The Chasle YC-12 Tourbillon ("Whirlwind") was a single-seat light sporting aircraft developed in France in the mid-1960s and marketed for homebuilding via plans. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration. As designed, it featured fixed tailwheel undercarriage, but it could also be fitted with fixed tricycle gear.
The Tourbillon flew for the first time on 9 October 1965. Though fifteen sets of plans were sold, only two other Tourbillons were built, both in the UK. The prototype remains on the French Civil register but the two UK aircraft are now deregistered. Their engine types are not recorded in the registration documents.
Contents
Variants
YC-12
prototype with Continental A65 engine
YC-121
similar to prototype with enlarged tailfin for limited certification
YC-122
similar to YC-121 but with Continental C90 engine
YC-123
similar to YC-121 but with Potez 4E-20b engine
Specifications (typical YC-121)
Data from Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1975-76General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
Aspect ratio: 6
Airfoil: NACA Srs.7
Empty weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 432 kg (952 lb) without radio
Fuel capacity: 60.5 L (16.0 US gal; 13.3 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 48 kW (65 hp) (typically)
Propellers: 2-bladed EVRA fixed pitch wooden propeller, 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn) at sea level
Cruise speed: 205 km/h (127 mph, 111 kn) at 70% power
Stall speed: 75 km/h (47 mph, 40 kn)
Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (910 ft/min)
Wing loading: 57.5 kg/m2 (11.8 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.112 kW/kg (0.068 hp/lb