Oh Baby... I Gotta Get Me One of These...

ANN News Spies are EVERYWHERE... and while this story has been rumored for a while, we are pleased to offer you the first public gander (even before the "official" press releases went out) at the latest new aircraft announced by the fertile and creative designers of Diamond Aircraft -- and it's a beauty, folks.

The go-ahead for Diamond's new "D-Jet" was reportedly sanctioned last month. The company expects to fly the first of this new generation of GA jet birds in mid-2004 with production to commence in 2006.

Initial specs are sketchy, but the D-Jet is a 4700 pound (MTOW), five place, single pilot machine. Designed to do 315 knots, the D-Jet will cruise at 25,000 feet, maintain a cabin of approximately 8000 feet, burning all of 34 gallons of jet juice per hour. Runway requirements are quoted as less than 2000 feet and a time to climb (to cruise altitude) is noted as approximately 8 minutes.

We do not have definitive information on the power source but the company claims that the D-Jet will be powered by an engine with "proven reliability." Other design features mentioned are an all-glass cockpit, low noise signature, ecologically friendly operation, a wingletted low wing and t-tail. Construction is expected to be (largely) composite.

Price? Under a million.

We'll have more details, shortly.

FMI: http://www.diamondair.com