Photograph:
Jodel D-18 19-3149 (c/n 05-48) at Temora, NSW in April 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Two-seat light touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 52 kw (70 hp) converted Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.52 m (24 ft 7 in)
- Length: 5.73 m (18 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 9.99 m² (107.6 sq ft)
- Max speed: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Cruising speed: 174 km/h (108 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Range: 805 km (500 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 68 litres (15 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 249 kg (550 lb)
- Loaded weight: 460 kg (1,015 lb)
History:
The Jodel D-18 Sovereign was derived from the Jodel D-11 series but was smaller and lighter all round so that it could be fitted with smaller engines, ie in the 41 kw (55 hp) to 60 kw (80 hp) class. Seating was for two persons and it was constructed of wood (Douglas Fir and hoop pine) and plywood. It had good performance on the power available.
The fuselage was rectangular cross section with a rounded top decking, made up of wood longerons and bulkheads, plywood rear formers, and was covered with plywood. The canopy was a single perspex moulding attached to a steel frame and hinged at the rear. The one-piece cantilever wing incorporated a box spar, wood ribs and plywood covering on the leading-edge, the remainder being fabric covered. Flaps were optional. The undercarriage had two main legs with square section tube outer casings with rubber block shock absorption.
The D-18 Sovereign could be registered under the VH- category or under Australian Ultralight Federation (AUF) Regulations, where the all-up weight was 450 kg (992 lb).
A couple of examples have been completed in this region, one of the first in New Zealand being ZK-OWL (c/n 066).
Examples registered under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations included 55-8389 (c/n 104); 19-3464 (c/n D18) with an Aeropower VW LO 126/1 engine; 19-3431 (c/n W177) with an Aeropower 1835 engine; 19-3894 (c/n unknown) with a Rotax 912UL engine; and 19-4231 (c/n unknown) with a Subaru EA-81 engine.