DR360 Chevalier

The DR360 Chevalier is a four‑seat, low‑wing monoplane produced by the French manufacturer Robin Aircraft in the early 1990s. Developed as the next step after the successful DR400 series, the Chevalier combined the classic Robin wooden‑construction techniques with a more powerful Lycoming O‑360‑D2A engine delivering 180 horsepower. First flown on 12 June 1994, the aircraft entered limited production in 1995, targeting flight schools and private owners who required a comfortable cabin, forgiving handling, and a respectable cruise speed of 210 km/h (115 kn). Its high‑aspect‑ratio wings equipped with slotted flaps provided excellent short‑field performance, while the all‑metal nosewheel landing gear reduced maintenance compared to earlier models. The Chevalier’s spacious interior, optional glass‑cockpit avionics, and generous baggage compartment made it a versatile platform for cross‑country touring and basic aerobatics. Though only a few hundred units were built before Robin shifted focus to newer composite designs, the DR360 remains significant for demonstrating how traditional wooden airframe construction could be modernized, influencing later European light aircraft such as the Robin HR200 and the Swiss Pilatus PC‑12’s design philosophy. Today a handful of Chevaliers still serve as primary trainers in European flying clubs, attesting to their enduring reliability.

Robin Aircraft

Classification

Design & Classification