70
  • Standard variant for homebuilding powered by a 650NaN0 Continental A65-8F or 1180NaN0 Lycoming O-235 engine.
    CP.750
  • a CP-70 with 150 hp Lycoming O-320 engine with a reduced wingspan, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, and a slightly longer fuselage.[3]
    CP.751
  • CP-750 with 200 hp Lycoming O-360-A2A engine.[5]

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Taylor 1989, p.725
    2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 100. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.
    3. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78, p.496
    4. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 96. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
    5. "French homebuilts gather at RSA rally" 1981, p.545