Diamond Aircraft DART-450 makes successful first flight

The DART-450 is an all-carbon fiber tandem, two-seat civilian and military trainer with a sidestick and pneumatic ejection seats.

 

The aircraft has a takeoff power of 500hp, and uses the Ivchenko-Progress / Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop engine, a 5-blade MT propeller, and a GARMIN avionic system for 8 hours of flight time.

 

“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. We achieved our target from the first drawings to the first flight in one year,” said Diamond Aircraft chief designer Clemens Knappert.