The Partenair Mystere is a Canadian two-seat, pusher configuration monoplane that was designed by Partenair Design of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and intended for amateur construction from kits.Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: 2004 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 71. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 57. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
Two prototypes were completed and flown and one kit delivered before the project was ended. One customer-built S45 was eventually completed and first flew on 10 November 2015.
Design and development The Mystere is an all-composite, low-wing monoplane powered by a pusher piston engine. It has a pod and boom configuration with a T-tail and a fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants. The cockpit has room for two occupants in tandem with dual controls and a two-piece canopy and windscreen.
The prototype S44 Mystere first flew on 16 November 1996 powered by a Rotax 912 engine. The second prototype S45 was powered by a Lycoming IO-320 flat-four piston engine and first flew on 4 October 2001.
The kit was to be supplied in three sub-kits made from primer-surfaced parts of low-odour epoxy. The construction time from the kit was estimated to have been 1,000 hours.Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 61. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Downey, Julia: 2001 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 65. Kitplanes Acquisition Company. ISSN 0891-1851
Variants S44 Mystere Initial Rotax 912UL powered version. Empty weight and gross weight , cruise speed . The price of the complete S44 kit, including engine in 1999 was US$38,000. Only one prototype was flown. S45 Mystere Second version with increased power. Acceptable power range , with the standard engine a Lycoming O-320 of . Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown. S45 Mystere Mark II Third version with aerodynamic refinements, an increase in top speed to and an increase in gross weight to . The engine was raised so that the aircraft could accept a larger diameter propeller and to increase clearance between the tail boom and the propeller. The engine cowling was also re-shaped to smooth airflow into the propeller. These changes were all to reduce the original S45's noise signature. Kit price in 2003, without engine, was US$27,900. Only one prototype was flown and it was the original S45 prototype in a modified Mark II configuration. S45 Mark III RG A proposed retractable gear model that was never built. The Mark III was announced by the company in 2003, with a first flight initially forecast for 2004. It was intended to have a shorter wing and accept engines up to to greatly increase cruise speed.
Accidents and incidents The prototype Partenair S44 Mystère was involved in a fatal accident on 24 October 1998. While departing Montréal/Les Cèdres Airport, the Rotax 912 engine failed and the aircraft impacted the ground, killing both occupants.
This accident led to the aircraft being redesigned as the S45 with a Lycoming O-320 engine replacing the Rotax powerplant. Kitplanes magazine described the subsequent S45 as a "repowered aircraft for better overall performance and reliability".
Specifications (S45)
References
Notes
Bibliography
External links
www.partenairdesign.com - Former location of company website Company website archives on Archive.org Video of the S45 Mark II on take-off