DR 400/200R Re­mor­queur: D-ED­VE

DLR DR 400 D-EDVE
The DR 400 D-EDVE aircraft is used by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) primarily as a glider tug.

The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) uses the powerful four-seater DR 400/200R Remorqueur - D-EDVE aircraft primarily as a glider tug. In addition, it is used as a transport aircraft and for pilot training. The single-engine DR 400/200R aircraft is based on a Jodel Robin DR 400 made by the French Apex Group. DR 400 aircraft have a characteristic cranked wing configuration which ensures enhanced inherent stability.

Modifications

The following modifications differentiate the DR 400 from the standard Jodel Robin DR 400:

  • Empty tubes for temporary installation of cables and leads
  • Hardpoints on the wings and in the cabin for attaching measurement equipment

The DR 400 is used for 'comparison flight procedures': the flight performance parameters of the glider under study are compared – in flight – with a calibration aircraft (for example DLR's DG 300). Until a few years ago, this comparison was made using a photographic method. The two aircraft fly alongside one another at a constant speed for a period of approximately two to three minutes. The altitude difference between the two aircraft is photographed from the DR 400 at the start and end of the flight period. In this way, the change in altitude difference can be determined on the basis of the photographs, using an extremely complex and time-consuming geometric evaluation. This in turn allows a speed polar to be calculated. The measurement principle remains the same to this day, only now the photographic method has been replaced by a GPS-aided measurement. This increases accuracy and reduces the time and effort needed for the evaluation, with the result that the DR 400 is now no longer required as a photography aircraft, and is only used as a glider tug.

Missions – Research focus

DLR uses the DR 400 aircraft principally for measuring the flight performance parameters of gliders.

Technical data

DR 400/200R Remorqueur - D-EDVE

Data

Length:

7.22 metres

Height:

2.23 metres

Wingspan:

8.72 metres

Cabin length:

1.62 metres

Cabin width:

1.10 metres

Cabin height:

1.23 metres

Seats:

four

Empty weight:

708 kilograms

Total weight:

1.1 tonnes

Engine:

Lycoming IO-360 A1B6 engine, 200 hp

Propeller:

two-blade, variable-pitch propeller

Range:

circa 800 kilometres

Flight altitude:

3657 metres max. (12,000 feet)

Speed:

maximum 308 kilometres per hour

Endurance:

maximun four hours

Fuel tank capacity:

110 litres plus 50 litres supplementary tank

Use:

Glider tug and touring aircraft

DLR facility:

Braunschweig

Flight Experiments

Contact

Martin Gestwa

Head of Flight Facility Braunschweig
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Flight Experiments
Lilienthalplatz 7, 38108 Braunschweig