TYPE: Side-by-side ultralight/kitbuilt.
PROGRAMME: Original D4, of steel, wood, fabric and composites construction, first flew in early 1996; public debut (D-MOVE and D-MBWH) at the Reseau du Sport de I'Air rally at Epinal, France, in July 1996. Prototype D4BK (D-MPMM, carrying spurious registration D-MMMM) exhibited at Aero '99, Friedrichshafen, in April 1999, shortly before maiden flight; US debut at EAA Air Venture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July 2000.
CURRENT VERSIONS: D4: Initial version.
D4 BK: All-composites version, as described. BK indicates bugrad, kraftstoff: nosewheel, composites.
D4 Fascination VLA: Revealed at Aero '03 in mockup form; at which time certification was expected in third quarter of 2003. Dimensions as D4 BK, except length overall 6.87 m (22 ft 6½ in).
D5: High-wing version; described separately.
CUSTOMERS: Total of 90 D4s sold (including 40 as kits), of which 50 were flying by April 1999, including 15 in Brazil. D4 BK sales totalled five by April 1999; in total, 106 sold by early 2003.
COSTS: Fully equipped €84,000 including tax (2003). Kit version €58,800.
DESIGN FEATURES: Wings and tail surfaces detach for storage/transport. Quoted kit build time 800 hours.
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Fowler flaps.
STRUCTURE: All composites.
LANDING GEAR: Standard fixed tricycle type, with nosewheel power steering. Retractable optional; main units retract outwards, nosewheel rearwards. Cable-operated disc brakes.
POWER PLANT: One 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 UL (standard), 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS (optional) or (on completion of development) 86.8 kW (116.3 hp) DZ 100 flat-four engine driving a Rospeller two-blade electric constant-speed propeller. Fuel capacity 80 litres (21.1 US gallons; 17.6 Imp gallons).
D4 Fascination VLA: One 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 ULS driving a three-blade constant-speed (electric) propeller. Fuel capacity 180 litres (47.6 US gallons; 39.6 Imp gallons).
AVIONICS: GPS and transponder optional.
EQUIPMENT: Ballistic recovery parachute optional.