TYPE: Four-seat lightplane.

PROGRAMME: First flight of original DR 400 Chevalier 29 June 1972; certified France and UK same year; Major introduced 1980, being based on DR 400/140B Major 80 with additional cabin windows.

CUSTOMERS: See main DR 400 entry; total 140 delivered by December 1998. Six built in 2000 and at least three in 2001 and six in 2002.

DESIGN FEATURES: Main differences from Dauphin are external baggage compartment door on port side and extended wingroot leading-edges to house additional fuel tanks.

Differences from Dauphin listed below:

POWER PLANT: One 119 kW (160 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320-D flat-four engine, driving a Sensenich 74DM6S5-2-64 two-blade, fixed-pitch aluminium propeller. Fuel tank in fuselage, capacity 110 litres (29.1 US gallons; 24.2 Imp gallons), and two tanks in wingroot leading-edges, giving total capacity of 190 litres (50.2 US gallons; 41.8 Imp gallons), of which 182 litres (48.1 US gallons; 40.0 Imp gallons) are usable. Provision for auxiliary tank, raising total capacity to 240 litres (63.4 US gallons; 52.8 Imp gallons). Oil capacity 7.6 litres (2.0 US gallons; 1.7 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION: Seating for four persons, on adjustable front seats (maximum load 154 kg; 340 lb total) and rear bench seat (maximum load 154 kg; 340 lb total). Forward-sliding transparent canopy, but port rear window/door provides outside access to baggage area. Up to 40 kg (88 lb) of baggage can be stowed aft of rear seats when four occupants are carried.