Diamond Jets

Manufactured between 1978 and 1985, the Japanese-built Mitsubishi Diamond I, Diamond IA and Diamond III were the precursors for a number of prevalent aircraft including the Beechjet 400 and consequent Hawker 400XP, which is still in production today.

The two twin-turbofan prototypes (designated MU-300), were developed in Japan before being dismantled and shipped to the U.S. where they were then reassembled, renamed Diamond I, and used in the U.S. certification program. The improved Diamond IA was announced in 1983, with the even more superior Diamond II making its appearance shortly thereafter. In December 1985, however, Mitsubishi sold all its design rights to Beech, which the company then used to market the new Beechjet 400.

The D-Jet is unrelated to the Mitsubishi Diamond jets. The Diamond Aircraft D-Jet is a five seat, four-passenger, single-pilot VLJ (very light jet). Its predecessor, the H36 Diamond motoglider was started in 1981, eventually working its way through a number of incarnations to emerge as the D-Jet which completed their first flights in 2006.