Croses Para-Cargo

EC-9 Para-Cargo
Role	Cargo plane
Manufacturer	homebuilt
Designer	Emilien Croses
Number built	at least 2

The Croses EC-9 Para-Cargo is a 1960s French six-seat tandem-wing cargo-carrying homebuilt aircraft designed by Emilien Croses. Developed from the earlier two-seat EC-6 Criquet and three-seat EC-8 Tourisme the Para-Cargo was a cargo-carrying aircraft with a tailwheel landing gear and a tandem wing similar to the Mignet Pou-du-Ciel family. It could carry up to six persons or 450 kg (990 lb) of freight^[1] and was intended especially with carrying skydivers in mind: the aircraft was equipped with a large side door that hinged inward and upward to facilitate skydiver egress. Another door at the rear of the fuselage was provided to allow oversize loads to be carried. Unlike other Croses tandem-wing designs, the Para-Cargo had a conventional three-axis flight control system.

At least two examples (F-ACVC and F-PYBC) had been built by 1965.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 450 kg (990 lb) of freight or four skydivers or two stretchers with attendants
• Length: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
• Empty weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming, 134 kW (180 hp)

Performance

• Cruising speed: 175 km/h (108 mph)
• Rate of climb: 4.0 m/s (800 ft/min)

See also

References

1. ^ Photograph of Para-Cargo with Information

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 272. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 487–88. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 549. 
• "Un cargo pour les amateurs". Aviation Magazine (702): 63. 1977-03-15. 

External links

• Photographs of restored Para-Cargo
• Para-Cargo specificiations, photos and videos on site operated by Emilien Croses's son (in French)