Salmson Cricri

The Salmson Cricri ("Cricket") was a French light aircraft of the 1930s. It was a conventional, parasol-wing monoplane with fixed tailskid undercarriage and seating in tandem open cockpits for the pilot and passenger.

Although originally intended for recreational flying, the type achieved its greatest success when it was selected by the French government to equip the Aviation Populaire,^[1] resulting in sales of over 300 machines. This plane was also used as a trainer and patrol aircraft in the French Air Force.^[2]

Following the war, CFA attempted to revive the design as the Cricri Major. This differed from its predecessor mainly in having a more powerful engine and an enclosed cabin. Eventually, only ten examples were built.

Variants

D6 Cricri

(329 built)

D63 Cricri

dedicated flight trainer version (2 built)

CFA D.7 Cricri Major

An enlarged CriCri with enclosed cabin, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Salmson 5Aq-01 5-cylinder radial.

Specifications (D6)

Data from Aviafrance

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 6.89 m (22 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 9.66 m (31 ft 8 in)
• Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 16.0 m² (172 ft²)
• Empty weight: 287 kg (633 lb)
• Gross weight: 575 kg (1,268 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Salmson 9 ADr, 45 kW (60 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 150 km/h (94 mph)
• Range: 500 km (310 miles)
• Service ceiling: 2,450 m (8,040 ft)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salmson aircraft.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 251. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 410.