Efforts to revive the Fairchild Dornier 728 programme are under way, as Chinese investor D'Long authorises the resumption of structural testing.
German aeronautical and automotive design consultancy IABG, originally commissioned to carry out testing on the aircraft three years ago, is to continue its work on the 728 following D'Long's acquisition of the regional jet programme from Fairchild Dornier's administrator in June.
Ottobrunn-based IABG is to perform static tests on the aircraft. It already has a test rig, equipped with around 70 hydraulic cylinders for load testing, to accommodate the basic airframe.
These cylinders apply various stresses to the airframe, and measurements on the structural effects are transmitted along 3,000 data channels.
Despite Fairchild Dornier's filing for insolvency in April last year, and the subsequent suspension of the test activity, IABG left the test assembly in place. Werner von Anhalt, who is the D'Long manager in charge of the 728 continuation project, says that the preservation of the test apparatus "is an example of the suppliers' firm belief in the 728 programme".
Only one 728 prototype airframe was assembled and rolled out before Oberpfaffenhofen-based Fairchild Dornier collapsed. The company had originally planned to build five aircraft for flight and static testing. The first prototype was rolled out in March 2002.
Source: Flight International