The light multi-purpose aircraft CP-150 Onyx was designed and built by the French engineer Claude Piel in the early 1980s. The prototype’s first flight took place in 1983. Piel combined two aerodynamic schemes in the aircraft’s design at once: the “canard” and the “tailless” configuration.
Innovative Design and Construction
The Piel CP-150 Onyx was a single-seat, cantilever wooden monoplane, equipped with a 12 hp Solo engine. Alternative power plants included Solo engines with up to 52 hp.
Evolution and Model Variants
By the mid-1980s, several versions emerged: a two-seater version, the RF-212, powered by Rotax 503 (52 hp) or Rotax 582 (65 hp) engines. Additionally, a composite CP-152 with a 30 hp KFM-107ER and a seaplane variant were developed.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | CP-150 |
| Wingspan, m | 7.30 |
| Length, m | 3.53 |
| Height, m | 1.61 |
| Wing area, m2 | 9.10 |
| Empty weight | 100 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 190 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Solo |
| Power, hp | 1 x 12 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 100 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 80 |
| Practical range, km | 160 |
| Rate of climb, m/min | 108 |
| Service ceiling, m | 2000 |
| Max. operational G-load | 4 |
| Crew, crew | 1 |
Image gallery of the CP-150 Onyx
