Deutsche Aircraft Achieves First Flight Milestone for D328eco® Landing Gear
Deutsche Aircraft has reached a major milestone in its landing gear certification programme with the successful completion of Low-Speed Taxi (LST) and High-Speed Taxi (HST) testing, followed by the initial phase of flight testing.
A legacy D328® aircraft operating as a dedicated flying testbed has successfully completed its first five development flights, achieving all planned test objectives. Since flight testing began on 5 August 2026, the aircraft has accumulated over 15 hours of test time with the new landing gear system, including both flight and ground testing activities. This accomplishment represents a significant step forward in the maturation and certification preparation of the next-generation D328eco®.
“The successful completion of the ground and taxi test campaign, together with the first flights of our landing gear testbed, is an important achievement,” said Nico Neumann, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft.” The results provide strong validation of the landing gear system and enable us to move into the next phase of flight testing as we continue the certification process. Bringing this critical system under our direct control allows us to deliver greater reliability, resilience and long-term support for our operators.”
Beyond advancing D328eco certification, this milestone demonstrates Deutsche Aircraft’s commitment to strengthening long-term product support and operational readiness for regional aircraft operators worldwide.
Fortifying Regional Aviation Through Direct OEM Control
Landing gear systems have historically represented a challenge across regional aviation programmes. Dependence on third-party suppliers and limited access to intellectual property can lead to spare parts shortages, complex lifecycle management and operational uncertainty.
To address these industry-wide challenges, Deutsche Aircraft has transitioned to a new landing gear supplier and secured full intellectual property rights for the system. This strategic move places the landing gear architecture under the company’s direct engineering authority, enabling greater flexibility, responsiveness and long-term product stewardship.
With direct governance of the landing gear system, Deutsche Aircraft has strengthened its ability to:
- Drive future system evolution and upgrades.
- Secure long-term component availability.
- Improve supply chain resilience.
- Harmonise the landing gear architecture across both the D328 and D328eco platforms.
Immediate Benefits for D328 Operators Worldwide
Beyond advancing the D328eco programme towards entry into service, the landing gear initiative delivers immediate benefits to existing D328 operators worldwide, including:
- Common Architecture: Standardised landing gear architecture across both aircraft generations.
- Enhanced Lifecycle Support: Improved maintainability and long-term product support.
- Improved Parts Availability: Greater spare parts availability and more predictable lead times.
By directly addressing historical landing gear supply constraints, Deutsche Aircraft is reinforcing operational resilience for current and future operators.
Certification Testing: The Next Phase
Following the successful completion of taxi testing and the initial phase of flight testing, Deutsche Aircraft will continue its landing gear certification campaign using the dedicated D328 flying testbed. The ongoing programme will validate system performance across structural, ground-handling and flight-test environments.
Upcoming certification activities will include:
Flight Testing
- Braking and stopping-distance validation
- Steering and ground-handling evaluations
- Crosswind testing
- Unpaved runway testing
Certification Assessments
- High-load and structural testing
- Stress, durability and reliability evaluations
Data gathered throughout the campaign will support certification activities and the continued maturation of the D328eco programme.
Accelerating Programme Readiness
The validation of the landing gear system represents an important milestone as Deutsche Aircraft continues its progress in the development and certification of the D328eco.
“Using a legacy D328 as a dedicated flying testbed has enabled us to efficiently validate the landing gear system across the full operational envelope, from structural ground testing to taxi operations and flight testing,” said Aaron Tsang, Head of Design Organisation and VP Engineering. “The results provide valuable data while demonstrating the effectiveness of our development and certification approach for the D328eco programme.”
This milestone further reinforces Deutsche Aircraft’s commitment to delivering a modern, efficient and highly supportable regional aircraft while ensuring long-term operational confidence for airlines and special mission operators worldwide.
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