Diamond D-Jet – Executive Very Light Jet, Austria

Diamond Aircraft Industries, based in Austria and Canada, has developed the D-Jet five-seat executive and owner-pilot jet. The aircraft was first revealed in 2002 and the first flight of the D-Jet took place on 18 April 2006 from the London International Airport, Ontario, home of Diamond's North American operations.

First flight of the aircraft with the Williams FJ33-5A engine, which replaces the FJ33-15 as the production powerplant, was in October 2008. The new engine will be used for the certification process. The D-Jet is expected to enter service in mid-2009.

The D-Jet aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 583km/h (315ktas) and a maximum range of 2,500km (1,350nm).

In May 2008, Smart Air, based in Luxembourg, ordered eight D-Jet aircraft plus options for the aircraft's first European fractional ownership programme. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2010. Other orders include six for YourJet of Louisville, Kentucky and ten for Chartright Air Group of Mississauga, Canada.

D-Jet construction

The D-Jet is of lightweight composite construction featuring low and swept-back wings with winglets and a T-tail.

Flight deck

The glass cockpit is fitted with an electrically driven vapour cycle air-conditioning system allowing the aircraft to be pre-cooled prior to boarding.

The aircraft's avionics system is based on the Garmin G1000 avionics suite and includes a three-panel Garmin G1000 glass cockpit with Garmin GDU 1240A 12in primary flight displays (PFDs), a centrally mounted Garmin GDU 1500 15in multi-function display (MFD), Garmin flight management system with a centre console-mounted keypad controller and Garmin GFC 700 3-axis automatic flight control system. The autopilot control unit for the GFC 700 automatic flight is placed for easy access just below the glarescreen.

The communications and navigation suite comprises a dual Garmin GIA 63W VHF communications set, VHF navigator with an instrument landing system (ILS) localiser and glideslope, a wide-area augmentation system (FAA WAAS) certified global positioning system (GPS), dual Garmin GRS 77 solid-state attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), dual Garmin GDC 74 digital air data computers, Garmin GTX 33 mode-S transponder, dual pilot static system, active traffic advisory system (ATAS), a TAWS-B terrain awareness system, a satellite data link for weather and support for XM radio in-flight information and entertainment and a 406MHz emergency locator transmitter.

Systems fitted as a customer option include: Garmin GWX 68 weather radar system with 12in antenna, Becker 3500 automatic direction finder (ADF), and Honeywell KN63 DME distance measuring equipment.

Cabin

The cabin provides five seats in a two-plus-three configuration. The rear-seat bench can comfortably accommodate three people or two executive-class passengers.

Safety

The D-Jet is fitted with de-icing systems and other active and passive safety systems. Redundant systems include the dual power supplies. The certified ceiling altitude is 25,000ft.

The D-Jet's dual electrical system is based on two independent buses. One electrical bus is powered by a 200A starter / generator; and the other is supplied by a 70A alternator.

Each electrical system runs independently and the aircraft can operate on either system alone. Each system also has its own battery, so that in the unlikely event that one of the power-generating sources fails, the battery will continue to provide power to that system for a time.

Engine

The aircraft is powered by a single 8.45kN turbofan FJ33-5A (formerly designated FJ33-19) engine supplied by Williams International. It was decided in March 2008 to upgrade to the FJ33-5A rather than the FJ33-15, rated at 6.96kN, fitted on prototype aircraft. The engine air inlets are visible in the wingroots. The engine is fitted with full authority digital engine control.

The fuel capacity is 1,100l in the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified version of the aircraft. In the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified version the fuel capacity is 790l.

Landing gear

In May 2008, Diamond Aircraft announced the selection of Mecaer America to provide nose and main landing gear systems for the D-Jet.