Diamond D-Jet

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D-Jet

Artist's rendering of Diamond Air D-Jet in ATP livery
Type Civil passenger jet
Manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries
Maiden flight 18 April 2006
Introduced projected to be in spring 2009[1]
Status undergoing certification flight testing
Number built 3 prototypes[2]

The D-Jet is a composite, five-seat, single-engine jet aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries.[3]

The aircraft is currently undergoing flight testing. The final cost is advertised as US$1.38 million, in 2006 dollars.[3]

Contents

[edit] Sales and marketing

Diamond has targeted the aircraft at the owner-pilot market, seeing it as more practical for single-pilot operations than the Eclipse 500 and the Cessna Citation Mustang. By limiting the altitude to 25,000 feet, it will be safer if pressurization fails. Diamond intends the D-Jet to have a lower operating cost than other very light jets[citation needed].

On November 9, 2006, at the AOPA Expo in Palm Springs, CA, Diamond announced that Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) placed the first fleet order of 20 Diamond D-JETs. ATP will provide factory-approved training to D-JET purchasers beginning in 2008[4].

In February, 2008 Diamond announced that the aircraft will be built in a new plant in London, Ontario. This announcement came after the Government of Canada announced it was giving the company a “Cdn$19.6 million strategic, repayable investment” and the Government of Ontario announced that it had given the company Cdn$11 million. Diamond claims that research and development costs for the D-Jet have been Cdn$95.2 million and that the plant to build the aircraft will cost an additional $100 million.[5]

[edit] Development

The D-Jet was initially to be powered by one Williams FJ-33-4A-15 turbofan engine. That 1,564 lb thrust engine was found in early 2008 to produce insufficient bleed air for cabin pressurization and other services. As a result a decision was made to switch to the Williams FJ-33-4A-19 turbofan engine, which produces 1,900 lbs of thrust instead.[1]

The switch in engines has delayed the certification schedule and the first customer deliveries of the aircraft are now expected to be in the spring of 2009.[1]

[edit] Flight testing and certification

The first flight of the D-Jet was made on April 18, 2006[6], with the aircraft's public debut coming at Oshkosh in July 2006[7]. After completion of flight testing, Diamond expects full certification in early 2008 with deliveries starting in the second quarter of 2008.

The Diamond D-Jet, partially assembled at the Oakland NBAA, November 8, 2007.
The Diamond D-Jet, partially assembled at the Oakland NBAA, November 8, 2007.

On Friday, July 20, 2007 Diamond Aircraft announced the roll out of its second D-Jet, serial number 002. Serial number 002 is the first D-Jet intended to conform to the expected production configuration in its structural layout and aerodynamic design. D-jet prototype serial number 002 first flew on Friday 14 September 2007. It was joined by D-Jet Serial Number 003, which first flew on April 15, 2008.[8].

[edit] Type Clubs

The Diamond family of aircraft is supported by two active aircraft type club, The Diamond Aviators Association[9] and the Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum.[10]

[edit] Specifications (D-Jet)

Data from Diamond Air

General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Capacity: four passengers
  • Length: 35.1 feet (10.7 m)
  • Wingspan: 37.6 feet (11.5 m)
  • Height: 11.7 feet (3.6 m)
  • Loaded weight: 5,110 lbs (2,317.9 kg)
  • Useful load: 2,240 lbs (1,016 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Williams FJ33-4A
  • * Maximum fuel : 1,740 lbs

Performance


[edit] Citations

  1. ^ a b c Flying Magazine: Engine Swap for the D-Jet: Program Delayed, June 2008 page 20. Hachette Filipacchi Media
  2. ^ Transport Canada (February 2007). Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  3. ^ a b Diamond Aircraft (undated). Djet. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
  4. ^ AvWeb Article Diamond Announces D-Jet Fleet Order By Russ Niles, Newswriter, Editor November 9, 2006
  5. ^ AvWeb Staff (February 2008). D-Jet To Be Built In London, Ont.. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  6. ^ AvWeb Article Diamond D-Jet First Flight By Mary Grady , Newswriter, Editor April 20, 2006
  7. ^ AvWeb Article Diamond D-Jet To Debut At Oshkosh By Mary Grady, Newswriter Editor May 31 2006
  8. ^ Aero-News April 16, 2008 Article Diamond's Third D-Jet Takes To The Skies
  9. ^ Diamond Aviators Association (undated). Diamond Aviators Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
  10. ^ Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum (March 2008). Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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