- Dornier Seastar
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Seastar 
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. 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.
Contents
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]
Variants
- Seastar CD-2
Specifications (Seastar CD-2)
The Dornier Seastar on the Wolfgangsee in Austria
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)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft
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.
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
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Dornier aircraft
- German civil utility aircraft 1980–1989
- Seaplanes and flying boats
- Push-pull aircraft
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