Engineering:Verhees D-Plane 1
| D-Plane 1 | |
|---|---|
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| Verhees D-Plane 1 prototype | |
| Role | Amateur-built aircraft |
| National origin | Belgium |
| Manufacturer | Verhees Engineering |
| First flight | October 2004[1] |
| Status | Plans available (2012) |
| Number built | One prototype |
The Verhees D-Plane 1 is a Belgian homebuilt flying wing, designed by Verhees Engineering and supplied as plans for amateur construction.[2]
Design and development
The D-Plane 1 features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, semi-retractable tandem landing gear with small tail and wingtip wheels and a single engine in tractor configuration.[2] Control surfaces include an elevon at the trailing edge of each wing and a conventional vertical stabilizer with a rudder.
The aircraft is made chiefly from sheet aluminum. Its very low aspect ratio 4.5 m (14.8 ft) span delta wing has an area of 10 m2 (110 sq ft). The single nose-mounted wheel retracts while the tail and wing tip wheels are fixed. The recommended engine is the 1.6 litre displacement 50 hp (37 kW) Subaru EA71 four-stroke flat-4 (boxer) automotive conversion powerplant.[2]
By 2011 only the prototype D-Plane 1 had flown, but development work had begun on the design of the two-seat D-Plane 2. It first flew in early 2018, is powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS engine and cruises at about 250 km/h (155 mph).[2][3]
Specifications (D-Plane 1)
Data from Bayerl[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 10 m2 (110 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 210 kg (463 lb)
- Gross weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13 imp gal; 16 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Subaru EA71 four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke automotive conversion, 37 kW (50 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
- Cruise speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Stall speed: 85 km/h (53 mph, 46 kn)
- Wing loading: 34.0 kg/m2 (7.0 lb/sq ft)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ↑ Verhees D-Plane
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 125. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ↑ "Europa 25th Anniversary Fly-in" (in en-GB). AviatorUK. 2018-06-23. https://www.aviatoruk.ga/europa-25th-anniversary-fly-in/.
External links
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