Diamond DART 280

The Diamond DART 280 is a four-seat, light, single-engined piston helicopter concept from the Austrian maker Diamond Aircraft, launched at AERO Friedrichshafen in April 2017. It was meant to compete with the Robinson R44. The composite design called for a 280 shaft horsepower (208 kilowatt) four-stroke jet-fuel engine, energy-absorbing retractable landing gear and a shrouded electric tail rotor. Planned figures were a maximum take-off weight of 1,350 kilograms, a payload of 556 kilograms, a cruise speed of 145 knots (269 kilometres per hour) and a fuel burn of 35 litres an hour. A first flight had been scheduled for October 2018, with certification a year later, but development was later put on hold until the aircraft has a viable market.