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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAP_230

CAP 232
CAP-232
Role	Competition aerobatic aircraft
Manufacturer	Avions Mudry & Cie (now Apex)
First flight	1997
Introduction	1998
Primary user	Moroccan Air Force
Developed from	Mudry CAP-20

The CAP Aviation CAP-23x family is a family of high-performance aircraft designed for competition aerobatics. The CAP 230 airframe was a direct development of the CAP 21 competition single seater strengthened to cope with a 300hp 6-cylinder Lycoming AEIO-540 engine instead of the 200hp original 4-cylinder Lycoming AEIO-360.

CAP 230

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.

CAP 231

The CAP 231 was developed in 1990. The fuselage design remained unchanged and only leading edge triangular apex surfaces were added to reduce bufetting during high G pullups. The CAP 231 was world champion in 1990.

CAP 231EX

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.

CAP 232

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.

Operators

Military

 Morocco

8 aircraft, flown by the Royal Moroccan Air Force air display team Marche Verte

 France

The French Air Force aerobatic team owned CAP 230, 231 and 232

Civilian

Airclubs and privates own planes of all subtypes.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 6.75 m (22ft 1.75in)
• Wingspan: 7.40 m (24ft 3.34in)
• Height: 1.52 m (4ft 11.8in)
• Wing area: 10.85 m² ()
• Empty weight: 590 kg (1,300.7 lb)
• Loaded weight: 820 kg (category N) (1,807.8 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 730 kg (category "A") (1,609.4 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming AEI0-540-L1 B 5D 6-cylinder opposite, air cooled, injection, 300 hp ()

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 405 km/h (251.5)
• Maximum speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)
• Cruise speed: 330 km/h (178 knots, 205 mph,)
• Stall speed: 105 km/h (65.2mph)
• Range: 1200 km @ 45% engine power (745 mi.)
• Rate of climb: 18 m/s (3,543 fpm)
• Wing loading: 65 kg/m² ()
• Power/mass: 3.25 kg/PS (7.2 lb/PS)
• G-loads: +10; -10g dependent on tankage and smoke oil installation
• Rol rate with 315 km/h: 420°/s
• Fuel: 75 l (16.5 Imp.gal. / 19.8 US gal)
• Take-off speed: 130 km/h (80 mph, 70 kt)
• Landing speed: 130 km/h

Armament
None

Avionics
Radio, transponder

Related content

Related development: 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.

Comparable aircraft: Zivko Edge 540 - Sukhoi Su-26 - Extra 300

Designation sequence: CAP-21 - CAP-230 - CAP-231 - CAP-231EX - CAP-232

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Published in July 2009.

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