Diamond DA40
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| Diamond DA40 Diamond Star | |
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| Type | Personal and trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Diamond Aircraft Industries |
| Unit cost | $334,950 DA-40XLS (2008 base price)[1] |
| Developed from | Diamond DA20 |
The Diamond DA40 Diamond Star is a four seat, single engine, flight training and personal airplane constructed from composite materials.
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[edit] Nomenclature
Diamond Aircraft Industries, the manufacturer of the airplane, named the aircraft after itself, leading to the confusing name Diamond DA40 Diamond Star.
[edit] Models Available
The DA40 was previously available in three main versions:
- The DA40-XL has a constant-speed propeller and is powered by a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming IO-360-M1A fuel injected engine. It has a maximum cruise speed of 147 knots, burning 9.2 gallons of Avgas per hour. Its maximum takeoff weight was 2,535 lb (1,150 kg). [2]
- The DA40-FP has a fixed-pitch propeller, a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360-A4D engine (which has a carburettor rather than fuel injectors), and a more basic interior but is otherwise similar to the XL.
- The DA40-TDI uses a Thielert "Centurion" 135 hp (101 kW) diesel engine and burns diesel or jet fuel. It has a constant speed propeller and FADEC (single lever) engine control. The first flight of the DA40D was made on Nov. 28, 2002. This model is not generally available in all markets, notably the US.
In late 2006, the XL and FP models replaced the DA40-180. The FP replaced the fixed-pitch propeller version of the 180 and the XL replaced the constant-speed propeller version. The major difference between the new models and the 180 is the new models' vertical wingtips and higher maximum cruise speeds. The DA40-XL is approximately four knots faster than the preceding DA40-180/G1000 with the two-blade Hartzell propeller and the "Speed Gear" option. The XL's speed increase is mostly due to the PowerflowTM exhaust system. The vertical winglets of the XL model are designed primarily to reduce the wingspan by approximately 12 inches (300 mm), making the aircraft an easier fit into a standard 40' hangar.
The DA40-TDI became available in North America only in 2006, much later than it did in Europe. The diesel engined TDI has outsold the avgas engined 180 (and XL and FP) in Europe by some margin.
In the last half of 2007 the company revamped the DA40 line by introducing the XLS and CS versions. The XLS was the deluxe version, while the CS was the budget-minded version (there was about $75,000 difference in the cost of the two models).
Efforts to increase the XLS speed were centered on the propeller and wheel spats. The wheel fairing streamlining was increased, and a three-blade scimitar-type constant-speed propeller was incorporated, and the Powerflow exhaust system was retained. The canopy contour was also revised, with the sides being more vertical before curving into the roof, which provides more shoulder and head room.
Pilot and passengers enter the DA40 via the leading edge of the wing, an unusual feature among low-wing aircraft. Its nosewheel is not steerable; directional control while taxiing is via differential braking on the mainwheels.[3]
[edit] Equipment options
Past DA40 models were available with either traditional mechanical instruments or an optional Garmin G1000 glass cockpit suite. Current production DA40s are built only with the Garmin G1000 as standard equipment.
In April 2008, Diamond introduced the optional availability of Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology on the DA40 XLS.[4]
[edit] Manufacturing
DA40s are produced at Diamond's aircraft factories in Wiener Neustadt, Austria and in London, Ontario, Canada.
A joint venture has also been set up in China with Shandon Bin Ao Aircraft Industries for production of the DA40 in Shandong Province. Capacity is available for up to 1,000 aircraft a year to be produced with certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency planned for the second quarter of 2006[5].
[edit] Type Clubs
The Diamond Aviators Association is one aircraft type club which supports the Diamond family of aircraft.[6] A competing aircraft type club, the Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum, was formed in March 2008.[7]
[edit] Specifications (2007 model Diamond DA40 XL Diamond Star)
Data from Diamond Aircraft website[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 26 ft 5 in (8.1 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 2 in (11.6 m)
- Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
- Empty weight: 1,755 lb (795 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,645 lb (1198 kg)
- Useful load: 890 lb (403 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,645 lb (1198 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-360-M1A air-cooled, 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 180 hp (134 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 150 knots (173 mph, 279 km/h)
- Stall speed: 49 knots flaps down (56 mph, 91 km/h)
- Range: 720 nm (828 mi, 1341 km)
- Service ceiling 16400 ft (5000 m)
- Rate of climb: 1120 ft/min (5.69 m/sec)
- Power/mass: 14.7 lb/hp (0.11 kW/kg)
[edit] Specifications (2008 Diamond Star XLS)
Data from FLYING MAGAZINE, May 2008, page 68
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 26.5 ft (8.08 m)
- Wingspan: 39.5 ft (12.04 m)
- Height: 6.5 ft (1.98 m)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,645 lb (1152 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-360-M1A air-cooled, 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 180 hp (134 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 150 kt TAS (75% power at 6,000 ft MSL) (278 km/hr)
- Range: 720 nm (no-wind IFR reserves) (1334 km)
- Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (5.69 m/sec)
- best rate-of-climb airspeed: 73 kt (135 km/hr)
- best angle-of-climb airspeed: 66 kt (122 km/hr)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Mgt Communications (undated). The Ultimate Fleet. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ DA40 XL Fact Sheet
- ^ Flying the Diamond Star XLS, Flying Magazine, Vol. 135., No. 5, May 2008, p. 64
- ^ Diamond Aircraft (April 2008). Diamond Aircraft introduces Synthetic Vision on DA40 Diamond Stars. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ^ "News Breaks", Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 1, 2007.
- ^ Diamond Aviators Association (undated). Diamond Aviators Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
- ^ Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum (March 2008). Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
[edit] External links
- The Diamond Aviators Association aircraft type club
- Diamond Aircraft Owners Free Forum aircraft type club
[edit] See also
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