Dornier Seastar
| Seastar | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Role | Utility amphibian |
| National origin | Germany/United States |
| Manufacturer | Dornier Seaplane Company |
| Designer | Claudius Dornier |
| First flight | 1985 |
The Dornier Seastar is a turboprop-powered amphibious aircraft built largely of composite materials. Developed by professor Claudius Dornier jr of Germany, it first flew in 1985[citation needed]. The design is owned by Claudius Jr's son, Conrado, who founded Dornier Seawings AG (now Dornier Seaplane Company) to continue work on the project.
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[edit] Design and development
The Seastar is a parasol wing flying boat, with its two engines mounted in a single nacelle over the wings in a push-pull configuration. In general layout, it strongly resembles Dornier's Do 18 of the 1930s.
The first prototype, a proof-of-concept aircraft using the metal wings from a Dornier Do 28 and with large struts bracing the wing to the sponsons, made its maiden flight from Hamburg on 17 August 1984.[1] The second prototype, representing the definitive design was larger, and featured a new, unbraced composite wing. It first flew from Oberpfaffenhofen on 24 April 1987.[1]
In October 2009, Dornier Seaplane announced that it would launch production of the Seastar.[2]
In May 2010, Dornier Seaplane announced that it would build the Seastar in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, about half an hour away from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [3]
[edit] Variants
- Seastar CD-2
[edit] Specifications (Seastar CD-2)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: One or two
- Capacity: 12 passengers
- Length: 12.46 m (40 ft 10½ in)
- Wingspan: 15.50 m (50 ft 10¼ in)
- Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 28.48 m2 (306.6 ft2)
- Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,291 lb)
- Gross weight: 4,200 kg (9,259 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-112, 373 kW (500 hp) each each
Performance
- Cruising speed: 341 km/h (212 mph)
- Stall speed: 115 km/h (72 mph)
- Range: 1,850 km (1,150 miles)
- Endurance: 9[5] hours 12 min
- Service ceiling: 8,535 m (28,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.0 m/s (1,575 ft/min)
- Takeoff Distance to 15 m (50 ft): 410 m (1,345 ft)
- Landing Distance from 15 m (50 ft) (on land): 480 m (1,575 ft)
[edit] See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ a b Air International October 1988, p. 189.
- ^ Sarsfield, Kate (2009-10-22). "NBAA 09: Buoyant seaplane market triggers Seastar launch". flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/22/333811/nbaa-09-buoyant-seaplane-market-triggers-seastar-launch.html. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ Jolicoeur, Marin (2010-06-05). "Aérospatiale: Dornier s'implantera finalement au Québec". les affaires. http://www.lesaffaires.com/secteurs-d-activite/aeronautique-et-aerospatiale/aerospatiale-dornier-s-implantera-finalement-au-quebec/514089?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=techno_07-mai-2010. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ Taylor 1988, pp. 86–87.
- ^ One engine
- "Dornier re-invents the Wal...and a Seastar is born". Air International, October 1988, Vol 35 No 4. pp. 184–192.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
[edit] External links
- Dornier Seaplane Company's Seastar overview page
- Dornier Seaplane Company's Seastar Brochure (PDF file)
- Dornier nears decision on Seastar final assembly base
- http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acdata_php/acdata_cd2_en.php
- The Flying Boat is Back | FLYING Magazine
- "SEASTAR" Aviation&Weekly Video
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