The Jodel DR1050 Excellence and Ambassadeur are part of a family of
French built aircraft, designed by
Jean Délémontez (the principal designer of Jodel aircraft) in collaboration with
Pierre Robin, as a development of the
Jodel D.10 project.
The aircraft was built from 1958 to 1967 both by Centre-Est Aeronautique (CEA) (see
Robin Aircraft
Robin Aircraft is a French manufacturer of light aircraft. It succeeds to ''Centre-Est Aéronautique'', ''Avions Pierre Robin'' and Apex Aircraft (''Avions Robin'' and ''Robin Aviation'').
History
Centre-Est Aéronautique was formed by Pierre ...
) and by
Société Aéronautique Normande
Société Aéronautique Normande (SAN) was a French aircraft manufacturing business based at Bernay. It was formed in 1948 and failed in 1968.
History
The company was started on 1 May 1948 at Bernay-Saint-Martin by Lucien Querey. Querey was a g ...
(SAN)
[Jackson 1974, pp. 373-4] but since the demise of the latter in 1968 has only been supplied as plans.
[Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12'', page 95. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X][Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 99. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ]
Design and development
The original aircraft was designated the DR.100 and features a cantilever
low-wing
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
, a three-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed, tailwheel
conventional landing gear
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...
with a single engine in
tractor configuration
In aviation, the term tractor configuration refers to an aircraft constructed in the standard configuration with its engine mounted with the propeller in front of it so that the aircraft is "pulled" through the air. Oppositely, the pusher co ...
.
This was developed ultimately to the DR1050M1 Sicile Record with swept fin and many other refinements such as
wheel pants
An aircraft fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, Third Edition'', page 206. Aviation Supplies & Academics Inc, Newcastle Washington, 1997. ...
and improved canopy. Versions were manufactured by both SAN and CEA and variously named Ambassadeur, Excellence, Sicile, and Sicile Record.
At least 618 of the family were constructed, 286 by SAN and 332 by CEA, between 1958 and 1965.
Tricycle landing gear
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle g ...
is optional on home-built aircraft.
This design was further developed by CEA as the DR200/220/250 series and subsequently as the
Robin DR400
The Robin DR400 is a wooden sport monoplane, conceived by Pierre Robin and Jean Délémontez. The Robin DR400 first flew in 1972 and is still in production. The current model is designated 'DR401'. It has a tricycle undercarriage and can carry ...
series.
The aircraft is made from wood, with its flying surfaces covered in
doped aircraft fabric
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...
. Its span wing employs a
NACA 23012 airfoil and has an area of . The standard engine used is the
Continental O-200
The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in³ (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).''Federal Aviation Admini ...
four-stroke powerplant.
Variants
;
DR.100
:Original version with
Continental C90
The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in³ (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).''Federal Aviation Admini ...
engine.
[Taylor 1961, p. 45]
;DR.105
:First production version with Continental O-200-A engine.
;DR.1050
:Improved version with Continental O-200-A engine
or with
Potez 4E engine (as DR.1051).
[Taylor 1965, p. 35.]
;DR.1050M
:Modified version of DR.1050, with swept fin, one piece all-moving tailplane and available with Continental O-200-A or Potez 4E engines (as DR.1051M).
[Taylor 1965, p. 54.]
;DR.1050M1
:Final version of DR.1050, with one piece all-moving tailplane and available with Continental O-200-A or Potez 4E engines (as DR.1051M1).
Specifications (DR1050)
References
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External links
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Photo of a DR1050{{Jodel aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Excellence
Low-wing aircraft