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The Diamond HK36 R Super Dimona is a two-seat single engine low-wing motor-glider. Its roots can be traced back to the Hoffman Dimona, a powered glider
built by Wolf Hoffman Flugzeugbau KG at Ulm in Germany and at Weiner Nieustadt in Austria, the prototype of which flew first on
9 October 1980. In 1989, the company was bought out and renamed HOAC-Austria Flugzeugwerk. Two years later, HOAC was acquired by
Diamonds current owners, a family well-established in the automotive business in Europe. In 1989, HOAC-Austria Flugzeugwerk
in Vienna, Austria, began with the development of the HK36 Super Dimona a two-seat powered glider made of fibre-reinforced high-tech
composite based on the Hoffmann H36 Dimona. Series production of the HK36 Super Dimona began in 1990. In June 1992,
the Canadian branch of Diamond Aircraft Industries was founded, the Canadian branch operated under the name Dimona Aircraft, in 1996 this was
changed to Diamond Aircraft Industries. The HK36 R Super Dimona was developed from the H36, with a carbon-fibre spar, modified fuselage, 16.2 mtr
wingspan and a 80 hp Rotax 912A engine. Optional wing tips can extend the span to 17.6 mtr. In October 1989, the prototype of the HK36 R Super
Dimona wasflown first. On 23 July 1993, the HK36 R Super Dimona received US FAA type approval in the utility category at a gross weight of 770 kg.
In 1994 series production of the HK36 Super Dimona models started also at the company's Canadian plant in London, Ontario. The Super Dimona models
are equipped with Rotax engines with either the 80 hp 912S; the 100 hp 912S or the 115 hp turbo-charged 914 variant and is commonly used for
glider pilot training and towing. In 1996, the company was renamed into Diamond Aircraft Industries. In the USA and Canada, the Diamond HK36 TTC
Super Dimona is known as Katana X-treme series. A surveillance derivate is the ECO Dimona, known as Multi Purpose Xtreme in Canada, which is
equipped with a movable Wescam camera and cockpit monitor. Over 900 Super Dimona aircraft are built so far.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator
for the Diamond HK36 R Super Dimona is DIMO |
