Chasle Tourbillon

YC-12 Tourbillon
Role	Recreational aircraft
Manufacturer	Homebuilt
Designer	Yves Chasle
First flight	9 October 1965
Number built	3

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,^[1] both in the UK.^[2] The prototype remains on the French Civil register^[3] but the two UK aircraft are now deregistered. Their engine types are not recorded in the registration documents.^[2]

The prototype Chasle Tourbillon at Chavenay-Villepreux airfield near Paris in June 1967

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)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 6.70 m (22 ft 0 in)
• Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 7.5 m² (81 ft²)
• Empty weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
• Gross weight: 432 kg (952 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65, 49 kW (65 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph)
• Range: 800 km (500 miles)

References

1. Gaillard, Pierre (1991). Les Avions Francais de 1965 à 1990. Paris: Éditions EPA. p. 43. ISBN 2 85120 392 4.
2. G-BHX; G-AYBV
3. Partington, Dave (201). European registers handbook 2014. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-465-6.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 254.
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 484–85.