Due to public perception of noise and reliability issues with turboprops, Fairchild-Dornier developed the turbofan-based 328-300 or 328JET, of which 83 were sold. The 328JET utilized the same cabin arrangement as the 328. Fairchild-Dornier also began development of the stretched 428JET, a 44-seat version of the 328JET.

328JET
800px-Tyrolean Jet Services Do-328-300 OE-HTJ
Tyrolean Jet Services 328JET
Role Airliner
Manufacturer Fairchild Dornier
Primary users Hainan Airlines
Skyway Airlines
Vision Airlines
Number built 110
Developed from Dornier 328
Variants Fairchild Dornier 428JET
Developed into Lockheed Martin X-55

 

 

Design and development

Due to public perception of noise and reliability issues with turboprops, Fairchild-Dornier developed the turbofan-based 328-300 or 328JET, of which 83 were sold. The 328JET utilized the same cabin arrangement as the 328. Fairchild-Dornier also began development of the stretched 428JET, a 44-seat version of the 328JET.


DO328 Cirrus
A 328JET of Cirrus Airlines, with a DHC Dash 8 in the background
 

The declining commercial success of the 328JET meant that Fairchild-Dornier was unable to finance the development of further models. The 328JET was therefore the last commercial aircraft to be produced by the former Dornier business before it became insolvent in 2002. Following Dornier's insolvency, AvCraft Aviation of Virginia acquired the rights to the 328 program in March 2003, including the 32-seat 328JET and 328 turboprop, 18 328JETs in various stages of assembly, and the development work on the 428JET. After the successful sale of these airplanes, AvCraft negotiated arrangements with suppliers to resume production. The first newly built 328JET was delivered in 2004. AvCraft also took on the production of these aircraft, due to low profit expectations for its other projects, until it filed for bankruptcy itself in 2005. The resulting firm was acquired by private equity investors and reformed as M7 Aerospace.

328 Support Services GmbH has held the type certificate for the 328JET since June 2006.

 

Variants

800px-ADAC Dornier 328-300 D-BADAADAC 328JET air ambulance.
 
  • 328JET - Turbofan-powered variant, formerly the 328-300.
  • Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft - a Dornier 328J with its mid/aft fuselage and empennage replaced with advanced composite materials. The ACCA is a Lockheed Martin demonstrator to advance composite usage on next-generation tactical air mobility transports for the US Air Force Research Laboratory.

Operators

  • In August 2010 a total of 54 Dornier 328Jet aircraft remain in airline service. The only operators with a fleet of more than five are Ultimate Jetcharters (based in Ohio at the Akron Canton Airport) with 10, Tianjin Airlines with 11 and Sun Air of Scandinavia with 6. Some 13 other airlines also operate smaller numbers of the type.

Specifications (Dornier 328JET)

 

VariantFairchild Dornier 328JET
Crew 3 (2 pilots + flight attendant)
Seating capacity 32 to 34
Length
Wing span
Height
21.28 m (69 ft 10 in)
20.98 m (68 ft 10 in)
7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)
Engines (2x)
Thrust (2x)
P&W PW306B
26.9 kN (6,050 lbf)
Max Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) 13,070 kg (28,814 lb)
Max payload weight 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)
Max Take Off Weight 15,660 kg (34,524 lb)
Maximum range 3,705 km (2,000 nmi)
Maximum cruising speed 405 knots (750 km/h)
Flight ceiling 10,668 m (35,000 ft)
Certification Date July 1999

 

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Dornier_328JET