Fairchild Dornier releases 928JET design

Fairchild Dornier released details of the design for the new 100-seat 928JET at a press conference today at Farnborough 2000. The 928JET is the second aircraft in Fairchild Dornier's new family of airliners targeting the growing market in the 100-and-under-seat class. .

"The key to our design of the 928JET is that it is not a simple 'stretch' of the 728JET, but is optimised for economic efficiency at 100 seats," said John Wolf, chief operating officer for Fairchild Dornier. "We have a slightly larger wing than that on the 728JET and a growth engine that is perfect for this size aircraft."

The 928JET wingspan is 94 feet, 6 inches with a wing area of 908.5 square feet, compared with the 728JET's 89-foot wingspan and 807 square-foot wing area. The 928JET will use two CF34-10D engines, each with 17,100 pounds of thrust, while the 728JET uses the CF34-8D3 engine with 12,500 pounds of thrust.

"While we have made changes from the 728JET to the 928JET, we remain true to our original family concept where systems commonality, particularly commonality in flight crew type ratings, will yield excellent fleet benefits for the operator," Wolf said.

The 928JET uses the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics system as well as other subsystems also found on the 728JET, including Parker hydraulics, BFGoodrich landing gear and fuel system, Hamilton Sundstrand electrics, and Honeywell's environmental control system and auxiliary power unit. Plans call for the wings and empennage control surfaces to be produced in Spain by CASA.

Fairchild Dornier booked its first order for the 928JET from Bavaria Aircraft Leasing in June. Bavaria holds firm orders for four 928JETs and options for two more. GECAS, one of Fairchild Dornier's 728 customers, holds options that are convertible to 928JETs.

The 928JET is scheduled for first flight in late 2003 and entry into service after its flight test and certification programme ends in early 2005.

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