Diamond Selects BRS Chute, Announces Updated Pricing

ANN REALTIME Update -- 1138 EDT, 07.16.06: Diamond has just announced firm pricing for the FJ33 powered D-Jet, quoting $1.38 million dollars as of July, 2006, with adjustments as necessary for price indexes at time of sale. The first deliveries are now currently envisioned for 2Q/08.

During a lavish and ornate Saturday night public unveiling of Diamond Aircraft's single-engine Williams FJ33 powered D-Jet GA jet, Diamond CEO Christian Dries (pictured below) confirmed to ANN that they have entered into an agreement to develop a BRS emergency aircraft parachute system for the D-Jet.

The program will be a complex one requiring some aggressive interfacing between a number of aircraft systems and the parachute system, itself. We do know that the aircraft's chute system will be offered as a "standard option," allowing purchasers to elect to delete the system from their order, should they choose. Pricing aspects have yet to be discussed publicly.

The announcement marks the third time a BRS system has been selected for inclusion in a certified airframe, though the current project involves a number of new technologies and operational parameters never before attempted by BRS, the company that brought this technology to the certified aircraft market with the Cirrus SR20/22 series several years ago, and more recently with the Canadian Symphony program (currently moribund due to financial issues, hopefully temporary).

After a series of high speed taxi and rotation tests, Diamond’s D-JET S/N 001, lifted off at 17:08 on Tuesday April 18th, 2006.

The D-Jet has since amassed over 25 hours in a test program that has recently reached 280 KTAS, and an altitude of FL250. The D-Jet resumed flight testing late last month, following the initial flight test series in late April. The flight test program resumed after installation of its data acquisition system and minor planned modifications to the inlet engine fairings.

In a series of flight tests conducted from June 26th through June 30th, the speed and altitude envelope was progressively expanded from the previously flown 170 kts and 12,000'. A flight flown by pilots Christian Dries and Anthony Brown on June 30th, expanded the cruise speed to 280+ ktas and altitude to the design certification limit of 25,000'.

"We are very pleased to have expanded the envelope in such a short time. The aircraft is a joy to fly, smooth, very stable and with all systems functioning perfectly," said CEO Christian Dries.

"The aircraft is doing everything we are expecting of it."

First announced by Diamond Aircraft in January 2003, the single-engine Diamond "D-Jet" is powered by a single Williams FJ-33 turbofan, an engine also used in the upcoming twin-engine Adams A700 and ATG Javelin. The five-passenger D-Jet is expected to cruise at a maximum speed of 315 knots, at an altitude of 25,000 ft while offering a range of 1,351 nm -- which translates to a decidedly un-jetlike fuel burn around 34 gallons per hour.

The composite aircraft features a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, which in basic configuration features a dual screen PFD/MFD with integrated GFC 700 autopilot. The optional enhanced avionics package adds a massive 15" MFD to the two 10" PFD's, a glare shield mounted autopilot controller for the GFC 700 and a center console mounted FMS controller.

The system features dual AHRS, dual magnetometers, dual GPS, dual Com, dual Nav, dual Mode S transponders, and dual audio panels.

Official BRS Statement

BRS, a manufacturer and worldwide supplier of whole-airplane parachute recovery systems for general aviation and recreational aircraft, announced today an agreement to develop and install a BRS parachute system for Diamond Aircraft's new D-JET. This historical commitment to aviation safety signifies the first time a whole airframe recovery parachute system will be developed for installation in a civilian jet for use by the general flying public.

"We have been discussing the possibility for many years, but this agreement with Diamond Aircraft represents the next step required to make our vision a reality. Our spending on the development program has recently accelerated to accommodate this next generation jet aircraft," said Boris Popov, founder of BRS and board member.

"Diamond Aircraft gives us the first product platform in the important new very light jet category and will be a driver for the combined efforts of our development teams."

"The D-JET will be fully certified to fly without the parachute, but the parachute will be offered as the standard option. This expands our tradition of active safety by adding an advanced, proven passive safety system to the aircraft. Pilots and passengers alike, desire the reliability of a proven safety technology from the market leader in whole aircraft parachute recovery systems. We are pleased to select BRS as our development partner for this program," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft Industries.

BRS Vice President of Engineering Frank Hoffmann said, "We expect the initial system to operate at an airspeed and altitude that can allow a safe recovery of the aircraft and occupants, in situations such as the unlikely event of an IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) engine failure or a low altitude emergency. Expansion of the flight envelope with a secondary system can be integrated later to allow high speed and high altitude scenario recoveries which are much less likely to occur, but are also more difficult to execute."

Hoffmann said "the expanded jet high speed, high altitude parachute recovery system will require only a small increase in weight to house drogue parachute as well as the computer logic to control the deployment sequence."

In Ballistic Recovery System's 25-year history, the company has sold over 22,000 onboard emergency parachute systems to aircraft owners around the world, including over 2,700 systems on certified aircraft. BRS units to date have been documented in saving 190 lives, with 14 of those in certified aircraft.

FMI: www.diamondair.com, www.garmin.com, www.brsparachutes.com