Piel CP.500

{{short description|1970s French light aircraft design study}} __NOTOC__  {{Infobox aircraft | name = CP.500 | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = utility aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = | design_group = | designer = Claude Piel | builder = | issuer = | status = Abandoned project | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Piel CP.500''' was a light aircraft of unusual configuration designed in France<ref name="JAE">Taylor 1989, p.726</ref> in the 1970s with the intention of marketing it for homebuilding.<ref name="JAWA 77">''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78'', p.497</ref><ref name="Roskam">Roskam 1997, p.29</ref> This did not transpire, however, and no prototype was actually built. It was a tandem wing design,<ref name="Roskam"/><ref name="Gunston">Gunston 1993, p.238</ref> somewhat reminiscent of the Mignet Pou-du-Ciel but considerably larger.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> Also, unlike the Pou-du-Ciel's unusual control system, the CP.500's pitch and roll control was to come from more conventional elevons mounted on the rear wing.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> The rear wing was also to carry endplate-style fins and rudders.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> Twin engines were to be mounted in push-pull fashion at the nose and tail ends of the fuselage, with the aircraft capable of single-engine operation in case of emergency.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> Two seats were to be provided at the front of the fully enclosed cabin, with a bench seat for three passengers behind them, plus an optional seat for a sixth occupant behind this.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> The undercarriage was to be of fixed, tricycle configuration.<ref name="JAWA 77"/> Construction was originally planned to be of wood, with engine cowlings and wingtips of composite construction. However, as development progressed, Piel considered metal as the main construction material.<ref name="JAWA 77"/>

==Specifications (as designed) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78'', p.497 |prime units? = met |crew=One pilot |capacity=4-5 passengers |length m=6.10 |length ft=20 |length in=0 |span m=8.80 |span ft=28 |span in=11 |height m=2.25 |height ft=7 |height in=5 |wing area sqm=20.3 |wing area sqft=218 |empty weight kg=866 |empty weight lb=1,910 |gross weight kg=1,500 |gross weight lb=3,310 |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Lycoming O-320 |eng1 kw=120 |eng1 hp=160 |max speed kmh=300 |max speed mph=186 |range km=1,200 |range miles=745 |ceiling m=6,800 |ceiling ft=22,300 |climb rate ms=9.0 |climb rate ftmin=1,770 }}  {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{cite book |last= Gunston |first= Bill |title=World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers |year=1993 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location= Annapolis }} * {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977–78 |publisher=Jane's Publishing |location=London}} * {{cite book |last=Roskam |first=Jan |title=Airplane Design Part II: Preliminary Configuration Design and Integration of the Propulsion System |publisher=DARcorporation |location=Lawrence, Kansas |year=1997}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London}}

Category:1970s French civil utility aircraft Category:Piel aircraft Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Tandem-wing aircraft Category:Twin-tail aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Single-engined piston aircraft Category:Abandoned civil aircraft projects Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear