First virtual flight experience in D328eco cockpit takes off at Deutsche Aircraft

Deutsche Aircraft team successfully completed integration test campaign with a virtual first flight in the brand-new engineering simulator. This simulator has been developed and built in partnership with Reiser Simulation and Training as well as Garmin and will provide further insights into the flight characteristics of the innovative 40-seater turboprop. The engineering simulator will allow the flight test team to perform an early evaluation of systems, cockpit ergonomics and aircraft behaviour, which will serve as a baseline for overall customer feedback. This feedback will help the team to design the D328eco so it will correspond better to customer expectations as well as enable early risk mitigations.

Nico Neumann, COO at Deutsche Aircraft, commented: “The introduction of the first engineering simulator is an important milestone in the development of the D328eco. This device shows, once more, what is possible with a shared vison, strong partnerships and good collaboration. It clearly demonstrates our capability at Deutsche Aircraft to design and built complex simulation systems.”

Tim Otte, Director of Flight and Integration Tests, said: “This device is a fundamental element of our test strategy for the D328eco. It provides early testing capability with the pilot in the loop, and as such, helps to ensure early system maturity. For our flight test activities, it will pave the way for an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly test campaign.”

Flying towards sustainability: simulators and the environment

Deutsche Aircraft is committed to environmental sustainability, aligning with the 1.5°C targets of the Paris Agreement. The sustainability of the D328eco hinges on material selection, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency and fuel type. Flight simulators play a critical role in minimising actual flights, thereby reducing the aviation industry's carbon footprint.