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Design Serge Pennec

Building Lionel Storck

 

 
  


 

 
Why the Gaz'Aile?....

First, I had planned building an aircraft like a Jodel D20 (which is what first comes to mind in France ...), but it is only available in kit form, therefore quite expensive, and to be honest I find it a little outdated ... I preferred a more aerodynamic, and… "prettier" plane that had also exciting performances. I looked for more modern offers, so I considered the IBIS that I rejected because it did not offer a DIESEL powerplant
and most of all because of the tandem seats; I prefer side by side and fly next to my passenger.  As far as the MCR, it is way too expensive for my budget.

I have been keeping up quite closely with the SMA diesel powerplant
. The benefits it offers convinced me that diesel was the solution that allowed to fly cheaper (burn less of a less expensive fuel), farther (still because of fuel usage) higher without performance degradation (turbo charged) ... and it's reliable (no spark plugs, no carburetor icing, etc..). Obviously an SMA powerplant
mounted on a home build airplane... forget about it. However I kept in mind the principle of diesel. I know there are lots of detractors, but this is  "my" airplane after all!

I prospected the market, keeping in mind the diesel powerplant
, even though I could have done without it. I eliminated kits because they are too expensive and I like the idea of building from scratch with raw materials. My concern was that it becomes increasingly difficult to find professional materials (and this is not only true for aviation). It is true that kits offer the advantage of resolving this matter since the materials are provided ... but what a price! I was hopeless when, one day, during my research I saw that there was a designer in Britain with proven skills who advocated diesel powerplants ... and this is very scarce in the CNRA world (France legal term for home build). This designer offered an aircraft that matched my criteria of performance, powerplant and aesthetics (I know beauty does not count... well, a bit for me...).

I had some chats with Serge and I was soon feeling much better, reassured. He does not only offer plans but a package really well thought-out (Serge provided me with a sample, this way I could judge). There is lots of help and support around the construction: suggestions for suppliers, techniques, a forum where builders share ideas and tips (...that Serge validates or invalidates), in short VINI, VIDI and Gaz'aile VICI... and here I am stuck in my garage!