Partenair Mystere

Design and development

The Mystere is an all-composite, low-wing monoplane powered by a pusher piston engine. It has a pod and boom configuration with a T-tail and a fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants. The cockpit has room for two occupants in tandem with dual controls and a two-piece canopy and windscreen.

The prototype S44 Mystere first flew on 16 November 1996 powered by a Rotax 912 engine. The second prototype S45 was powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Lycoming IO-320 flat-four piston engine and first flew on 4 October 2001.

The kit was to be supplied in three sub-kits made from primer-surfaced parts of low-odour epoxy. The construction time from the kit was estimated to have been 1000 hours.

Variants

S44 Mystere

Initial 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL powered version. Empty weight 700 lb (318 kg) and gross weight 1,250 lb (567 kg), cruise speed 140 mph (225 km/h). The price of the complete S44 kit, including engine in 1999 was US$38,000. Only one prototype was flown.

S45 Mystere

Second version with increased power. Acceptable power range 100 to 160 hp (75 to 119 kW), with the standard engine a Lycoming O-320 of 150 hp (112 kW). Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown.

S45 Mystere Mark II

Third version with aerodynamic refinements, an increase in top speed to 180 mph (290 km/h) and an increase in gross weight to 1,925 lb (873 kg). The engine was raised so that the aircraft could accept a larger diameter propeller and to increase clearance between the tail boom and the propeller. The engine cowling was also re-shaped to smooth airflow into the propeller. These changes were all to reduce the original S45's noise signature. Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown and it was the original S45 prototype in a modified Mark II configuration.

S45 Mark III RG

A proposed retractable gear model that was never built. The Mark III was announced by the company in 2003, with a first flight initially forecast for 2004. It was intended to have a shorter wing and accept engines up to 250 hp (186 kW) to greatly increase cruise speed.

Accidents and incidents

The prototype Partenair S44 Mystère was involved in a fatal accident on 24 October 1998. While departing Montréal/Les Cèdres Airport, the Rotax 912 engine failed and the aircraft impacted the ground, killing both occupants.

This accident led to the aircraft being redesigned as the S45 with a Lycoming O-320 engine replacing the Rotax powerplant. Kitplanes magazine described the subsequent S45 as a "repowered aircraft for better overall performance and reliability".

Specifications (S45)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04, Kitplanes and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 7.32 m (24 ft 0 in)

Wingspan: 7.13 m (23 ft 5 in)

Height: 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in)

Wing area: 9.94 m² (107.0 sq ft)

Airfoil: root: NACA 65-218, tip: NACA 65-215

Empty weight: 522 kg (1,151 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 861 kg (1,898 lb)

Fuel capacity: 55 U.S. gallons (210 L; 46 imp gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-320 flat-four piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)

Propellers: 3-bladed PAC metal propeller

Performance

Cruise speed: 274 km/h (170 mph; 148 kn)

Stall speed: 89 km/h (55 mph; 48 kn)

Never exceed speed: 338 km/h (210 mph; 183 kn)

Range: 1,852 km (1,151 mi; 1,000 nmi)

Rate of climb: 8.6 m/s (1,700 ft/min)