Built of composite
The airframe is composite: carbon fibre or glass fibre set in resin, moulded in large pieces with few joints, which gives smooth shapes but needs different inspection and repair methods from metal.
229 of the model families on this list are built this way, 17,262 aircraft on the register between them; the largest is the Cirrus SR22 with 7,109, then the Cirrus SR20 (1,632).
Biggest model families aircraft on the register
Cirrus SR227,109Cirrus SR201,632Diamond Aircraft DA 40 Diamond Star1,018Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet771Diamond Aircraft DA20 Katana and Eclipse364Diamond Aircraft DA 42 Twin Star265Boeing 787 Dreamliner214Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41207Icon Aircraft Inc A5202Flight Design Gmbh CTSW181Diamond Aircraft DA 62174Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER170
The biggest families, as a table
All 229 families with notes where the construction changed
7,109Cirrus SR22 · With a whole-airframe parachute.
1,632Cirrus SR20 · With a whole-airframe parachute.
771Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet · A carbon-fibre single-engine jet with a whole-airframe parachute.
214Boeing 787 Dreamliner · Carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, the first airliner built mostly of composite.
207Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 · Now the Cessna TTx.
202Icon Aircraft Inc A5 · A carbon-fibre amphibian.
144Cessna LC41 · The Columbia 400, later the Cessna TTx: carbon fibre.
136Cessna T240 · The TTx, from the Columbia design: carbon fibre.
134Epic Aircraft Llc E1000 · A carbon-fibre single-engine turboprop.
122Lancair Company LC41 · Now the Cessna TTx.
101Schleicher ASW-20 · A glass-fibre glider.
90Schleicher ASW-27 · A glass-fibre glider.
75Lancair Company LC42 · Now the Cessna TTx.
71Burkhart Grob G-103 · A glass-fibre glider.
70Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2 · A glass-fibre glider.
69Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2 · A composite light helicopter.
64Lancair Company LC-40 · Now the Cessna TTx.
64Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS · A glass-fibre glider.
59Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 · A glass-fibre glider.
56Eiriavion Oy PIK 20 · A glass-fibre glider.
56Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · A glass-fibre glider.
54Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE · A glass-fibre glider.
53Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 · A glass-fibre glider.
50Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EXTRA NG · The Extra NG: carbon fibre throughout.
48Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL LS · A composite amphibian biplane.
47Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2 · A glass-fibre glider.
44Alexander Schleicher ASW 27 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
44Schleicher ASW-24 · A glass-fibre glider.
43Schleicher ASK-21 · A glass-fibre glider.
43Schleicher ASW-19 · A glass-fibre glider.
43Airbus A350 · Carbon-fibre fuselage and wings.
42Aeromot AMT-200 · A glass-fibre motor glider.
40Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
40Glasflugel H 301 · A glass-fibre glider.
38Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
37Centrair 101 · A glass-fibre glider.
37Stemme Gmbh & Co S-10 · A carbon-fibre motor glider.
36Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS · A glass-fibre glider.
35Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 · A glass-fibre glider.
34Jonker Sailplanes JS3 · A carbon-fibre glider.
33Glasflugel STD LIBELLE 201B · A glass-fibre glider.
32Dg Flugzeugbau Gmbh DG-1000 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
31Sportine Aviacija (LAK) LAK-17 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
30Pivotal (BlackFly / Helix) BLACKFLY V3 · An electric personal aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
30Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 · A glass-fibre glider.
30Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 3 · A glass-fibre glider.
29Dg Flugzeugbau Gmbh DG-800 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
29Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B · A glass-fibre glider.
29Schempp-Hirth DUO DISCUS · A glass-fibre glider.
28Hph Ltd GLASFLUGEL 304 · A glass-fibre glider.
28Rolladen-Schneider LS-8 · A glass-fibre glider.
28Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B · A glass-fibre glider.
28Zivko Aeronautics Inc EDGE 540 · A carbon-fibre wing on a steel-tube fuselage under composite skins.
27Rolladen-Schneider Ohg LS-3 · A glass-fibre glider.
27Stemme Ag STEMME S 12 · A carbon-fibre motor glider.
26Schleicher ASW-15 · A glass-fibre glider.
26Glasflugel MOSQUITO · A glass-fibre glider.
26Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & Co ASH 26 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
26Scoda Aeronautica Ltda SUPER PETREL XP · A composite amphibian biplane.
25Burkhart Grob G-109 · A glass-fibre motor glider.
25Glaser-Dirks DG-400 · A glass-fibre glider.
24As+ Ltd AC-4 · A glass-fibre glider.
23Molino Oy PIK-20 · A glass-fibre glider.
22Rolladen-Schneider Gmbh LS-3 · A glass-fibre glider.
21Diamond Aircraft HK 36 · A motor glider.
20Rotorsport Uk Ltd ROTORSPORT UK CAVALO · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
20Sukhoi SU-29 · Composite skins and wings on a titanium-and-steel frame; aerobatic.
20Valentin Gmbh TAIFUN 17 · A glass-fibre motor glider.
19Rotorsport Uk Ltd CAVALON · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
18Airbus Helicopters H160 · A largely composite airframe.
18Glaser-Dirks DG 300 · A glass-fibre glider.
18Sukhoi SU-26 · Composite skins and wings on a titanium-and-steel frame; aerobatic.
17Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G109 · A glass-fibre motor glider.
17Schempp-Hirth ARCUS M · A glass-fibre glider.
16Alexander Schleicher AS 33 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
16Cessna LC42 · The Columbia 350: carbon fibre.
16Jonker Sailplanes JS1 · A carbon-fibre glider.
16Rotorsport Uk Ltd MTOSPORT 2017 · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
16Schleicher ASW-28 · A glass-fibre glider.
16Sportine Aviacija (LAK) GENESIS 2 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
16M&D Flugzeugbau JS-MD 3 RES · A carbon-fibre glider.
15Alexander Schleicher ASG 32 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
15Avia Stroitel AC-5 · A glass-fibre glider.
15Kitty Hawk HEAVISIDE 2 · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
15Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS · A glass-fibre glider.
15Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3 · A glass-fibre glider.
15Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 · A glass-fibre glider.
14Rolladen-Schneider Ohg LS1 · A glass-fibre glider.
14Xtremeair Gmbh XA42 · A carbon-fibre aerobatic aircraft.
13Elan/Glaser Dirks DG-300 · A glass-fibre glider.
13Glasflugel KESTREL · A glass-fibre glider.
13Lithuanian Factory Of Aviation LAK-12 · A glass-fibre glider.
12Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55 · A glass-fibre glider.
12Szybowcowy Zaklad Doswiadczaln 41 · A glass-fibre glider.
11Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100 · A glass-fibre glider.
11Hph Spol Sro GLASFLUGEL 304 · A glass-fibre glider.
11Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A · A glass-fibre glider.
11Slingsby Aviation Ltd SLINGSBY T67M260 · The Firefly trainer: glass fibre.
10Joby Aviation JAS4 eVTOL air taxi · A carbon-fibre electric air taxi with six tilting propellers.
10Extra Flugzeugbau Gmbh EA-400 · A carbon-fibre pressurised single.
10Flug & Fahrzeugwerke FFA HBV-DIAMANT 16.5 · A glass-fibre glider.
10Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-200 · A glass-fibre glider.
10Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22 · A composite amphibian.
10Autogyro Certification Ltd CAVALON · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
9Auto Gyro Gmbh MTOSPORT · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
9Dg Flugzeugbau Gmbh DG-808 · A glass- and carbon-fibre glider.
9Grob Aircraft Ag G120 · A carbon-fibre trainer.
9Hoffman-Flugzeugbau H 36 · A glass-fibre motor glider.
9Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48 · A glass-fibre glider.
9Schleicher ASH-25 · A glass-fibre glider.
8Beta Technologies CX300 electric aircraft · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
8Glasflugel 304 · A glass-fibre glider.
8Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 · A glass-fibre glider.
8Schempp-Hirth DUO DISCUS T · A glass-fibre glider.
8Schempp-Hirth MINI-NIMBUS HS7 · A glass-fibre glider.
8Schempp-Hirth VENTUS BT · A glass-fibre glider.
8Schempp-Hirth VENTUS C · A glass-fibre glider.
8Stemme Ag STEMME S 10-VT · A carbon-fibre motor glider.
8Stemme Gmbh & Co Kg S10 · A carbon-fibre motor glider.
8Windward Performance SPARROW HAWK · A carbon-fibre glider.
7Arlington SISU 1 · A glass-fibre glider.
7Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau SPEED ASTIR II · A glass-fibre glider.
7Hph Spol Sro Kutna Hora GLASFLUGEL 304 · A glass-fibre glider.
7Mxr Technologies Inc MXS · A carbon-fibre aerobatic aircraft.
7Schempp-Hirth K. G NIMBUS II · A glass-fibre glider.
7Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-4 · A glass-fibre glider.
7Schleicher ASW-22 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Pipistrel ALPHA ELECTRO electric trainer · The electric version of the Alpha trainer.
6Avia Stroitel AC-4 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Beechcraft 2000 · The Starship: an all-composite airframe, one of the first.
6Bolkow PHOEBUS A-1 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau ASTIR CS · A glass-fibre glider.
6Glaser-Dirks DG-500 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Hph Spol Sro HPH 304 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Kitty Hawk K1 · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
6Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-51 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Rolladen-Schneider LS-1 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Sukhoi SU-31 · Composite skins and wings on a titanium-and-steel frame; aerobatic.
6Szybowcowy Zaklad Doswiadczaln JANTAR-2 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Zaklad Szybowcowy Jezow PW-6 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Zaklady Lotnicze Marganski & MDM-1 · A glass-fibre glider.
6Eagle Aircraft EAGLE 150 · A composite three-surface light aircraft from Australia.
5Pipistrel TAURUS ELECTRO G2 · A self-launching electric glider.
5Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau SPEED ASTIR II B · A glass-fibre glider.
5Csp Leasing Llc CAVALON · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
5Glaser-Dirks DG-800 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Glasflugel 604 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Grob-Werke Gmbh And Co Kg TWIN ASTIR · A glass-fibre glider.
5Kitty Hawk KHP-4 · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
5Kitty Hawk KHP-6 · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
5Kitty Hawk KHP-8 · An electric aircraft with a carbon-fibre airframe.
5Mxr Technologies Inc MX2 · A carbon-fibre aerobatic aircraft.
5Pzl-Swidnik PW-6 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Rolladen-Schneider LS-7 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Rotorsport Uk Ltd ROTORSPRT UK CAVALON · A gyroplane with a composite cabin on a stainless-steel mast.
5Schempp-Hirth MINI-NIMBUS C · A glass-fibre glider.
5Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-2 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A · A glass-fibre glider.
5Schleicher ASW-17 · A glass-fibre glider.
5Stemme Gmbh & Co STEMME S 12 · A carbon-fibre motor glider.
Connections how this material links to the rest of the register
Model families
- Cirrus SR22 7,109 registered · With a whole-airframe parachute.
- Cirrus SR20 1,632 registered · With a whole-airframe parachute.
- Diamond Aircraft DA 40 Diamond Star 1,018 registered
- Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet 771 registered · A carbon-fibre single-engine jet with a whole-airframe parachute.
- Diamond Aircraft DA20 Katana and Eclipse 364 registered
- Diamond Aircraft DA 42 Twin Star 265 registered
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner 214 registered · Carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, the first airliner built mostly of composite.
- Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 207 registered · Now the Cessna TTx.
- Icon Aircraft Inc A5 202 registered · A carbon-fibre amphibian.
- Flight Design Gmbh CTSW 181 registered
- Diamond Aircraft DA 62 174 registered
- Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER 170 registered
Makers
- Cirrus
- Diamond Aircraft 1,875 aircraft on the register
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- Schleicher 506 aircraft on the register
- Pipistrel 398 aircraft on the register
- Flight Design Gmbh 330 aircraft on the register
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Columbia Aircraft Mfg 269 aircraft on the register
Other materials
- Aluminium 748 model families
- Steel tube, wood and fabric 209 model families
- Fabric and wicker 176 model families
- Carbon fibre and plastic 170 model families
- Steel tube and fabric 145 model families
- Aluminium with composite parts 112 model families
- Aluminium tube and fabric 85 model families
- Steel tube and aluminium 58 model families
- Fabric wing and steel frame 52 model families
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/material/composite.json.
The FAA's register does not record construction; this list is written by hand from the makers' descriptions and the type certificate data sheets, which remain the authority for any one model. Connections as data: /graph/material/composite.json.