GY 30 Supercab: The French Wooden “Grand Tourer”

The Supercab is not just a light aircraft; it is a masterpiece of French aerodynamics. Designed by the legendary Yves Gardan in the 1950s as an evolution of the famous Minicab, the GY 30 is the aerial equivalent of a classic European sports car. While other aircraft of its era relied on brute force, the Supercab uses impeccable lines and lightweight wood construction to achieve performance figures that still leave pilots speechless today.

Why Is It a Legend?

The Miniature Retractable Gear: What makes the Supercab an absolute rarity in its class is its retractable landing gear. This feature, normally reserved for much larger and more expensive planes, allows it to eliminate drag and fly at surprising cruise speeds with engines of only 90 horsepower.

Woodworking Mastery: It is the “Stradivarius” of the skies. Its structure is built entirely from spruce and birch plywood, giving it a rigidity and smoothness of finish impossible to replicate with metal. For the builder, it is a fine cabinetry project that results in an extremely light and elegant aircraft.

“Grand Tourer” Efficiency: The Supercab was built to travel. Unlike ultralights that stay near the airfield, this plane was conceived for crossing borders. It is capable of carrying two people and luggage across hundreds of miles with ridiculously low fuel consumption.

Purity of Handling: Yves Gardan’s designs are famous for their harmony in the controls. The Supercab is flown with “fingertips.” Its response is instantaneous and balanced, offering a connected and pure flying experience that modern composite planes often fail to deliver.

Performance and Key Numbers

The Supercab is a machine built for speed and efficiency. It is a light general aviation aircraft that behaves like a thoroughbred.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 2 (pilot and passenger, side-by-side)

• Wingspan: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)

• Length: 18 ft 1 in (5.50 m)

• Wing Area: 111 sq ft (10.30 m²)

• Empty Weight: 882 lbs (400 kg)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 1,356 lbs (615 kg)

• Useful Load: 474 lbs (215 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 90 hp (Continental C90-12F)

Performance:

• Cruise Speed: 146 mph (235 km/h) – Incredible for just 90 hp!

• Stall Speed: 47 mph (75 km/h)

• Maximum Speed: 171 mph (275 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 780 ft/min (4 m/s)

• Range: Approx. 684 miles (1,100 km)

• Fuel Consumption: 4.8 – 5.8 gallons per hour (18 – 22 L/h)

In short, the GY 30 Supercab is for the pilot who values sophistication and design above all else. It is an airplane that proves that with brilliant aerodynamics and handcrafted wood construction, you don’t need a massive engine to fly fast and far. It is French elegance personified in an aircraft that feels as good as it looks.