Jodel D18

Jodel D18: The Masterpiece of French Efficiency

The Jodel D18 is a classic amateur-built aircraft that proves you don’t need high-tech composites to achieve amazing performance. Designed by the legendary Jean Délémontez, it is a testament to the “less is more” philosophy. Built almost entirely from wood and fabric, it offers the comfort of a cabin class airplane with the operating costs of a lawnmower. It is widely considered one of the best-handling light aircraft ever designed.

Why Is It a Legend?

• The “Bent Wing” Magic: Its most distinctive feature is the cranked wing (dihedral only on the tips). This isn’t just for looks; it provides exceptional lateral stability and allows the plane to be flown “hands-off” even in turbulence, making it a dream for cross-country flying.

• Wood and Fabric Simplicity: You won’t find complex molds or exotic alloys here. The D18 is built using spruce, plywood, and glue—materials that are accessible, easy to work with, and incredibly strong for their weight.

• Volkswagen Power: It was famously designed to run efficiently on converted VW Beetle engines. This accessibility to affordable automotive power made aviation realistic for thousands of builders in Europe and beyond.

• Surprising Efficiency: Despite its boxy fuselage, it is remarkably aerodynamic. It can carry two people at respectable cruising speeds while sipping fuel, outperforming many modern metal aircraft in its class.

Performance and Key Numbers
The Jodel D18 strikes a perfect balance between a docile Sunday flyer and a capable touring machine. It is faster than the Sky Pup but more forgiving and easier to land on grass strips than the Quickie.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 2 (Side-by-side seating)

• Wingspan: 24 ft 7 in (7.50 m)

• Length: 18 ft 8 in (5.70 m)

• Wing Area: 113 sq ft (10.5 m²)

• Empty Weight: 530 – 570 lbs (240 – 260 kg)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 1,014 lbs (460 kg) (fits many Microlight/LSA categories)

• Useful Load: Approx. 450 lbs (200 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 60 – 85 hp (VW conversions, Jabiru 2200, or Rotax 912)

Performance:

• Glide Ratio: Approx. 11:1

• Cruise Speed: 105 – 120 mph (170 – 195 km/h)

• Stall Speed: 37 – 40 mph (60 – 65 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 700 – 900 ft/min (3.5 – 4.5 m/s)

• Takeoff Distance: 500 – 700 ft (150 – 215 m)

• Landing Distance: 600 ft (180 m)

• Fuel Consumption: 3 – 4 gallons per hour (11 – 15 L/h)

• Range: Approx. 450 – 550 miles (720 – 900 km)

In short, the Jodel D18 is the perfect choice if you love the warmth of working with wood and want a reliable, economical, and charming aircraft that feels like a “real airplane” but costs a fraction to own and operate.