Photograph:
Robin HR100-200B Royale VH-ELO (c/n 121) at Murwillumbah, NSW in 1993 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two-seat light touring and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 239 kw (320 hp) Teledyne Continental 6-320 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.08 m (29 ft 9½ in)
- Length: 7.59 m (24 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 15.2 m² (163.5 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 345 km/h (214 mph)
- Cruising speed at 2,100 m (6,900 ft) at 75% power: 315 km/h (196 mph)
- Rate of climb: 539 m/min (1,770 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,700 ft)
- Take-off over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 540 m (1,770 ft)
- Landing run over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 660 m (2,165 ft)
- Range: 2,100 km (1,305 miles)
- Empty weight: 800 kg (1,765 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,370 kg (3,020 lb)
History:
Centre Est Aeronautique was formed at Dijon in France in 1957 to manufacture a series of light aircraft based on Jodel designs. Subsequently the Company changed its name to Avions Pierre Robin. In the 1960s the Company began studies with a view to producing an all-metal light aircraft similar in concept to its then range of wood and fabric designs, and as part of this programme in 1967 the DR253 Regent was completed.
On 3 April 1969 the prototype (F-WPXO) of a new series flew, being known as the Robin HR100-180, powered by a 134 kw (180 hp) Avco Lycoming O-360 engine, and further prototypes were completed. This was a development of the Model DR253 Regent with metal wings. In 1970 three pre-production aircraft were flown before the definitive model, the HR100-200 fitted with the 149 kw (200 hp) Avco Lycoming engine appeared in 1971. Only a total of 75 was built before production ceased in 1976.
A number of variants was available, which included: HR100-310/4+2 with accommodation for four adults and two children; HR100-210 with a 157 kw (210 hp) engine; HR100-285 with a 239 kw (320 hp) Teledyne Continental Tiara engine and a retractable undercarriage, later known as the HR100-320, the first of this model flying on 18 November 1972; and the HR100-250 with a 186 kw (250 hp) Avco Lycoming IO-540 engine.
The HR100-320 was the first of the Robin series with a retractable undercarriage, and it made use of the then new Teledyne Continental series of engines. It was a variant of the HR100 Royale and was designed by Christophe Heintz. The first of this model was flown on 18 November 1972. The basic HR100 had a 149 kw (200 hp) engine and a fixed undercarriage. Accommodation was provided for four, the front seats being individual and the rear seat of the bench type.
In 1992 an HR100-200B Royale (c/n 121 ex D-ELOH) arrived at Murwillumbah, NSW where, after restoration, it became VH-ELO. Subsequently in June 1994 an HR100-250TR President (c/n 552 – ex G-BFJI) became VH-RXI, registered to Maxair (Aust) of Southport, QLD. In May 2005 a Model HR100-210 was registered to DataCorp of Nedlands, WA, this machine becoming VH-FHU (c/n 145).