Phil Rose

Diamond Aircraft will manufacture the airframe for the all-composite Dornier Seastar twin-turboprop amphibian, the companies announced late last week. Dornier Seawings, based in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, selected Diamond for its experience in composite airframe manufacture.

 


Diamond will build the Seastar’s fuselage and one-piece wing at its London, Ontario factory, and deliver the components to Dornier Seawings’ facility in Germany for final assembly and completion. An initial contract covers the production of 10 shipsets and tooling work for planned higher-volume production. A Diamond spokesman told AIN that the first airframe components are already in production and will be shipped to Oberpfaffenhofen for scheduled assembly and completion in the second quarter.

 


Developed initially by Claudius Dornier Jr., the 12-passenger Seastar amphibian made its first flight as a proof-of-concept aircraft in August 1984. Shortly after FAA certification in June 1991, work on the program was halted due to a shortage of funding, but was resumed in 2009 by Dornier Seawings.

 


The design uses two centerline-mounted Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A-112s. Specifications for the Seastar includes a 10,141-pound mtow, 900-nm range and 180-knot max cruise speed.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Dornier Seawings Taps Diamond To Build Seastar Airframe

Diamond will build the fuselage and one-piece wing at its Ontario factory and deliver the components to Dornier's facility in Germany for final assembly.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Similarities between the piston- and jet-powered Cirruses make transition training easier

Transport Canada Certifies Cirrus SR G7 and Vision G2+

Kerry Lynch

Aircraft will be able to take off in 150 feet of runway

Electra Launches Hybrid-electric EL9 STOL Aircraft

Hanneke Weitering

First production-representative Alia CX300 takes flight

Beta Flies First Electric Airplane Produced in Vermont Factory

G700 next headed to the Bahrain International Airshow for display alongside the G500

Gulfstream’s G700 Surpasses 65 City-pair Records

Honda's secretive eVTOL program picks up steam

FAA Greenlights Honda eVTOL Flight Tests

Curt Epstein

Some models are seeing high demand, others not so much

Broker: Preowned Cessna Citation Market Remains Mixed

Charles Alcock

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

French start-up's new headquarters is located at Rochefort Airport

VoltAero Opens Assembly Facility for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

In this article

Dornier Seastar

Dornier Seawings

More In Aircraft