Diamond Jet Aircraft Diamond Jets produces an all composite, single engine jet aircraft called the D-JET whose primary market will be owners/pilots who prefer to fly the aircraft themselves. Diamond sees the D-Jet as a more practical solution to other competitors in the light jet aircraft sector, such as the Eclipse Jet, Cirrus Jet or even the Cessna Citation Mustang. Diamond's D-Jet is intended to fly under a 25,000 foot ceiling, thereby making it a safer jet to operate should pressurization fail. Diamond intends the D-JET to have a lower operating cost than other Very Light Jets (VLJs). In 2006, Diamond received their first orders for a fleet of 20 D-Jets from an ATP Flight School that will also provide factory training to D-JET customers. In 2008, Diamond received another order form a Toronto-based jet charter group for 10 D-JET aircraft. Soon after, a Canadian jet charter company ordered five new D-Jets with an option for another ten orders based on an air taxi service program. That same year, the Canadian Government granted Diamond a $20 million dollar loan to build a new aircraft plant in London, Ontario. In addition, the Ontario government granted a $11 million dollar loan to Diamond for infrastructure build-out. The Ontario loan was contingent upon the Canadian government loan, which was not approved. Over 200 employees were laid off. Diamond claimed that $100 million dollars would be needed to build their jet aircraft manufacturing facility and that research and development costs for the D-JET had been in excess of $95 dollars. A Williams FJ33-4A-15 turbofan engine initially powered Diamond's D-JET, but thrust proved to be insufficient for cabin pressurization, therefore Diamond switched to the Williams FJ33-4A-19 turbofan engine, which produces sufficient thrust to meet all onboard services and projected flight parameters. Switching engines delayed certification therefore the first D-Jet deliveries came in 2009. Diamond intended to develop a military trainer variant of the D-JET that would include a lightweight ejection seat, but flight testing and further development was halted in 2011 as the company lacked funds to proceed. After a failing to find support from Canada's federal government , Diamond found funding through a private investment and test flight resumed in late 2011. Click Here for News, Reviews, Images & Forums on Diamond Jets ***
