DTA Evolution

Evolution
Role Ultralight trike
National origin France
Manufacturer DTA sarl
Status In production (2013)

The DTA Evolution is a French ultralight trike, designed and produced by DTA sarl of Montélimar. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Design and development

The aircraft was designed as a simple trike, with an exceptional payload, to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 400 kg (882 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit without a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its single surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.30 m (33.8 ft) span DTA Dynamic 16 wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, with the liquid cooled 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582, the four cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 or 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912S engines optional.[1][2]

With the Rotax 503 and the Dynamic 16 wing, the aircraft has an empty weight of 166 kg (366 lb) and a gross weight of 400 kg (882 lb), giving a useful load of 234 kg (516 lb). With full fuel of 50 litres (11 imp gal; 13 US gal) the payload is 198 kg (437 lb).[1]

A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the DTA Dynamic, DTA Diva and the strut-braced DTA Magic.[1][2]

Operational history

In September 2003 a French flying team flew an Evolution from Paris to Dakar, making use of the aircraft's high payload to carry all needed supplies.[1]

Specifications (Evolution with Dynamic 16 wing)

Data from Bertrand[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 10.30 m (33 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 14.50 m2 (156.1 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 166 kg (366 lb)
  • Gross weight: 400 kg (882 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 50 litres (11 imp gal; 13 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 or twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 37 kW (50 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 115 km/h (71 mph, 62 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
  • Stall speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (710 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 27.6 kg/m2 (5.7 lb/sq ft)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 98. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b DTA sarl (2009). "Evolution… simplicité, confort, robustesse". Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.