A German aircraft, a German original equipment manufacturer (OEM), revealed that it has started construction of its first test aircraft D328eco (TAC 1), extending the fuselage of the Dornier D328.
The development of the test aircraft was announced, marking an important step in the company's goal of creating a generation of environmentally friendly turboprops under the D328eco program, a sustainable 40-seat regional airliner. This update was revealed on Farnborough Airshow on July 25, 2024. Commenting on the development process, Nico Neumann, operations director at German aircraft, She said:
“We are excited to announce the fuselage cut for the D328eco program. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of our team, who have successfully begun the TAC 1 development process. It demonstrates our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions and enabling early flight testing for the D328eco.”
The program has also made significant progress in building a strong supply chain network, having signed contracts with more than 95% of its suppliers. According to the German aircraft, this achievement puts the program in a good position for success.
In 2022 the Deutsche Aircraft made an important announcement about an investment in the D328eco program. The following year, in 2023, the German aircraft and Private Wings have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to supply five D328eco aircraft. Currently, the Private Wings is the company's only launch customer.
“We see the D328eco as a great addition to our existing fleet of ten Dornier 328 aircraft. The D328eco is a natural step forward for Private Wings as we look to expand our business and fleet and seek the most efficient and operationally sustainable solution to meet market needs.” Said Peter Gatz, CEO of Private Wings.
According to the manufacturer, the D328eco, derived from the older Dornier D328, will maintain the field performance of the previous model, while offering greater power and payload capacity, which will expand its mission options. The aircraft will be capable of operating on unpaved runways and in adverse weather conditions. The final assembly line is located at Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ).
A Deutsche Aircraft promises that the D328eco will offer the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions on the market. This aircraft is designed to operate on 100% SAF power-to-liquid (PtL), which can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%.
Additionally, the aircraft will be capable of reaching service ceilings of up to 30.000 feet, allowing it to use less congested upper airways, which reduces fuel consumption and allows for longer missions.
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