Dornier 328
| Dornier 328 | |
|---|---|
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| An Air Alps Dornier 328-110 landing at Fiumicino Airport, Rome | |
| Role | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Dornier, |
| First flight | 6 December 1991 |
| Introduction | 1993 |
| Primary users | Cirrus Airlines Air Alps Sun Air of Scandinavia SATENA |
| Number built | 217 |
| Developed into | Fairchild Dornier 328JET |
The Dornier 328 is a turboprop-powered commuter airliner. Initially produced by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, the firm was acquired in 1996 by Fairchild Aircraft. The resulting firm, named Fairchild-Dornier, manufactured the 328 family in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, conducted sales from San Antonio, Texas, United States, and supported the product line from both locations.
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[edit] Design and development
The 328 (or Do 328) program was initially begun while Dornier was still owned by Deutsche Aerospace. The basic 328 first flew on 6 December 1991,[1] and entered commercial service in October 1993.[2] The 328's new fuselage allowed for comfortable 3-abreast seating, with the potential for a 4-abreast configuration. Combined with the supercritical wing developed from Dornier's Do 228, this gave the 328 excellent cruise and climb capabilities. However, the 328 entered a market crowded with other competing turboprop aircraft at the time, as well as increasing competition from new regional jets in the early 1990s.[3]
In 2005, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) awarded a contract to AeroRescue for long-range Search and Rescue (SAR) capability around Australia. Five 328-100s were progressively commissioned from April 2006 [4] to February 2007 and stationed around the Australian coastline to provide a 24 hour, 30 minute response capability. The aircraft were equipped with a comprehensive electronic sensor suite by Aerodata AG in Germany including; Israel Aerospace Industries ELTA EL/M 2022A Radar, FSI Star SAFire III Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR), Direction Finder and an ARGON ST Infra Red/Ultra Violet scanner. The aircraft are also fitted with an Aeronautical Engineers Australia despatch system, allowing rescue stores to be dropped from the aircraft through a chute through the underwing emergency exit. These are progressively being upgraded with an in-flight opening cargo door to allow despatch of larger items, up to 20 man life rafts and boat dewatering pumps for open water rescues.
328 Support Services GmbH has held the type certificate for this aircraft since June 2006.[5][6]
[edit] Variants
- 328-100 - Initial 328.
- 328-110 - Standard 328 with greater range and weights
- 328-120 - 328 with improved STOL performance.
- 328-130 - 328 with progressive rudder authority reduction at higher airspeeds.
- 328JET - Turbofan-powered variant, formerly the 328-300.
[edit] Operators
In August 2010 a total of 166 remain in operation with 67 Dornier 328-100 aircraft in airline service. Major operators include: Cirrus Airlines (15), Air Alps (5), Sun Air of Scandinavia (6), Suckling Airways (6), Satena (6), and South East Asian Airlines (5), Vision Airlines (4), Sky Work Airlines (2), Central Mountain Air (2), Inter Island Airways (1). 9 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.[7]
[edit] Accidents
- On 25 February 1999, Minerva Airlines Flight 1553 on a flight from Cagliari-Elmas Airport to Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport in Italy. When on landing on runway 29 the aircraft ran off the end of the runway and crashed into the sea. Four of the 31 passengers and crew died in the accident.[8]
[edit] Specifications (Dornier 328-110)
General characteristics
- Crew: Three (2 Pilots, 1 Flight Attendant)
- Capacity: 30 to 33 (14 in First Class Config) passengers
- Length: 21.11 m (69 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 20.98 m (68 ft 10 in)
- Height: 7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 40 m² (431 ft²)
- Empty weight: 8,920 kg (19,670 lb)
- Useful load: 3,450 kg (7,606 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 13,990 kg (30,840 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 620 km/h (335 knots, 385 mph)
- Range: 1,850 km (1,000 nm, 1,150 mi)
- Service ceiling: 9,455 m (31,020 ft)
Avionics
Honeywell PRIMUS 2000
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] References
- ^ Swanborough 1992, p.123.
- ^ Taylor 1999, p.195.
- ^ Fairchild Dornier Gmbh Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Fairchild Dornier Gmbh, Reference for Business. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ http://www.amsa.gov.au/about_amsa/media_releases/2006/2006_aug_17.asp
- ^ 328 Support Services GmbH - Home Page
- ^ FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A45NM Revision 7
- ^ Flight International 24-30 August 2010
- ^ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19990225-0
- Swanborough, Gordon. "Dornier 328: A Daimler for Commuters". Air International, March 1992, Vol. 42 No. 3. pp. 123–128. ISSN 0306-5634.
- Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
- Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent German-language Wikipedia article (retrieved February 14, 2006).
[edit] External links
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