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.