Designer Henri Nicollier is well-known in Europe, not only in his native France but in the UK, Germany, and other countries where his Ménestrel II design in particular is very popular. Nicollier is an architect by training and all of his designs are in wood and fabric. Here's is a quick summary of the various models:
HN433/434/435 Ménestrel/Super Ménestrel
The single-seat taildragger Ménestrel ("Minstrel") sport plane has evolved over time, powered by VW and related (Limbach) motors and perhaps other engines, and many have been built.
HN500 Bengali
Nicollier developed this two-seat light plane for his own personal use powered by an O-200, the prototype flew for many years but plans were not distributed as far as I know.
HN600 Week-End
This more modern-looking VW-powered single-seater was developed to succeed the Ménestrel series but the latter was so successful that I don't believe the Week-End was never built.
HN700 Ménestrel II
Nicollier's most popular design is this little two-seater, which manages to evoke the Spitfire despite the side-by-side seating and is a faster alternative to something like a Jodel D-18. The plane was designed for VW power but has also flown with Rotax four-strokes and Subaru conversions and probably other engines as well.
HN800 Week-End II
This more modern two-seater was designed for tricycle gear from the beginning (though some builders have modified other Nicollier designs that way) and to be a little easier to build with a little more payload than the HN700. Engine options are similar to the Ménestrel II and like that plane it can built as a standard experimental amateur-built type or an amateur-built microlight.
Specs and contact details for M. Nicollier (snail mail or phone only) are below and it appears that only the HN434, HN700, and HN800 plans are available though I don't know how current that information might be.
Source: Nicollier Henri concepteur
HN433/434/435 Ménestrel/Super Ménestrel
The single-seat taildragger Ménestrel ("Minstrel") sport plane has evolved over time, powered by VW and related (Limbach) motors and perhaps other engines, and many have been built.
HN500 Bengali
Nicollier developed this two-seat light plane for his own personal use powered by an O-200, the prototype flew for many years but plans were not distributed as far as I know.
HN600 Week-End
This more modern-looking VW-powered single-seater was developed to succeed the Ménestrel series but the latter was so successful that I don't believe the Week-End was never built.
HN700 Ménestrel II
Nicollier's most popular design is this little two-seater, which manages to evoke the Spitfire despite the side-by-side seating and is a faster alternative to something like a Jodel D-18. The plane was designed for VW power but has also flown with Rotax four-strokes and Subaru conversions and probably other engines as well.
HN800 Week-End II
This more modern two-seater was designed for tricycle gear from the beginning (though some builders have modified other Nicollier designs that way) and to be a little easier to build with a little more payload than the HN700. Engine options are similar to the Ménestrel II and like that plane it can built as a standard experimental amateur-built type or an amateur-built microlight.
Specs and contact details for M. Nicollier (snail mail or phone only) are below and it appears that only the HN434, HN700, and HN800 plans are available though I don't know how current that information might be.
Source: Nicollier Henri concepteur
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