Top speed 70 km/h Length 4.7 m | Wingspan 7.8 m | |
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The Croses Pouplume ("lousefeather") was an unusual ultralight aircraft developed in France in the 1960s. It was inspired by Henri Mignet's Pou-du-Ciel design with its distinctive tandem wing layout. Croses set out to develop a similar aircraft, to be powered by a single-cylinder motorcycle engine of around 6 kW (8 hp). Construction was wood with fabric covering. The resulting machine, designated the EC-1 weighed only 108 kg (238 lb) empty, and first flew in about 1960. Like the Pou-du-Ciel, the Pouplume dispensed with traditional ailerons and elevators, and pivoted the entire forward wing to provide pitch control.
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The EC-1 was followed by the EC-2, a two-seat version powered by a conventional aero-engine, and the EAC-3, the definitive version marketed for homebuilding, again powered by a motorcycle engine. By 1977, at least twelve examples of the EAC-3 had flown. A further development, the Pouplume Sport was designed to be powered by a 1500 cc Volkswagen air-cooled engine, and featured wings of reduced span. In 1977, about 55 of this version were known to be under construction.
Variants
Specifications (typical EC-3)
General characteristics
Performance