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Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 1:11 pm
by Thomas
Report in Flight International issue 19-25 November

Entry-level piston and D-JET may shine again at Diamond
New Chinese chief executive considers relaunches as part of five-year product strategy.

Diamond Aircraft is planning to relaunch production of the DA20 piston-single in 2020 and says the D-JET could also be resurrected as part of a five-year strategy to be revealed in 2021.

Diamond says the decision to revive the two-seat DA20 follows feedback from its customers and the market.

“There is a lot of demand for a two-seat piston-single from owner-flyers and flight training schools who are looking for a basic aircraft that can do spin testing,” says Diamond chief executive Frank Zhang.

The airframer stopped selling the DA20 in 2017 because of the limited production capacity created by its expanding product line. The final aircraft was delivered the following year.

The company produces four aircraft families – the DA40 piston-single, the Dart 450 aerobatic turboprop trainer, and DA42 and DA62 piston-twins.

The airframer also has a pair of aircraft at an advanced stage of development: the Dart 550 – a higher-spec version of the Dart 450 scheduled for certification in 2021 – and the DA50. The Jet A-fuelled high-end piston-single is currently in flight testing and is earmarked for certification and service entry in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Diamond has delivered more than 1,000 DA20s since the first example entered service in 1994.

“Reintroducing the DA20 will make our [piston-engined] portfolio complete,” says Zhang.

The company has now expanded its facilities in Wiener Neustadt and London, Ontario, in Canada – and will produce the aircraft at both sites.

Product development is at the core of Diamond’s strategy. Owned by China’s Wanfeng Aviation, the company is planning to publish a roadmap in 2021 that could include a future for the stalled D-JET programme.

The five-seat single was suspended in 2013 after the airframer failed to secure the necessary funding to complete development.

Four prototypes were built and are stored at the London, Ontario facility

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 8:35 pm
by Colin
The D-Jet was under-powered, according to the few people who flew the only flights. I wonder if they will change how it is powered.

It would have been so cool if Zhang had also said, "We are committed to being a global leader in aviation and will take care of our customers and fleet as you would expect from a leader."

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 1:34 am
by Boatguy
Colin wrote: Sat Nov 30, 2019 8:35 pm The D-Jet was under-powered, according to the few people who flew the only flights. I wonder if they will change how it is powered.

It would have been so cool if Zhang had also said, "We are committed to being a global leader in aviation and will take care of our customers and fleet as you would expect from a leader."
I think it's an open question of whether we should copy or include Zhang in our "customer service" correspondence. We have no idea how much he is or isn't aware of the issues we're raising.

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:49 am
by ememic99
Boatguy wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2019 1:34 am We have no idea how much he is or isn't aware of the issues we're raising.
Usually, this managerial level doesn't interfere with customer support :)

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:25 pm
by Boatguy
ememic99 wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:49 am
Boatguy wrote: Sun Dec 01, 2019 1:34 am We have no idea how much he is or isn't aware of the issues we're raising.
Usually, this managerial level doesn't interfere with customer support :)
Certainly true on an individual case basis. However, our issues are with respect to company wide policy which was neglected under the previous management and the implications of that neglect may not be entirely known to the new management.

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 7:35 pm
by Colin
I agree with Russ. And I wonder if Zhang would have an opinion on whether happy current owners and a healthy existing fleet is worth anything to the current company.

It appears to have been to Cirrus.

Re: Diamond Statement at Dubai Airshow

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 7:47 pm
by Pehu
Time to write a nice letter to mr Zhang? With owners participating? (same style as the G1000 petition).

How would be kind to write a good and understandable recap of the situation...