The Dardo was designed by CFM Air, a company usually noted for its contract aerospace development and prototyping of projects, with the intention of selling the design for production by another company. CFM Air has also not ruled out producing the aircraft itself, if needed.[1]
The prototype was first flown in July 2014.[1]
The Dardo features a cantilever low-wing, an enclosed cockpit with two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration under a bubble canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made all composite materials. Its 8.41NaN1 span wing has an area of 10.6m2 and mounts flaps. Standard engines intended for use are the 1000NaN0 Rotax 912ULS and the 1500NaN0 MW-Fly four-stroke powerplants. In 2015 a hybrid electric aircraft version was shown in Paris.[1]
The design features a very wide cockpit of 1301NaN1.[1]