Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH
Fairchild Dornier has delayed the launch of its 428JET while it resolves remaining technical issues and continues talks with potential customers.
The company had been hoping for a launch at the recent Asian Aerospace air show in Singapore, but according to Earl Robinson, company senior vice-president for product development, the launch, along with the announcement of first orders, will now take place "not later than 1 July". The aircraft is a 42-44 seat stretched version of the 30-seat 328JET.
Having originally said the aircraft will be powered by an uprated version of the 328JET's Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306B turbofans, the manufacturer has now chosen to opt for the more powerful 35kN (7,900lb)thrust PW308 engine.
Sources close to the project say that the originally planned engine would not have provided adequate short field performance.
The current design configuration, with the wing sized at 52m² (560ft²) compared with the 328JET's 40m² offers a balanced landing field length of 1,320m (4,330ft), says Robinson.
He adds that the aircraft, which will be built on the same production line as the 328JET, will have its maiden flight in the first quarter of next year, and is due for certification in the third quarter of 2000.
Source: Flight International
