D-Plane 1 | |
---|---|
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]
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]
Data from Bayerl[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era