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Verhees D-Plane 1

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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]

Design and development

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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)

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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

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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  1. ^ Verhees D-Plane
  2. ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 125. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ "Europa 25th Anniversary Fly-in". AviatorUK. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
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