Who we are

ALPAERO is owned and operated by Claude Noin, a skilled expert in composite and wood structures with over 20 years of design/build experience. Claude Noin is the son of a famous glider pilot, Felicien Noin, who was the first pilot to cross the Alps in a glider. He is able to use the latest technologies as well as the more traditional ones. He founded his firm Noin aeronautique in 1976 and manufactured or repaired several airplanes, motorgliders, boats (single hull or multi-hulls), hang-gliders... ALPAERO is the trademark used by Noin aeronautique to manufacture and market the Choucas and Exel motorgliders on the international scale. In 1984, Claude Noin used his experience to bring to life a single-place motorglider powered by a light two-stroke engine : the Sirius. 22 kits were delivered to customers, mainly in France. Many customers were hang-glider pilots needing more performance and a complete independance. The Sirius used composite materials for the fuselage, and wood and fabric for the wing ; it was powered by a light two-stroke engine, driving a two-blade propeller. Then Claude Noin designed the Choucas, a side-by-side touring motorglider of tailless configuration, using the same materials. This interesting motorglider is a very enjoyable homebuilt project, using a fast-build fuselage kit. The Exel is the latest single-seater designed by Claude Noin, it offers more performance than the Sirius. It is available as a fast-build kit or ready to fly, and uses composite materials only. ALPAERO tightly cooperates with experts specialized in aerodynamics and structures, with the stringent JAR-22 as a guideline.

Our philosophy

Flying a sailplane is certainly one of the most enjoyable aeronautical activities. But it is also a very restrictive leisure process : you need a ground crew, a tow-plane, and the waiting usually associated with gliding activities. The motorglider frees the pilot from the tyranny of the tow-plane, and also allows recreational glider pilots to soar much further afield from home base with confidence, because it pratically eliminates the risk of outlanding and the time-consuming hassle of a retrieve. Landing in other people's fields is increasingly unpopular and frustrating. If you run out of lift at the end of the day, just start the engine and cruise home. Or if you miss the wave on the first try ? Instead of dashing back to the airport, try another place, until you get it right.
The motorglider is the solution to a more modern soaring experience, not only turned towards competition but also leisure... and pleasure.

Motorgliders are the ultimate recreational vehicle and will modify the sort of flying that is done. Being less thermal dependent, they will give pilots more flying time. Nowadays sailing a cruising boat on the sea without an engine is impossible, and even the entry to some marinas is prohibited to unmotorized boats. Is it so different with sailplanes ? There is nothing wrong with the use of an engine if it gives more flying on more days, because the need to understand and use weather will still be there both for fun and economy. It won't change the way you soar, but allow you to do it more conveniently and more often.

We also believe that climbing performance is more important for recreational soaring than gliding performance. When we compare gliders, we often use one criteria: Lift/Drag ratio. Yet it's strange that of the characteristics that we use when we fly a glider, l/d is one of the least important (are you really a world record hunter ?). For the true recreational flyer (not the competitor), climbing capabilities are more important than glide ratio. And if you want to have more flying time you need to stay up even on weak days. You want a light sailplane that can stay up when the birds are flapping their wings. You want to be able to fly even when the day dies, or when the heavy gliders are on the ground. That takes low wing loading, low stall speed and low sink rate.
Sink rate defines an important parameter for soaring flight, as it is that measurement that determines whether you can get up, stay up and climb high. While good glide essentially means to run between thermals with little altitude loss, it doesn't mean that you can effectively work the lift to gain altitude. For a recreational glider pilot, climbing capabilities, based on low wing loading, low stall speed and low sink rate, are more important than being able to fly fast between thermals.
We don't believe that the very heavy all-plastic motorgliders are a good solution to recreational soaring. Lightness gives more flying time, lower speeds for more security, ... and more affordable gliders !

Our motorgliders are not designed for the few glider pilots addicted to competition flying, who need the best high-tech sailplanes. Our products are designed to satisfy a great majority of pilots who do not need the expensive technology of the top world glider manufacturers, but only easy-to-fly and enjoyable light sailplanes... with full independence.

		Through this web site you will discover what we have to offer to the aviation and soaring community. You will learn more about our products, developments, news, technical issues and much more. Of course we will be happy to answer to any question you may have. ALPAERO - Noin aeronautique Chateauvieux RN 85 05130 TALLARD - FRANCE E-mail : info@alpaero.com

All the information you find on this web page is for your personal use only. You may not copy it without permission of the authors. © ALPAERO. All rights reserved. ALPAERO is a trademark of NOIN aeronautique, registered in France, n° SIRET 309 578 623 00022 - APE 353 B. Please read the full legal notice if you need further information.