The 400 Nosewheel Series
The Robin DR 400 series of aircraft are the modern day descendants of the Jodel DR100 range. They still feature the wood structure and the cranked wings. The wings are built around a large, single piece, box spar. Steering is still by means of a stick, rather than the yoke that the "modern" airplanes that are built in the USA (Cessna, Mooney, etc.) have. The later variants of DR400 are real four seaters, capable of carrying both full fuel and four passengers. They are powered by an engine up to 180 hp, which consumes around 35 liters (9 US gallons) of fuel per hour and give the plane a speed of 267 km/h (166 mph). Since its first flight in march 1972, over 1300 DR 400s have been built.
Due to its excellent flight characteristics are good power-to-weight ratio, DR400's are often used by glider clubs to tug their gliders into the air.
OO-CXD DR400 powered by a Porsche Engine
F-GJZG landing at Cannes Mandelieu
In the DR 400 series, a number of variants exist:
- DR 400-100 Cadet - Two seater trainer, fitted with a 100 hp Continental O-200A
- DR 400-108 Dauphin - 2+2 seater trainer, with 108 hp Continental O-235 engine
- DR 400-120 Dauphin 2+2 - Like DR 400-108, but with 120 hp engine and additional side windows
- DR 400-140 Earl - DR 120 with larger engine and forward sliding canopy
- DR 400-160 Chevalier - With 160 hp lycoming O-320-D2A
- DR 400-180 Regent - 180 hp O-360, forward sliding canopy and additional windows
- DR 400-180R Remorqueur - Specifically designed as a glider tug.
Author Hans Teijgeler
The photos in this web site are from the excellent book by Xavier Massé,
sent in by happy Jodel owners, lifted from the web or taken by myself.