Dassault Communauté

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MD.415 Communauté
Role Light turboprop civil transport
Manufacturer Dassault Aviation
First flight 1959
Number built 1

The Dassault MD.415 Communauté was a 1950s French twin-engined light turboprop transport monoplane built by Dassault Aviation. Only one prototype was built and flown.

Development[edit]

The Dassault company designed a light transport aircraft in the late 1950s, designated MD.415 and later named Communauté, as a potential replacement for the Dassault MD 315 Flamant in its trainer, command transport or ambulance aircraft roles. The Communauté was a cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear with room for two crew and up to ten passengers. Powered by two wing-mounted Turbomeca Bastan turboprops, the prototype (F-WJDN) first flew on 10 May 1959.[1][2]

The company also developed a military version designated the MD.410 Spirale.[3] Retaining 90% commonality with the Communauté, the Spirale had all the windows removed and transparent nose panels added. It also had provision for cannon or machine-gun armament and was fitted with under-wing hardpoints for weapons. It was intended that the Spirale could be used for close-support, reconnaissance or transport roles.

Neither the Communauté nor the Spirale received any production orders and a high-wing development designated Spirale III was also abandoned.

Variants[edit]

MD.410 Spirale
Prototype military version, one built, powered by two Turbomeca Astazou XIVD engines.
MD.415 Communauté
Prototype light transport, one built.
MD.415 Communauté A1
A proposed joint development from Dassault and Sud-Aviation for a new version of the MD 415, a liaison aircraft carrying eight passengers over 2,400 km (1,500 mi; 1,300 nmi) or a feeder-liner carrying 21 passengers over 500 km (310 mi; 270 nmi).[4]
MD.415 Communauté A2
Proposed 14-seat variant.
MD.415M Diplomate
A proposed scaled-up executive transport variant.
MD.455 Spirale III
Proposed high-wing transport version,[5] not built.

Specifications (MD-415 Communauté)[edit]

Data from [6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: six-ten passengers or 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) payload (14 pax in the proposed Communauté A2)
  • Length: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.43 m (53 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 36 m2 (390 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 3,610 kg (7,959 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,900 kg (13,007 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Bastan IV , 750 kW (1,000 hp) each + 0.647 kN (145 lbf) residual thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 500 km/h (310 mph, 270 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 450 km/h (280 mph, 240 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 3,200 km (2,000 mi, 1,700 nmi) with external tanks
  • Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
  • Takeoff run: 380 m (1,250 ft)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lemaire Le Fana de l'Aviation December 1986, p. 13
  2. ^ Chillon, Dubois & Wegg 1980, p. 127
  3. ^ Flying August 1961, p. 49
  4. ^ "MD 415 Communauté". Dassault. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  5. ^ Taylor 1962, pp. 38–39
  6. ^ The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications. 1982–1985.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Chillon, Jacques; Dubois, Jean-Pierre & Wegg, John (1980). French Post-War Transport Aircraft. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-078-2.
  • Cuny, Jean (1989). Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration [French Combat Aircraft 2: Heavy Fighters, Bombers, Attack, Reconnaissance]. Docavia (in French). Vol. 30. Ed. Larivière. OCLC 36836833.
  • "Flying Newsreel: Paris Air Show". Flying. Vol. 69, no. 2. August 1961. pp. 48–50.
  • Lemaire, René (November 1986). "Les Dassault "Commmunauté" et "Spirale"". Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 204. pp. 20–23.
  • Lemaire, René (December 1986). "Les Dassault "Commmunauté" et "Spirale" (Seconde partie)". Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 205. pp. 13–17.
  • Lemaire, René (January 1987). "Les Dassault "Commmunauté" et "Spirale" (3e partie)". Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 206. pp. 22–26.
  • Lemaire, René (February 1987). "Les Dassault "Commmunauté" et "Spirale" (Quatrième et derniè partie)". Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 207. pp. 22–17.
  • Taylor, John W.R. (1962). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications. 1982–1985.
  • "MD 415 Communauté". Dassault. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
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