Diamond's aggressive new D-Jet program has been aimed primarily at the burgeoning owner-pilot market -- with the hopes that a simple and capable single-engine jet might be more palatable to the upgrading piston and light turbine pilot than the supposedly more complex Eclipse 500 and the Cessna Citation Mustang. With an altitude limit of 25,000 feet, it is Diamond's hope that the aircraft will prove to be safer if the pressurization goes tango-uniform -- and of course, being a single, they expect that in jet-terms, the D-Jet will be a bargain to operate.
In November of 2006, Diamond announced that Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) placed the first serious fleet order for 20 D-Jets, with the aim that they will become a major provider of training to D-Jet owners next year.
Just a few months ago, Diamond confirmed that the single-engine Williams powered hot-rod will be built near the main plant in London, Ontario -- no doubt encouraged by the Canadian government's investment of nearly 20 million ...
