Diamond restarts flight test programme

Diamond Aircraft has announced it resumed
flight testing of its D-JET prototypes, following their temporary grounding
after a funding shortfall and significant employee furloughs in March, 2011.

“Our team’s spirits are certainly lifted
with the resumption of flight activities” said Peter Maurer, president. “Being
able to bring back part of the team allowed us to resume flight operations and
we are looking forward to finishing the campaign with 002 and 003, while in
parallel finalising detail design work and starting the  production of
conforming aircraft 004.”

The one hour flight of D-JET 003, its first
flight since 27 March 2011, included shakedown of aircraft systems, control
sweeps, gear cycling, flap cycling, verification of navigation equipment and
software, several touch and goes, and completion of some control system test
points. 

Diamond test pilot Mark Elwess reported the
flight to be uneventful without any issues or aircraft snags.  Completion
of the flight test campaign for the prototypes will continue on a regular
basis.