Druine D-31 Turbulent
Roger Druine, a former aeromodeller who scaled his models up into full-size aircraft, designed the diminutive single-seat D.31 Turbulent in 1951 as only his second full-scale type. Built from wood and fabric and powered by little more than a 30 hp Volkswagen-derived engine, it was conceived from the outset as a design amateurs could build at home from plans, and it was built in numbers worldwide as a result; Rollason in England alone built 26 factory examples plus three strengthened-spar D.31As. Its light weight and docile handling made it a natural fit for low-level aerobatics, and the UK's Tiger Club has flown Turbulents in its formation display team since 1959.
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Did you know?
A little wooden single-seat homebuilt with a VW-derived engine, built by amateurs worldwide from plans.
Specifications
| Wingspan | 7.1 m (23 ft) |
|---|---|
| Persons on board | 1 |
| Service ceiling | 12,000 ft (3,658 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Take-off distance | 150 m (492 ft) |
| Landing distance | 120 m (394 ft) |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Druine D-31 Turbulent starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Druine, the D-31 Turbulent family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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