Duruble Edelweiss Explained
The
Duruble Edelweiss is a light utility aircraft designed in
France in the early 1960s and marketed for homebuilding. It is a low-wing
cantilever monoplane with retractable tricycle undercarriage and
all-metal construction. The aircraft was designed for a load factor of 9.
[1] Two- and four-seat versions were designed. The aircraft's creator, Roland Duruble flew the first example, a two-seater designated
RD-02 in 1962, and in 1970 began to market plans for a stretched version with a rear bench seat as the
RD-03. Over the next 15 years, 56 sets of plans had been sold, and at least nine Edelweisses finished and flown. In the 1980s, Duruble marketed an updated version of his original two-seater as the
RD-02A, and sold around seven sets of plans, with at least one aircraft flying by 1985.
Variants
- RD-02
RD-02A
Variant designed for homebuilt construction[2]
- RD-03A
Two-seat variant with a 1000NaN0 Continental O-200 engine.
- RD-03B
Variant designed to have either a 1350NaN0 Lycoming O-320 or Franklin Sport 4B engine. Utility variant with two seats or a normal variant with 2+2 seating.
- RD-03C
Variant with a 1500NaN0 Lycoming engine and increased fuel capacity. Utility variant with two-seats or a normal variant with 2+2 seating for four adults.Further reading
- Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 347.
- Book: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86 . Jane's Yearbooks. London . 549–50.
Notes and References
- Air Progress Sport Aircraft. 74. Winter 1969.
- Air Trails. Summer 1971. 76.
