Dassault Communauté

Development

The Dassault company designed a light transport aircraft in the late 1950s, designated MD.415 and later named Communauté, as a potential replacement for the Dassault MD 315 Flamant in its trainer, command transport or ambulance aircraft roles. The Communauté was a cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear with room for two crew and up to ten passengers. Powered by two wing-mounted Turbomeca Bastan turboprops, the prototype (F-WJDN) first flew on 10 May 1959.

The company also developed a military version designated the MD.410 Spirale. Retaining 90% commonality with the Communauté, the Spirale had all the windows removed and transparent nose panels added. It also had provision for cannon or machine-gun armament and was fitted with under-wing hardpoints for weapons. It was intended that the Spirale could be used for close-support, reconnaissance or transport roles.

Neither the Communauté nor the Spirale received any production orders and a high-wing development designated Spirale III was also abandoned.

Variants

MD.410 Spirale

Prototype military version, one built, powered by two Turbomeca Astazou XIVD engines.

MD.415 Communauté

Prototype light transport, one built.

MD.415 Communauté A1

A proposed joint development from Dassault and Sud-Aviation for a new version of the MD 415, a liaison aircraft carrying eight passengers over 2,400 km (1,500 mi; 1,300 nmi) or a feeder-liner carrying 21 passengers over 500 km (310 mi; 270 nmi).

MD.415 Communauté A2

Proposed 14-seat variant.

MD.415M Diplomate

A proposed scaled-up executive transport variant.

MD.455 Spirale III

Proposed high-wing transport version, not built.

Specifications (MD-415 Communauté)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: two

Capacity: six-ten passengers or 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) payload (14 pax in the proposed Communauté A2)

Length: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)

Wingspan: 16.43 m (53 ft 11 in)

Wing area: 36 m² (390 sq ft)

Empty weight: 3,610 kg (7,959 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 5,900 kg (13,007 lb)

Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Bastan IV , 750 kW (1,000 hp) each + 0.647 kN (145 lbf) residual thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 500 km/h (311 mph; 270 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Cruising speed: 450 km/h (280 mph; 243 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Range: 2,500 km (1,553 mi; 1,350 nmi)

Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,988 mi; 1,728 nmi) with external tanks

Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,089 ft)

Takeoff run: 380 m (1,250 ft)