The DART-450 (Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer), being developed by Austrian-based Diamond Aircraft Industries, is the world’s first all-carbon fibre, tandem twin-seat civil and military trainer.
The design of DART-450 was unveiled at the Aero Friedrichshafen 2015. The first DART-450 prototype aircraft made its first flight in May 2016. The successful flight test paved the way for the certification process, scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
Maiden flight of the Diamond Aircraft DART-450
On May 17, 2016 the turbine powered DART-450 took off for its first flight.
The DART-450 (Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer) is the world’s first all-carbon fiber tandem, 2-seat aerobati civilian and military trainer with sidestick control and ejection seats.
The +7/-4G aerobatic airplane has a maximum take-off power of 500 hp, is equipped with the Ivchenko-Progress / Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop engine, a 5-blade MT propeller, and a GARMIN avionic system. Maximum endurance of the DART is 8 hours plus reserve.
Within the first 60 minutes of flight time, speeds between 60 – 200 knots IAS have been tested at various altitudes. Expected top speed is 250 knots TAS.
“Company Chief Test Pilot Ingmar Mayerbuch and Flight Test Engineer Thomas Wimmer have been so excited about the first results that certification and serial production is green-lighted”, said Christian Dries, CEO Diamond Aircraft.
Diamond Aircraft Chief Designer Clemens Knappert: “We achieved our target from the first drawings to the first flight in one year. I’m already excited about what comes next.” Source diamond-air.at
The aircraft will be displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow to be held in July 2016 and is expected to enter service in 2017.
The aircraft is primarily intended for pilot training, acrobatics and reconnaissance missions. It is expected to offer low-cost competition to existing trainer aircraft in its class.
Topfelya
Diamond Aircraft’s DART-450 made its public debut this week at the U.K.’s Farnborough International Airshow. The single-engine turboprop first flew in May at Diamond’s facility in Austria, less than a year after initial design work began. Like Diamond’s other aircraft, such as the DA42, the DART (Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer) will offer versatility, with potential uses including training and surveillance operations, and efficiency with a fuel burn of about 90 liters (24 gallons) per hour.
The airplane is built from carbon fiber in a low-wing, tandem two-seat configuration. It is fully aerobatic up to +7/-4Gs and has maximum takeoff power of 495 horsepower with a Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop and a five-blade MT propeller. It’s also equipped with ejection seats, Garmin avionics and a fuselage that is ready-to-mount for a retractable surveillance camera and other equipment. Diamond first announced the new model at the 2014 show, saying it planned to fly a prototype at this year’s event. Source avweb.com
Diamond Aircraft is at Dubai with its Dart-450
BillyPix
The Dart 450 single-engined turboprops on display in the company’s static exhibit are the first of two examples built so far, with chief executive Christian Dries expecting a third to make its debut flight before the end of the year. The lead pair are powered by the Ivchenko-Progress/Motor Sich AI-450S engine while the latest aircraft will use a GE Aviation engine with a 550hp (410kW) output.
The Austrian airframer will deliver its first Dart 450 to an undisclosed buyer shortly in a non-certificated kit version, and plans to hand over the first fully certificated aircraft in 2018.
The tandem-seat aircraft is developed as a civilian and military trainer, and with an endurance of up to 8.5h, Dries also sees a role for the Dart 450 in the surveillance and reconnaissance markets. “We have had so much interest in this product,” he says. “We expect it to be Diamond’s most successful model ever.”
Production of about 50 aircraft a year is planned at the airframer’s Weiner Neustadt facility. Source flightglobal.com
Diamond Aircraft
Diamond Aircraft chief executive officer Christian Dries told AIN earlier this year that the Dart-450 will be priced well below $3 million and have an operating cost of less than $500 per hour. He said that the company had already gained one firm order for the aircraft. Source ainonline.com
Chinese Company Buys Rest Of Diamond: Here
Excerpt
Austrian-based Diamond Aircraft Group has been acquired by the Chinese company that purchased Diamond’s North American operations last year. Almost a year to the day that Wanfeng Aviation Industry Co. Ltd. bought Diamond’s London, Ontario, plant, the Chinese firm bought the Austrian holdings of sole shareholder Christian Dries, who founded Diamond 25 years ago. Wanfeng said in a joint announcement it intends to increase production and sales, expand distribution and support networks and keep designing new aircraft.
Diamond DART-450/TA-20 single-engined turboprop trainer
Chinese internet image
China has flown the Diamond DART-450/TA-20 single-engined turboprop trainer aircraft: Here
Die TA-20 fliegt seit November 2018 (Foto: Hermes-sys)
Excerpt
China has flown a new military trainer aircraft derived from the Diamond DART-450 single-engined turboprop, state media disclosed in late 2018.
The flight of the tandem two-seat trainer developed by China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturing Company, was reported to have taken place at the company’s facility in Jiangsu Province on 6 November.
Smart-210 Integrated Avionics System for TA-20
The image of the SMART-210 integrated avionics system simulator provided by Hermès official website shows that it uses a single large touch-screen display similar to the F-35. The rear seat of the instructor is equipped with a head-up display that monitors the student’s status. – hkpic.crntt.com
Smart-210 Integrated Avionics System adopts redundancy framework and has extremely high security; it is strictly developed and manufactured according to military standards to ensure reliability in harsh environments. The standard package includes functional modules, such as DU, HUD, DIU, COMM, NAV (VOR, ADF, ILS), XPDR, VMS, INS/GNSS, ADS-B, HOTAS, FDR, etc. It can be freely combined according to user needs and budget. Under government permission, it can provide: fire control system, photoelectric pod, DataLink, autopilot, radar pod, weapons rack and other military modules. It also has night vision compatibility. The avionics system can be widely used in the development of new aircraft models and the transformation of active aircraft, including various types of agitation, jet trainers, and light military and civilian aircraft.
FEATURES
(1) Display control function: PFD function with synthetic vision function, customizable mobile map, HUD and backup instrument functions;
(2) Communication navigation function: provision of navigation information, e.g. VHF voice communication, GPS navigation, air data navigation, attitude, ILS, VOR, DME, RA, etc.;
(3) Sensor surveillance alarm: XPNDR function, TAWS function, RWR function, RADAR function, EVS function, FLIR function, IFF function;
(4) Data conversion: data format conversion of A429, RS422, RS232 and Ethernet data to realize the data interaction between different data interface devices;
(5) Automatic flight servo control: autopilot control function;
(6) Control panel : frequency tuning, mode control and status indication functions of communication navigation, etc.;
(7) Audio panel : control of audio information and volume adjustment of communication system and navigation system, etc.
(8) Weapon system: reserved interface, scalability of fire control system and load management functions.
DU-XV-210 Integrated Display Control Unit (DU)
hermes-sys.com
| DU-XV-210 Integrated Display Control Unit (DU) | ||
| Main functions | Primary Flight Display Unit (PFD)
1) Attitude Director Indicator (ADI) 2) Barometric Altitude Indicator (ALT) 3) Air Speed Indicator (ASP) 4) Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) 5) Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) 6) Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) 7) Heading & Glide Slope Indicator (LOV&GS) 8) Synthetic Vision System (SVS) 9) 3D Terrain Awareness Warning System (3D-TAWS) |
Multi-function display unit (MFD)
1) Electronic checklist 2) Engine parameter display 3) Flight plan management 4) Flight map (departure/approach, airspace, aeronautical chart, etc.) 5) Unit alarm 6) One-key toggle display (Six-Pack) Tuning control panel (TCP) 1) Display of current frequency and status 2) Radio frequency tuning 3) Standby frequency activation 4) Mode control |
| Standard | Minimum Performance Standard for Airborne Multipurpose Electronic Displays (SEA AS8034)
General Requirements for Ergonomic Design of Military Visual Displays (GJB 1062A-2008) General Specification for Military Rugged Liquid Crystal Display (SJ 20987-2008) |
|
HUD-XV-210 Head-Up Display Unit (HUD)
hermes-sys.com
| HUD-XV-210 Head-Up Display Unit (HUD) | |
| Main functions | Speed indicator (indicated airspeed, true airspeed, Mach number, ground speed, target speed, vertical speed);
Altitude indicator (barometric altitude, radar altitude, target altitude); Attitude indicator (course angle, angle of pitch, roll range, angle of attack, angle of sideslip, track, FPV speed vector); Warning information (resistance to scratch tail, recovery from abnormal attitude, avoidance of conflict); Approach gliding indicator (glide path deviation indicator, orientation deviation indicator); Mode control and switching; Front camera function; Video output function for record. |
| Standard | Minimum Performance Standard for Airborne Head Up Display (HUD) (SAE AS 8055-1999)
Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
DIU-XV-210 Data Interface Unit (DIU)
hermes-sys.com
| DIU-XV-210 Data Interface Unit (DIU) | |
| Main functions | 20-channel ARINC429 signal processing capacity;
10-channel Ethernet signal processing capacity; 20-channel RS422/RS232 signal processing capacity; 20-channel I/O signal processing capacity; 10-channel analog signal processing capacity; 5-channel CAN signal processing capacity; |
| Standard | Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
CNS-DF-210 Integrated Radio System (CNS)
hermes-sys.com
| CNS-DF-210 Integrated Radio System (CNS) | |
| Main functions | VHF two-way voice communication function;
VHF emergency communication function; ILS navigation function (LOC, GS, MB); VOR navigation function; ADF navigation function; DME navigation function; RA altitude measurement function; ATC response function (mode S); Support ADS-B OUT broadcasting function; ACP audio processing and control function; Alarm audio presentation function. |
| Standard | Minimum Performance Standard for VOR Radio Receiving Equipment with Working Range of 108~117.95MHz (DO-196);
Minimum Performance Standard for ILS Course Beacon Receiving Equipment with Working Range of 108~112MHz (DO-195); Minimum Performance Standard for ILS Gliding Receiving Equipment with Working Range of 328.6~335.4MHz (DO-192); Minimum Performance Standard for Airborne Automatic Orientation Equipment (DO-179); Minimum Performance Standard for VHF Radio Communication Transmitting Equipment with Working Range of 117.975~137.00MHz (DO-186B); Minimum Performance Standard for Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System/Mode Selection (ATCRBS/Mode S) Airborne Equipment (DO-181D); Minimum Performance Standard for Audio Selection Panel and Amplifier (DO-170); Minimum Performance Standard for Beacon Receiving Equipment (DO-143); Minimum Working Performance Standard for Radio Altitude Measurement Equipment (DO-103); Minimum Working Performance Standard for Radio Distance Measurement Equipment (DO-189); Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
INS-DF-210 Integrated Navigation System (INS/GNSS)
hermes-sys.com
| INS-DF-210 Integrated Navigation System (INS/GNSS) | |
| Main functions | Attitude heading measurement: angle of pitch, roll angle, heading, angular rate, acceleration, speed, position;
Satellite positioning measurement: UTC, position, speed; Dual redundancy architecture. |
| Standard | Minimum Performance Standard for Tilt Pitch Instrument (SAE AS8001)
Minimum Performance Standard for Gyro Stability Magnetic Heading Device (SAE AS8031A) Minimum Performance Standard for Turn & Sideslip Indicator (SAE AS8004) Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
ADS-DF-210 Air Data System (ADS)
hermes-sys.com
| ADS-DF-210 Air Data System (ADS) | |
| Main functions | Dual redundancy architecture;
Air data measurement: indicated airspeed, true airspeed, total pressure/static pressure, total temperature/static temperature, angle of attack, angle of sideslip, Mach number, barometric altitude, vertical speed; Airspeed head of air data system with pilot’s manual heating function. |
| Standard | Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
FDR-DF-210 Flight Data Records & Cockpit Video Monitor System (FDR&VMS)
hermes-sys.com
| FDR-DF-210 Flight Data Records & Cockpit Video Monitor System (FDR&VMS) | |
| Main Functions | Toggle switch is provided to realize the toggle display of head-up display system images and front cockpit pilot’s operation images;
Operation interface of display brightness control is provided to realize the display brightness control, and support manual and automatic brightness control; The avionics system data received are recorded and stored; Mass memory can realize the quick plug for the convenience of quickly accessing recorded data. |
| Standard | Minimum Performance Standard for Air Data Computer (SAE AS8002a)
Airborne Equipment- Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures (RTCA/DO-160G) |
Source hermes-sys.com
DA62 MPP Special Mission Aircraft: Details
DART-450 low-wing monoplane design
Diamond Aircraft
The DART-450 trainer incorporates a low-wing monoplane design. The under fuselage is fitted with retractable tricycle landing gear.
Le train principal robuste, avec une distance d’atterrissage de l’ordre de 400 mètres, Diamond à imaginé le DART-450 pour être opérable depuis n’importe quelle piste même non préparée © Fabrice Morlon / Aerobuzz.fr
The aircraft has a provision to carry an electro-optical / infrared (EO / IR) sensor gimbal that can retract into the underbody. It has a wingspan of 10m, maximum take-off weight of 1,700kg and empty weight of 1,050kg.
En mode « reconnaissance » le DaRT-450 emporte une caméra de 15 pouces qui est opérée depuis la place arrière © Fabrice Morlon / Aerobuzz.fr
Cockpit and avionics
Gregor Tatschl https://www.flickr.com/photos/bildredaktion/
The DART-450 trainer accommodates two crew members in tandem configuration. The bubble glass canopy on the cockpit offers improved visibility and access for crew.
The cockpit is also installed with Garmin avionics suite, which includes high-resolution, primary flight displays (PFDs) and multi-functional displays (MFDs).
L’avion, configurable en deux versions (voltige ou reconnaissance) peut être équipé également de trois avioniques différentes, de pods et caméras, en fonction de la mission attribuée © Fabrice Morlon / Aerobuzz.fr
The cockpit is equipped with side-stick control and ejection seats. The side-stick will initially be mated to conventionally boosted flight controls, before being integrated into a fly-by-wire system when designed.
Buyers will be offered a Garmin G3000-equipped cockpit as standard, or can select a system from other suppliers, including Esterline, Dries says. The Dart features a sidestick controller, while customers have the option to select Martin-Baker Mk16 ejection seats or a pneumatic escape system from Zvezda. Source flightglobal.com
Garmin G3000-equipped cockpit as standard
Garmin 3000 cockpit on Dart 550 – Diamond Aircraft
Martin-Baker Mk16 ejection seats
Avec une cabine spacieuse à la fois en largeur et en hauteur, le poste de pilotage est confortable et ergonomique © Fabrice Morlon / Aerobuzz.fr
martin-baker.com
US16LA EJECTION SEAT FOR T-6 TEXAN II
- Operating Ceiling: 50 000ft (15,250m)
- Minimum height/Speed: Zero/zero in near level attitude
- Crew boarding mass range: 62.3 to 123.0 kg
- Crew size range: JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1 to 7
- Maximum Speed for ejection: 370 KIAS (aircraft limit 316 KIAS)
- Parachute type: GQ Type 5000
- Parachute deployment: Cartridge initiated
- Drogue parachute: 5 ft
- Drogue deployment: Cartridge initiated and deployed
- Harness type: Torso
- Ejection seat operation type: Ejection guns and underseat rocket motor
- Ejection gun: Twin
- Ejection initiation: Handle on seat bucket initiates gas operated seat firing system
- Automatic back-up unit: No, manual override
- Electronic sequencer: No
- Barostatic time-release unit: Yes + g-restrictor, cartridge initiated
- Timers: Time delays in sequencing system
- Seat adjustment: Up/down actuator operated 28 Vdc
- Arm restraints: No
- Leg restraints: Yes, two garters
- Oxygen supply: Bottled emergency oxygen
- Personal survival pack (PSP): Yes + automatic deployment
- Aircrew services: Connection to emergency oxygen supply
- Command ejection: Yes, via Interseat Sequencing System (ISS)
- Canopy jettison: No
- Canopy fracturing system: Yes
- Interseat Sequencing System (ISS): Yes
Source martin-baker.com
DART-450 turboprop engine
Diamond Aircraft
The aircraft is equipped with a single AI-450SD turboprop engine produced by Ivchenko Progress / Motor Sich. The engine drives a five-bladed MT propeller and offers a maximum take-off power of 400hp to 495hp. The emergency power rating of the engine is 495hp.
The AI-450S is a variant of the AI-450 engine and measures 1,108mm-long, 575mm-wide and 702mm-high. The engine has a dry weight of 130kg and is intended to offer 20% lower fuel burn than similar type of engines in its class.
Gregor Tatschl https://www.flickr.com/photos/bildredaktion/
The engine features a two-rotor design including rotors’ core and free turbine with output shaft, and is equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. The aircraft has a fuel tank capacity of 450l and is expected to offer a fuel consumption of 90l/h. The operating cost of the aircraft is expected to be $500 an hour.
Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop
The family of turboprop engines AI-450С/СD/СР is designed for the use on multipurpose general aviation aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Installed on the DA50-JP7, DART-450 (Austria)
| Emergency rating (S/L static; ISA +5°С) | |
| Рower, hp | 495 |
| Takeoff (SLS, ISA +15 °C) | |
| Power, hp | 400…495 |
| Specific fuel consumption, kg/hp/h | 0.28 |
| Maximum cruise (H=3,000m, V=250 km/h) | |
| Power, hp | 280 |
| Specific fuel consumption, kg/hp/h | 0.28 |
| Dimensions, mm | 1,108 х 575 х 702 |
| Weight, dry kg | 130 |
Engine data ivchenko-progress.com
GE H-75? (Third aircraft)
The GE H-Series is a family of turboprop engines o ering a customized range of ratings and performance for commuters, personal and agricultural aircrafts and aerobatic trainers.
The engine is a two-shaft, reverse ow design featuring an axial-centrifugal compressor, an annular combustor with slinger ring fuel distributor and a single high pressure turbine stage. The slinger ring combustor architecture simpli es maintenance and eliminates the need for recurrent fuel nozzle inspections. The propulsion section is powered by a single-stage turbine driving a two-stage planetary gearbox.
GE H-Series is available with either hydromechanical control or rst-in-class Electronic Engine and Propeller Control (EEPC). The EEPC system reduces pilot workload by simplifying engine operation with a single lever power control.
GE H-Series aerobatic engine is equipped with EEPC, multi attitude lubrication system and strengthened structure for high g-force aerobatic maneuvers.
Source GE
DART-450 performance
Diamond Aircraft
The DART-450 aircraft has a stall speed of 111km/h (60kt), while the projected maximum true air speed (TAS) is 463km/h (250kt). It can reach a maximum distance of 2,296km (1,240nmi).
The maximum rate of climb of the aircraft exceeds 15m/s, while the maximum endurance is eight hours plus reserve capacity.
The aircraft has a maximum operational altitude of 7,000m and requires a take-off distance of 600m and landing roll of 400m. Its aerobatic design allows for manoeuvring between the g-limits of 7g and -5g.
Diamond Aircraft
FACTS & FIGURES
Diamond Aircraft
Main material source airforce-technology.com
Images are from public domain unless otherwise stated
Updated Jun 21, 2019
clubenaval.org.br
clubenaval.org.br
clubenaval.org.br
Thai Military and Asian Region 