Operational Use
There are approximately 30 Cri-cri aircraft in airworthy condition in the U.S. and over 100 around the world as of 2003.
As with any homebuilt aircraft, the existing Cri-cri planes have often been modified by their builders, departing from the original design to a varying degree, resulting in different performances.
One flying Cri-cri, F-PZPR, was equipped with AMT Olympus turbine jet engines, increasing the cruising speed to around 240 km/h (130 knots, 149.1 miles per hour).
In June 2010, EADS Partnered with Aero Composites Saintonge and the Greencri-cri Association, presented an electric powered Cri-Cri at the Green Aviation Show in Le Bourget. The modified airframe with composite components can fly for 30 minutes at 110 km/h. The aircraft uses four brushless electric motors with counter-rotating propellers, which makes the aircraft one of the world's smallest four engine aircraft.
On September 5, 2010 Electravia accomplished a world record speed of 262 km/h (162.33 mph) for a lithium polymer powered aircraft using a Cri-cri with two electric motors (each producing 25 hp) during the attempt. The company claimed engine and cooling drag reductions of 46 percent versus the conventional combustion engine arrangement.
Read more about this topic: Colomban Cri-cri