Colomban MC-10 Cricri
The Colomban MC-10 Cri-cri holds the record as the smallest twin-engined crewed aircraft ever built, weighing only about 72 kilograms empty on a wingspan under five metres. French engineer Michel Colomban designed it in the early 1970s and named it after his daughter Christine's nickname, first flying the prototype in July 1973. Its two tiny two-stroke engines, each barely more powerful than a large motorcycle's, still give it enough performance for positive-G aerobatics. Despite roughly 1,500 hours of homebuilding required per kit, at least 100 have been completed in France alone, making it a fixture at European light-aircraft fly-ins.
Did you know?
The world's smallest crewed twin: two little two-stroke engines on a frame that weighs less than its pilots.
Specifications
| Length | 3.9 m (13 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Persons on board | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.2 t |
| Range | 200 NM (370 km) |
| Service ceiling | 16,000 ft (4,877 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Rate of climb | 880 ft/min (4.5 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 100 m (328 ft) |
| Landing distance | 150 m (492 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 23 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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