Aviasud Mistral

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Mistral | logo = | logo_size = | image = Aviasud Mistral PH-2W1.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight biplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[France]] | manufacturer = [[Aviasud Engineering]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 250+ (1999) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = [[1986 in aviation|1986]] | retired = | first_flight = [[1985 in aviation|1985]] | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Aviasud Mistral''' is a French two-seat [[Ultralight aviation|ultralight]] [[biplane]] built by [[Aviasud Engineering]]. This plane is notable as it has forward swept wings and side-by-side seating. The lower wings are movable and are used as the roll control (wing leveler).

The aeroplane (along with the [[Aviasud Sirocco|Sirocco]]) was taken over, and is still supported by, [[Aériane]] in 1989.<ref name="Brasseys 99 p414"/>

==Design and development==

[[File:PH-2R8.JPG|thumb|The Aviasud Mistral has a biplane configuration]]

The Aviasud Mistral was designed by two Belgian engineers, Francois Goethals and Bernard d'Otreppe.

The prototype first flew in May 1985,<ref name="Janes 93 p75"/> and the aircraft entered production with AviaSud engineering in [[Fréjus]],<ref name="Janes 93 p74">Lambert 1993, p.74.</ref> with the first production model having its maiden flight in February 1986.<ref name="Janes 93 p75"/> Aviasud has built more than 200 Mistrals, it has also been built by Ultraleger Industria Aeronáutica Ltda in Brasil.<ref name="Brasseys 99 p414"/> [[File:Ultra Leger Motorisé (7344511550).jpg|right|thumb|The unidentified 3-axis ULM which was the basis for the Mistral<ref name="vieuxdebs">{{cite web|title=François Goethals and Bernard D'Otreppe|url=http://www.lesvieuxdebs.fr/fr/information/34185/francois-goethals-bernard-otreppe|accessdate=30 October 2017}}</ref>]] The Mistral is a biplane of mixed wooden and composite construction, with forward swept wings, with the all-moving lower wings used as large [[aileron]]s, and a conventional, all-moving [[tailplane]]. It has a fixed [[tricycle landing gear]] and a nose-mounted Rotax piston engine. The Mistral has an enclosed cockpit with two side-by-side seats forward of the wings.<ref name="Brasseys 99 p414"/><ref name="Janes 93 p75"/>

On May 4, 1987, an Aviasud Mistral was flown to the geographic North Pole by [[Nicolas Hulot]], a world first for this type of aircraft.

==Variants== [[File:AviasudMistral-Cockpit-1.jpg|thumb|right|Cockpit of the Aviasud Mistral]] ;Mistral :Original version with 47 kW [[Rotax 532]] engine.<ref name="Janes 88 p519">Taylor 1988, p.519.</ref> ;Mistral 503 :Low powered, economy version with 37 kW (50 hp) [[Rotax 503]] engine.<ref name="Janes 88 p520">Taylor 1988, p.520.</ref> ;AE 206 Mistral :Basic version, powered by 48 kW (64 hp) [[Rotax 582]] engine.<ref name="Janes 93 p75">Lambert 1993, p.75.</ref> ;AE 206 US :"Ultra Silent" version with larger, lower geared propeller.<ref name="Janes 93 p75"/> ;AE 207 Mistral Twin :Twin engined version for advertising and surveillance work, with additional, [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] Rotax 503 engine above wing.<ref name="Janes 93 p75"/> 30 built by 1999.<ref name="Brasseys 99 p414">Taylor 1999, p.414.</ref>

==Specifications (AE 206)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94 <ref name="Janes 93 p75"/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=1 |capacity=1 passenger |length m=5.66 |length ft= |length in= |span m=9.40 |span ft= |span in= |height m=2.25 |height ft= |height in= |wing area sqm=16.39 |wing area sqft= |airfoil=NACA 23012 |empty weight kg=205 |empty weight lb= |max takeoff weight kg=390 |gross weight lb= |fuel capacity={{convert|60|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=two-stroke, two-cylinder water-cooled [[piston engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=155 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh=90 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed note=(econ. cruise) |never exceed speed kmh=165 |range km=530 |range miles= |range nmi= |ceiling m=4575 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note=(at least) |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=760 |more performance=*'''Takeoff distance to 15 m (50 ft):''' {{convert|200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} *'''Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft):''' {{convert|225|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|avionics= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |sequence= |lists= }}

==References== {{Commons category|Aviasud Mistral}} ;Notes {{reflist}} ;Bibliography * Lambert, Mark (ed.). ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993-94''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. {{ISBN|0-7106-1066-1}}. * Taylor, John W.R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89''. Jane's Defence Data, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7106-0867-5}}. * Taylor, Michael J.H. (ed.). ''Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000''. London:Brassey's, 1999. {{ISBN|1-85753-245-7}}. *[http://avia-dejavu.net/MLAs2.htm] (in Dutch)

[[Category:1980s French ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Light-sport aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Biplanes]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1985]] [[Category:Forward-swept-wing aircraft]]