Jeff Johnson

Early D-JET position holder

"I think I am the perfect candidate for the D-JET. I am a relatively recent pilot (I got my license in 2002, and fly a Bonanza now), I am not multi-engine rated. I don't need to carry a lot of people - my typical mission is going somewhere with two couples, or four guys and golf clubs, or often just my wife and I. I'd typically fly from Marin County to our home in Palm Springs, and occasionally to Colorado or Boston to visit family. This airplane seems to be a good trade-off for my missions."

"I think Diamond has hit a sweet-spot on single-pilot accessibility. Certifying to FL250 is smart - it gets you above most of the weather, but still keeps weight and complexity down. When you go up higher, you need more structure, and have to add weight. Plus, especially with a single engine, the back-up systems get more complex - you really should have a second engine when you go up into the 30's or 40's - and then things get complicated. I don't know where some of the other higher-flying single-engine jets will get insurance, or how much you'd have to train - it seems like flying then becomes like a job, rather than something an owner-operator can reasonably expect to do."

"I researched a lot of companies when I made my decision, and was impressed with Diamond. I think the glider history means you really get aerodynamics. I think the company was smart building planes with a component mentality, which has led to lower insurance costs. And I think the company showed vision, a concern for the future, with the introduction of fuel-efficient, JET-A driven aircraft whether it be the DA42 or the single-engine D-JET."

"I didn't consider a twin-engine jet - why would you want to have to fly that high, with that complexity, and spend on two engines, when the D-JET covers most of my missions? I think a single-engine turbo-prop is a more likely alternative - but most cost more, and are more complicated to fly, or weren't far enough along in the certification process."

"I saw that Diamond put a lot of thoughtfulness in the engineering, even on things that didn't translate to immediate cost savings, but were investments in long-term durability. In my business, real estate, it is often the privately-held companies who build high-quality, lasting products. I get the impression that the same is true for Diamond: Christian Dries and the family seem to be real, well financed, and committed, so they can make long-term worthwhile projects happen, without the pressures of quarterly disclosures to the markets."