Solid Air Diamant LP

The Solid Air Diamant LP is a lightweight, single‑seat motor glider produced by the German company Solid Air UL‑Bau Franz. Development began in the early 1990s as the company sought to combine the soaring efficiency of a glider with the convenience of a self‑launching powerplant. The first prototype flew in 1995, and series production started shortly after, establishing the Diamant LP as one of the few European UL‑category aircraft that could take off under its own engine and then transition to silent, high‑aspect‑ratio glide flight.

Key features include a composite airframe with a 15‑meter wingspan, a low‑drag laminar flow wing, and a retractable two‑stroke carbureted engine delivering roughly 24 hp. The aircraft’s cockpit is streamlined and equipped with a digital flight display, while the wing incorporates winglets and Schempp‑Hirth air brakes for precise glide‑path control. Its empty weight stays under 120 kg, allowing it to meet microlight regulations across Europe.

The Diamant LP’s significance lies in popularising self‑launching gliders for recreational pilots, reducing dependence on tow planes and airfields. Its efficient design has influenced later ultralight motor gliders and demonstrated the viability of blended‑wing propulsion concepts in the broader aviation community.