D328eco Landing Gear System Completes Initial Flight-Test Validation

German regional aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft and aerospace engineering specialist HEGGEMANN AG have achieved a significant certification milestone, successfully completing initial flight-test validation of a newly developed landing gear system. The advanced common landing gear architecture has been engineered to equip both the existing in-service fleet of Dornier 328 turboprops and the forthcoming next-generation D328eco regional airliner.

The milestone validation follows comprehensive ground testing, including extensive low-speed and high-speed taxi trials, as well as an initial airborne flight campaign completed using a dedicated Dornier 328 testbed aircraft. Conducted under diverse operational ground and flight regimes, the flight-test campaign generated essential aerodynamic, mechanical, and structural telemetry data required to support final civil aviation certification.

Rigorous Engineering and Environmental Qualification

HEGGEMANN AG, based in Büren, Germany, has spearheaded the technical development and industrialisation of the landing gear assembly since joining the programme as a primary development partner in 2020. Over four years of collaborative engineering, the supplier has overseen structural concept design, laboratory stress analysis, dynamic drop testing, and mechanical endurance trials.

To verify operational reliability under extreme environmental exposure, the landing gear assembly was subjected to comprehensive laboratory trials adhering to strict RTCA DO-160 environmental standards. These evaluations simulated severe thermal fluctuations, intense vibration, moisture infiltration, and corrosive atmospheric conditions. By subjecting every mechanical linkage and shock-absorber strut to simulated lifecycle loads, engineers verified that the landing gear architecture can withstand the demanding operating cycles typical of regional commuter flights.

Dual-Platform Architecture and Corrosion Resistance

A defining technical achievement of the programme is the system's dual-platform compatibility. The landing gear is engineered to fit seamlessly within the existing mechanical installation envelope of the legacy Dornier 328 airframe, while simultaneously satisfying the heightened performance and weight parameters demanded by the 40-passenger D328eco.

The redesigned landing gear incorporates modern metallurgical treatments and surface coatings that deliver significantly superior corrosion resistance compared to legacy components. In addition, the modular integration of proven hydraulic and mechanical subsystems enhances overall maintainability, allowing airline line-maintenance technicians to perform component exchanges, routine inspections, and servicing with greater turnaround efficiency. For current Dornier 328 operators, the modernised assembly provides a backward-compatible upgrade pathway that mitigates supply chain obsolescence risks.

Supply Chain Stewardship and Production Readiness

The achievement reflects a broader strategic initiative by Deutsche Aircraft to maintain complete intellectual property rights and design authority over primary aircraft systems. Retaining full IP control over the landing gear ensures greater long-term supply chain resilience, reducing reliance on third-party design holders and ensuring sustained aftermarket parts availability for commercial operators worldwide.

"The successful flight-test validation confirms the robustness of a landing gear system developed through years of engineering, testing, and industrialisation," stated HEGGEMANN Chief Executive Dr. Christian Howe. He emphasised that the achievement reflects the company's specialised engineering capabilities in landing gear development and reinforces its long-standing collaboration with Deutsche Aircraft.

Under the industrial agreement, HEGGEMANN will serve as the exclusive serial production partner for landing gear shipsets, supporting both the scheduled ramp-up of the D328eco production line and fleet retrofits for global Dornier 328 operators.