As Deutsche Aircraft® begins its fourth year as an OEM, we are making significant advancements in bringing the revolutionary D328eco® to market. Let’s reflect on our proudest achievements of 2024.

Meeting milestones

After years of dedicated research and development, we have started construction of the first D328eco test aircraft, TAC 1. Designed to connect remote communities and revolutionise regional air travel, the transition from digital renderings to our flight-ready aircraft began in June with the first meticulous fuselage cut, which will allow us to extend the aircraft to seat 40 passengers.

We also announced the start of construction of our state-of-the-art Final Assembly Line, a fully digital, carbon-neutral facility at Leipzig/Halle Airport where our next-gen aircraft will be built.

This year, the C-146A Wolfhound, a modified version of the Dornier 328, surpassed an impressive 200,000 operational flying hours, highlighting the aircraft’s versatility and strategic capabilities as it continues to undertake special operations missions for the US Air Force. We also showcased the multi-role versatility of the D328® in action, when special forces conducted a tactical parachute demonstration at our HQ.

The future of flight

In a significant breakthrough for sustainable aviation, the D328 UpLift research aircraft made its debut at ILA Berlin and took its first flight powered entirely by 100% zero-aromatics synthetic fuel. As part of the CLIM0ART flight campaign, the aircraft completed a series of five test flights to measure emissions and contrail formations, reinforcing our commitment to environmental responsibility and technological advancement.

Strategic partnerships & in-service support

In 2024, we secured over 95% of our key suppliers and have built a robust supply chain network, announcing collaborations with Akaer, Dynamatic Technologies, Cyient, Satys Cabin, SASMOS HET, TRIUMPH, Senior plc, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Jaivel, Weerts Group and Honeywell.

Our Global Support Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen continues to service and maintain D328 aircraft in active operations, with the additional support of Airplane Painter, chosen as the repainting supplier for the in-service fleet.

Global expansion

To expand our digital and global reach, our team attended air shows and conferences in Europe, North America and Latin America. We also launched our Mandarin website and official WeChat account to facilitate engagement with customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Our exclusive Customer Experience Centre at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2024 was a fantastic success, as it allowed visitors to get a sneak peek of the modern cabin and cockpit mock-ups of our D328eco.

Stronger team

We have strengthened our global sales team with the appointment of two new Sales Directors, Reinhard Schwaiger and Carlos Castro. Their extensive experience will be crucial in expanding our market reach and increasing sales of our D328eco. Furthermore, we achieved our HR objective for 2024, expanding our team to 553 aviation specialists, which positions us well for continued growth.

Transformation for success

To close out the year, we announced that Nico Neumann has been appointed as Co-CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. Nico has held various operational positions within Deutsche Aircraft and 328 Support Services over the past 18 years and will assume full CEO duties by mid-2025. Our current CEO, Dave Jackson, will remain as CEO of our parent entity, Deutsche Aircraft Group.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are gearing up for the highly-anticipated roll-out and first test flight of the D328eco aircraft and the completion of our Final Assembly Line.

We wouldl ike to express our gratitude to our extraordinary team for being the driving force behind our mission and contributing to our growth, every single day. To our partners, suppliers and investors, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year.

Get ready for the #TurbopropRevolution in 2025!

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