Photograph:
Piel CP-328 Emeraude VH-ADK (c/n N222) at Griffith, NSW in April 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two-seat light cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 67 kw (90 hp) Continental C-90 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.31 m (27 ft 3 in)
- Length: 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 0¾ in)
- Wing area: 10.85 m² (116.7 sq ft)
- Max speed: 216 km/h (134 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 75 % power at 1,200 m (3,940 ft): 195 km/h (121 mph)
- Stalling speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Initial rate of climb at sea level: 239 m/min (785 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)
- Range at 187 km/h (116 mph): 950 km (590 miles)
- Empty weight: 380 kg (838 lb)
- Loaded weight: 640 kg (1,410 lb)
History:
Designed in France by Claude Piel, the prototype of the Emeraude (Emerald) series, known as the CP-30, was flown for the first time in 1952 powered by a 48 kw (65 hp) Continental engine. Development led to the CP-301 and CP-301A with 67 kw (90 hp) or 75 kw (100 hp) Continental engines; the CP-302 with a 63 kw (85 hp) Salmson engine; the CP-304 with an 86 kw (115 hp) Lycoming engine; the CP-308 with a 56 kw (75 hp) Continental engine; the CP-320 Super Emeraude with a 75 kw (100 hp) Continental engine; the CP-320A with a swept fin; the CP-321 with a 78 kw (105 hp) Potez engine; the CP-323A with a 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming and sweptback fin; and the CP-323AB with a tricycle undercarriage.
Designed as a two-seater with dual controls the Emerald’s fuselage is of rectangular wooden-framed structure with curved top decking and fabric covering. The fin was integrated with the fuselage, and the tailplane was a single-spar wooden unit. The wings were designed so the inner portion was rectangular, and the outer part elliptical. The leading-edge forward of the box-type spar was plywood covered to form torsion box. The remainder of the wing, including the ailerons, was fabric covered. Slotted flaps were fitted inboard of the ailerons.
Most of the Emeralds completed in this region were CP-301s and appear on the civil registers as the 90 series, 100 series, or 115 series, the figures relating to the power supplied by the power plant installed. In the 1960s Martins Industries of Camden, NSW, commenced production of the type and two VH-FWB (c/n N5/339) and VH-CXU (c/n 101) were completed. Others were completed by amateur constructors. A further example of the CP-328 became VH-IMP (c/n 13920) to Robert Milton of South Perth, WA on 19 May 2017.
A number of CP-301s and a CP-328 are registered in New Zealand, including ZK-CBP (c/n CP1044), ZK-SLG (c/n AACA/1087), and ZK-FMM (c/n AACA/446). At least ten examples have been registered in Australia, but in more recent times most have been transferred to registration under AUF / RAA regulations.