Robin Aircraft

Avions Robin is a French manufacturer of light aeroplanes. It was previously known as Avions Pierre Robin and Centre Est Aeronautique.

Avions Pierre Robin was formed by Pierre Robin and Jean Delemontez, the principal designer of Jodel aircraft, in October 1957 as Centre Est Aeronautique. It began manufacturing aircraft at Dijon-Darois.

The first aircraft was disgned by Pierre Robin and Jean Delemontez, who was one of the designers of Jodel aircraft. It was based on the D10, a four seater designed by Joly and Delmontez at Jodel that was shelved when work on the Jodel D11 became more urgent. In collaboration with Robin it became the 'Jodel Robin'. It later became the DR100 model (Jodel's models all had D followed by a number). Robin and Delmontex continued to upgrade the design between 1957 and 1972.

The DR100 range was succeeded by the DR200 range.

The DR400 first flew in 1972 and is still in production in 2006. It has a tricycle undercarriage, and can carry 4 people.

The HR200 is a light aerobatic aircraft aimed at flight training.

Robin aircraft have the 'cranked wing' configuration, in which the dihedral angle of the outer wing is much greater than the inboard, a configuration which they share with Jodel aircraft. The best known today is the DR 400, which is a wooden sport monoplane, conceived by Pierre Robin and Jean Delmontez.

Avions Robin was acquired by Apex Aircraft of France in 1988. The range of Robin aircraft continues to be manufactured at Dijon-Darois. An improved devlopment of the Alpha Robin range of aircraft is now being manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand by Alpha Aviation as the Alpha 2000