GKN to supply empennage for D328eco

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The UK’s GKN Aerospace has won a contract to supply the empennage for the Deutsche Aircraft D328eco, an updated variant of the Dornier 328 turboprop.

GKN will work with Deutsche Aircraft on the development of the empennage, the design of which Deutsche Aircraft said features “advanced lightweight solutions” involving composites. GKN has extensive experience manufacturing composite structural components such as the empennage of the G650 and the HondaJet fuselage.

Production of the D328eco will take place at Leipzig Halle Airport, and is due to begin in 2025.

The new model is focused on powering the revamped 328 with Pratt & Whitney PW127S engines, which can run on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Other modifications include a two-meter fuselage stretch to allow for a capacity of 43 passengers. Deutsche Aircraft also plans to update the flight deck with a Garmin G5000 avionics suite for a possible transition to single-pilot operations.

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