Thu, Jan 28, 2010
After being introduced to aviation by Count Zeppelin, Claudius
Dornier founded his first company in 1914, Dornier
Metallbauten. Over the years, the company remained an
integral part of the emerging aviation industry producing more than
100 designs for both the civil and military markets.
Through the process, Dornier accomplished numerous technological
advancements including the first fully metal aircraft.
Building on the family’s aviation legacy, Claudius Dornier
Jr. turned his focus to the design, production, and operation of
flying boats. After years of development, Dornier received
the first type certificate for an all-composite commercial
aircraft.
100 years later, the Dornier Seaplane Company has resurrected
those early designs to produce the all-composite Dornier Seastar
CD-2. Promoted as the most advanced seaplane in the world,
engineers developed an integrated-hull flying boat designed to
reduce drag and produce maximum cruise speeds of up to 180
knots.
Powered by two PT6-135A Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines,
the Seastar CD-2 requires a takeoff run of only 2,500 feet on water
and 1,850 feet on land.
To eliminate the damaging effects of corrosion often seen with
aircraft that operate on or around water, the Seastar CD-2 is
constructed with an all-composite, corrosion-free
exterior.
According to estimates by Conklin and Decker, total
maintenance-per-seat mile cost (as a result of the composite
exterior) are approximately 2/3rds that of either the Caravan or
the Twin Otter.
The interior features match such operational flexibility;
seating arrangements accommodate up to 12 passengers with
ergonomically designed seating and an optional fully enclosed
lavatory.
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