An Innovative Project by Claude Piel
Claude Piel began creating his first project as early as 1943. This was a single-seat aircraft with a “tandem” configuration, reminiscent of Henri Mignet’s pre-war “Pou du Ciel” design.
First Flight and Technical Specifications
The first flight of the aircraft, designated Piel CP-10 Pinocchio (F-WFDA), took place on September 25, 1948. Piel used a Mengin B (Ppinsard) two-cylinder air-cooled engine producing 25 hp (19 kW), driving a two-bladed propeller.
Equipped with a 25-liter fuel tank, the CP-10 could fly for 3 hours at a cruising speed of 110 km/h. These specifications made it a noteworthy aircraft for its time.
Short Operational Life and Successor
The “Pinocchio” was not in service for long; it was damaged on January 17, 1949. Claude Piel decided not to restore the aircraft, as he was already crafting a second, dissimilar “Pinocchio” – the CP-20.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | CP-10 |
| Wingspan, m | 5.70 |
| Length, m | 4.10 |
| Height, m | 1.85 |
| Wing area, m2 | 12.00 |
| Empty weight | 140 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 250 |
| Fuel, l | 25 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Mengin B (Ppinsard) |
| Power, hp | 1 x 25 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 160 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 110 |
| Practical range, km | 330 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 3000 |
| Max. operational load | 3.8 |
| Crew | 1 |
Image gallery of the CP-10 Pinocchio
