CAP 232
CAP Aviation (Mudry) · France · first flew 1994 · light aircraft
The CAP 232 is a French single-seat unlimited aerobatic monoplane designed by Auguste Mudry, which became the dominant competition aircraft in France and won multiple World Aerobatic Championships in the late 1990s and 2000s. Its wooden composite structure gives exceptional rigidity and precise handling.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | French design with rounded fuselage cross-section and large broad fin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat unlimited aerobatic monoplane with low tapered wood and composite wing
- French design with rounded fuselage cross-section and large broad fin
- Bubble canopy and taildragger undercarriage with large wheelpants
Identified by the rounded fuselage cross-section typical of Mudry CAP designs, large swept fin, low tapered wing, and taildragger undercarriage with large fairings. The wooden-composite construction gives a different surface texture compared to all-metal Extra designs.
Specifications
- The CAP 232 has a length of 6.91 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.4 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 360 km/h (224 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1994 as the successor to the CAP 231EX, the CAP 232 was developed by Mudry Aviation to compete at the unlimited level against the Extra 300 and Sukhoi designs. Christophe Conseil and Nicolas Ivanoff flew it to multiple World Championship titles.
Variants
The CAP 232 is the sole unlimited production version; the companion CAP 222 is a two-seat trainer development. Limited updates to cockpit and avionics were made during production without changing the airframe designation.
Where you'll see it
The standard unlimited competition aircraft for French national team members; operated by several European national aerobatic teams and private unlimited competitors; a few are on the UK G-register.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.