The CAP Aviation
CAP-23x
family is a family of aircraft
designed for competition aerobatics.
The CAP 230 airframe was a direct
development of the CAP 21
competition single seat
strengthened to cope with a 300 hp
6-cylinder Lycoming AEIO-540 engine
instead of the 200 hp original
4-cylinder Lycoming AEIO-360.
The CAP 230 was primarily developed in
1985 for the French Air Force. From the
basic CAP 21 airframe, trailing edge apex
triangular surfaces were added to the basic
trapezoidal wing. The CAP 230 keeps a full
wooden construction and certified to cope
with +10/-10 G-forces.
The CAP 231 was developed in 1990. The
fuselage design remained unchanged and only
leading edge triangular apex surfaces were
added to reduce buffeting during high G
pullups. The CAP 231 was world champion in
1990.
To increase performance, in 1991, a
carbon-fiber wing taken from an EXTRA 260
(thus the -EX name) was adapted to a few CAP
231 airframes.
The CAP 231EX evolved in 1994. While the
fuselage construction retained wood, a
carbon-fiber wing was specially designed for
durability and light weight. The design has
won the World Championships in 1998, 2000
and 2007, as well as a number of other
national-level competitions. With a roll
rate of 420° per second and a climb rate of
nearly 3,300 feet per minute, the CAP-232 is
still well suited for the aerobatic circuit.
The CAP 232 just like the -230 and
-231/-231EX were slightly modified to
strengthen the fuselage structure after a
fatal accident in 2005 which grounded them
for a full year. Fuselage rib n°2 holding
the landing gear and the wing spar has been
reinforced externally and internally. The
planes are now back to competition and came
second (individual with a -231EX), sixth
with a -232, and first team at the WAC 2007.
After 20 years, the basic CAP 230 airframe
is still competitive.
Source:
Wikipedia
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