[1][2] Designed by Claude Piel, the Beryl uses the same wing design as the Piel Emeraude but with a new fuselage, exchanging the Emeraude's side-by-side configuration seating for seating in tandem.
As originally designed, the aircraft is fitted with fixed, tricycle undercarriage with a steerable nosewheel.
This differs from the basic CP.70 in having a reduced wingspan, fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a slightly longer fuselage.
It retains the CP.70's wooden wings, but the fuselage is built of welded steel tube and still covered in fabric.
[3] The Beryl has been homebuilt by amateur constructors and in 2009 there were still four examples active on the French civil aircraft register.