In The Works: Dornier Seaplane Seastar

Dornier Seaplane brought its all-composite twin-turboprop Seastar to the static display at last month’s NBAA Convention. The Seastar is already FAA and EASA certified, but Dornier will need another $150 million of funding to start production, now planned for late 2010. Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-135A engines are mounted fore-and-aft (“push-me-pull-you”) on top of the wing. Dornier has not yet selected a manufacturing facility, but it will likely be located in the Southeast U.S. A core group of engineers will remain at Dornier’s headquarters in Germany. The $6 million Seastar cruises at 180 knots and offers a 348-cu-ft cabin. Joe Walker, former president of composite VLJ developer Adam Aircraft, is CEO of Dornier Seaplane.