Dquad is a top tier multi-rotor company started by brothers-in-law Davis Helvensteijn and Djon Di Benedetto. Driven by passion and innovation, this team took the freestyle and racing scene in the Netherlands by storm. Beyond their local influence, the duo has contributed to revolutionizing the entire industry.
The Genesis:
Dquad was born from an attic, a shed, and a wooden CD rack. Davis and Djon began their foray in May 2014. The first "model" they built was a rudimentary H-frame made with the aforementioned CD rack. In the end it flew, and thus a love of flight, design, and refinement was ignited. From there, the team embraced an aesthetic that continues to this day: light and tight. The light and tight philosophy is exemplified in all the designs from Mr. Helvensteijn and Mr. Di Benedetto. After the flying CD rack they built another model. This one used the attic for inspiration and drawing board work, as well as the shed that housed their CNC machine. This model was called the D+D Design, featured tube arms, and was cobbled together with fishing line. From there they built their first major success, the iniMini 4 inch.
Enter METALL DANNY. At a race in Belgium, Dquad had brought their iniMini. Danny took a shine to the design and the team. When METALL DANNY asked for three copies to use for his own racing, Davis and Djon were excited to provide them. Two days later, word had spread. Dquad was contacted by MENNO from multirotorparts.nl who asked for a meeting.
The D's agreed and showed up with models in hand and 3D drawings on how to make them. Multirotorparts ordered 100 of the iniMinis right then and there! Knowing very quickly they had outgrown the attic and shed, Dquad was born again - albeit in a larger and more official capacity!
The Genesis. Light and tight:
The Obsession frame had been an unrivaled success for Davis and Djon; it is nothing short of revolutionary.
This design is aptly named and, upon introduction, there was nothing like it in existence. It is quite light, strong, tidy, and looks very cool. One testament to its success is how oft copied it has become! Before the Obsession, few (if any) frames were using aluminum components. On the other hand, every design ever produced by Dquad has had an aluminum part. Davis said he was first drawn to the metal "because it can do things carbon can't." Many manufacturers have now followed suit, expanding their offerings beyond simply carbon fiber. The Obsession is a unique design that still influences quad racing frames today.
The Obsession was not a quickly or lazily designed frame either. It took over half a year in development and refinement, and has been through at least 30 iterations! Davis and Djon refused to finalize the blueprints until they had seen the best pilot's opinions and flights. This approach had positioned Dquad for continued success!
Enter Armattan:
Demand often follows growth, and this time was no different. Just as the two D's had outgrown their shed and attic, they found themselves looking for a new, higher quality supplier of carbon fiber. This is where fate stepped in to unite the D's with another industry leader, Chris L: CEO of Armattan. Chris reached out during an episode of the FPV Life podcast, and Davis answered the call. The D's, like everyone else in the multirotor scene, already knew of Armattan's industry leading, high heat pressed, 3k carbon fiber. After a few hours on the phone, Davis and Chris realized that they had a lot in common regarding design philosophy, opinions about the future of the sport, and business practices. A fortuitous partnership was forged, and Armattan now offers full and complete support to Dquad. This allows for turnkey product support and preparation. Gone were the days where Davis, Djon, their wives, and their parents had to hand count nuts and bolts. This level of support guarantees consistent quality and allowed the D's to devote more time to designing the next revolutionary frame!
Chasing the Podium:
Davis and Djon were always flying and refining their skills. With a Dutch Team flying the Dquad Reflex frame, they placed fourth in Dubai. Additionally, Dquad team pilots are competing and winning all across the world. Their pilots provided a constant source of feedback, influencing future designs to be better. The frames aren't just for racing, however. The team pilots also focus on freestyle and fun, often recording high quality videos with their frame as the platform.
Growing and Growing:
In a short period of time, Dquad has grown from a fanciful idea into a legitimate and innovative enterprise. The light and tight philosophy is sure to continue to push the envelope of design. You won't find any long, unsightly wires or extraneous hardware on a Dquad frame. Less drag and weight leads to increased efficiency that can very well be the difference in who crosses the line first, or who can pull off an incredible trick with more flow!
New Beginnings
In 2020 Dquad ownership was handed over to Dquad superfan Jeff Govoni. Jeff is committed to taking Dquad to the next level with innovated frame designs and high quality manufacturing standards.