Four-seat wooden touring and glider-towing aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1972–2014 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Robin DR400-180 Régent costs approximately $149k (€138k) to $178k (€165k) to buy at 2005 market values, and about $45k (€42k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $561 (€519) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 130 kt (150 mph) and has a published range of 700 nm (1,296 km), needing about 1,476 ft (450 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The DR400 is a wooden aeroplane with a cranked Jodel wing and a canopy that slides forward, and across Europe it is both the default club tourer and the default glider tug. The 180 hp Regent is the version that does both well. Wood is the whole ownership question. Hangarage stops being a preference and becomes a requirement, glue lines and structure need an inspector who knows timber, and moisture damage is expensive and occasionally terminal. Ex-tug airframes carry hard cycles. Buy one that has lived indoors, and read the towing logbook first.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,100 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 109 L |
| Baggage weight | 60 kg |
| Engine | Lycoming O-360-A3A or O-360-A1A |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Reported payload proxy | 833 lb (378 kg) |
| Reported range | 700 nm (1,296 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 130 kt (150 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $18k (€17k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $167 (€155) |
Excellent handling and visibility with strong 180 hp utility, but wooden structure and type support need specialist care.
Indicative cash costs at 2005 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $38k (€35k) | $953 (€883) | $353k (€327k) |
| 80 h / year | $45k (€42k) | $560 (€519) | $386k (€358k) |
| 120 h / year | $52k (€48k) | $429 (€398) | $420k (€389k) |
| 180 h / year | $62k (€57k) | $342 (€317) | $470k (€435k) |
Every figure above is built from a $18k (€17k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $167 (€155) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $38k (€35k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Robin DR400-180 Régent cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2005 market price for a Robin DR400-180 Régent is $149k (€138k) to $178k (€165k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Robin DR400-180 Régent works out at roughly $45k (€42k) annually, which is about $561 (€519) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $167 (€155).
Reported range is 700 nm (1,296 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Plan on approximately 1,476 ft (450 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.