N971DC

This entry describes airframe N971DC, an Embraer-built regional jet, model Embraer ERJ-145LR, completed in 2004 with manufacturer serial number 14500821. The airframe is owned by Key Lime Air (operating as Denver Air Connection), a corporate owner based in Englewood, CO, US, and is registered in the US registry. The record for this specific aircraft identifies its production and corporate-operational assignment without publicly disclosed incident history or valuation; operational control by a corporate regional carrier is the principal ownership note.

Airframe N971DC is fitted in a 50‑seat single‑class regional layout (Y50), matching the typical commuter configuration used by regional scheduled and contract carriers. The installed avionics suite is described as Honeywell Primus‑style regional avionics (common Primus 1000 / Primus family equipment on ERJ‑145 operators), supporting standard regional navigation, communication and flight management functions. Operated from its owner’s base in Englewood, Colorado under the Denver Air Connection brand, the jet’s performance (range and cruise speed) positions it for short‑to‑medium stage regional trunk routes, thin transcontinental sectors within range limits, and frequency‑focused schedules. Maintenance considerations for this individual airframe follow common ERJ‑145 practices around the twin Rolls‑Royce AE 3007 series engines and the Primus avionics family.

The Embraer ERJ-145LR airframe represented here offers a niche balance of turbofan performance for 50‑seat regional operations: extended‑range capability to approximately 1,550 nm, cruise capability near 447 kts, and a service ceiling of 37,000 ft. In the market such airframes have historically served high‑frequency regional networks and wet‑lease or essential air service missions where single‑class 50‑seat capacity is appropriate. Buyers and operators typically weigh airframe hours, engine cycles on the AE 3007A1/P pair, and the commonality benefits of Honeywell Primus‑style avionics when assessing maintenance burden and resale prospects for this class.