Diamond DA40 Diamond Star explained

The Diamond DA40 Diamond Star is an Austrian four-seat, single-engine, light aircraft constructed from composite materials. Built in both Austria and Canada, it was developed as a four-seat version of the earlier DA20 by Diamond Aircraft Industries.

By the end of December 2020, 2,200 DA40s had been delivered, including 500 NG models.[1]

Development

Based on the success of the earlier DV20/DA20 two-seat aircraft, the company designed a four-seat variant, the DA40 Diamond Star. The Rotax 914-powered prototype DA40-V1, registered OE-VPC, first flew on 5 November 1997 and was followed by a second prototype DA40-V2 (registered OE-VPE) which was powered by a Continental IO-240. In 1998 a third prototype DA40-V3 flew powered by a Lycoming IO-360 engine. Four more test aircraft were produced followed by the first production aircraft in 2000. JAR23 certification of the IO-360 production variant was obtained in October 2000. In 2002 the production of the Lycoming-engined variant was moved to Canada and the Austrian factory concentrated on diesel-engined variants.The first flight of the Diesel DA40D was made on 28 November 2002.

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 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 Powerflow exhaust system.

In the last half of 2007 the company updated the DA40 line by introducing the XLS and CS versions and eliminated the FP model. The XLS is the deluxe version, with the integration of some options into the standard offering including a Powerflow tuned exhaust, WAAS-capable G1000, GDL69 datalink, and TAS traffic alert system. The CS is the budget version, with fewer standard features.[2]

Both CS and XLS versions of the DA40 use the Lycoming IO-360-M1A fuel injected engine. The major difference is the choice of propeller, with the CS using a Hartzell two-blade aluminum constant speed prop and the XLS using an MT composite three-blade unit.

Capacity is available for up to 1,000 aircraft a year to be produced with certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency in 2008.[3] [4]

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.[5]

In October 2021, Diamond Aircraft announced an all-electric training variant, the eDA40, with initial flights scheduled for the second quarter of 2022 and EASA/FAA Part 23 certification expected in 2023. It should fly for 90 minutes, with a fast charge for 20 minutes turnarounds and operating costs 40% lower than piston aircraft.[6]

Design

The DA40 is a four-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane made from composite materials. It has a fixed tricycle landing gear and a T-tail.

The DA40 has officially appeared in only three versions, the DA 40, DA 40D and DA 40F, as documented on its type certificates. The various model names that the aircraft has been sold under are marketing names and are not officially recognized by the authorities that have certified the aircraft.[7] [8]

The DA40 was initially marketed as the DA40-180, powered by a fuel injected Textron Lycoming IO-360 M1A engine.

The DA40-XL has a constant speed propeller and is powered by a 180hp Lycoming IO-360-M1A fuel injected engine. It has a maximum cruise speed of, burning 9.2 gallons of Avgas per hour. Its maximum takeoff weight is 2,535 lb (1,150 kg).[9]

The DA40-F (marketed as the "FP") has a fixed pitch propeller, a 180hp Lycoming O-360-A4M engine, which has a carburetor rather than fuel injection and a more basic interior, but is otherwise similar to the XL.

The DA40-TDI uses a Thielert "Centurion" 135hp diesel engine and burns diesel or jet fuel. It has a constant speed propeller and FADEC (single lever) engine control. The Diesel DA40D is not certified in the US.[10]

Efforts to increase the DA40's cruising speed centered on the propeller and wheel spats. The wheel fairing streamlining was improved, a three-blade scimitar-type constant speed propeller was incorporated and the Powerflow exhaust system from the XL 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.

Boarding the DA40 is via the leading edge of the wing, an unusual feature among low-wing aircraft. The aircraft's nosewheel is free-castoring and directional control while taxiing is by mainwheel differential braking.[11]

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 Shandong Bin Ao Aircraft Industries for production of the DA40 TDI (Diesel) in Shandong Province.[12]

Operational history

The DA40 has accumulated a very low accident record, particularly with regard to stall and spin accidents. Its overall and fatal accident rates are one-eighth that of the general aviation fleet and include no stall-related accidents. The level of safe operation is attributed to its high aspect ratio wing, low wing loading and benign flight characteristics. The aircraft can be trimmed full nose up, engine set to idle and it will descend at NaNft/min at 48kn hands-off, a lower rate of descent than the competitor Cirrus SR22 can achieve with its airframe ballistic parachute deployed.[13]

In a 2011 analysis by Aviation Consumer magazine, the DA40 was shown to have had a fatal accident rate of 0.35/100,000 hours, the lowest in US general aviation and considerably better than the market leading Cirrus SR20 and SR22, which that year had a combined fatal accident rate of 1.6/100,000, despite its full aircraft parachute system. By comparison, the Cessna 172 had a fatal accident rate of 0.45/100,000 hours.[14]

A Chinese flying school has used its CD-135 for 13 hours per day on average.[15]

Variants

DA40
  • Initial model, powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-360 M1A 180 hp (135 kW) engine and a MT Propellers MTV-12-B/180-17. Maximum gross weight is 1150 kg (2535 lb) or 1200 kg (2646 lb) with modifications installed. In increasingly refined versions marketed as the DA40-180, XL, CS and XLS.
    DA40 D
  • Diesel model, powered by a Thielert TAE 125-01 (Centurion 1.7) or TAE 125-02-99 (Centurion 2.0) engine of 135 hp (101 kW) and MT Propellers MTV-6-A/187-129. Maximum gross weight is 1150 kg (2535 lb). Marketed primarily in Europe, although certified in Canada and Australia as well, as the DA40 TDI.
    DA40 F
  • Fixed pitch propeller model, powered by Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M and a Sensenich 6EM8S10-0-63 or a MT-Propeller MT 188R135-4G propeller. Maximum gross weight is 1150 kg (2535 lb). Marketed as the DA40 FP. This model is no longer offered.
    DA40 NG
  • Latest model, offered in select markets only (DA40 model is still offered in other markets), powered by an Austro Engine AE 300 165.61NaN1 running on JET A-1 fuel. EASA certified April 2010. By December 2020, 500 NG models had been produced.[1] [16] [17] [18] [19]
    T-52A
  • Military trainer version, 20 acquired in 2009 and used by the 557th Flying Training Squadron at United States Air Force Academy.[20] The type was replaced in 2012 with the Cirrus SR20-based T-53A.[21]
    DA40 XLT
  • Version introduced in April 2013 with an upgraded interior, including sun-resistant deluxe leather seats, improved lumbar contours, sun visors, more cup holders and improved storage for hand-held devices.[22]
    DA40 Tundra Star
  • Version with strengthened landing gear, larger tires for operation from unimproved surfaces and a 1680NaN0 Austro AE300 diesel engine that burns jet fuel.[23] [24]
    eDA40
  • All-electric training variant, announced in October 2021, initially targeting a 2022 first flight and a 2023 certification, with 90 minute endurance.[6] Charging can be accomplished in 20 minutes but certification could slip to early 2024, and the 90-minute endurance goal could be reached only as battery technology allows.[25] The first flight actually occurred on 20 July 2023. The company expects it to be the first EASA/FAA Part 23 certified electric aircraft.[26]

    Operators

    Civil

    The aircraft is popular with flying schools and is operated by private individuals and companies.

    At the December 2018 MEBAA show, the Saudi Arabian National Company of Aviation-CAE Inc. Training Centre in Dammam ordered 60 single-engine DA40 NG and twin-engine DA42-VI, to be delivered over five years, with Garmin G1000 NXi glass panels and diesel engines.[27]

    Military

    Australia
    Austria
    Bangladesh

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Diamond Rolls Out 500th DA40 NG. 1 January 2021. O'Connor. Kate. AVweb. 30 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210101124933/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/diamond-rolls-out-500th-da40-ng/. 1 January 2021. live.
    2. Web site: DA40 Diamond Star XLS and CS. diamondaircraft.com. Diamond Aircraft Industries. 11 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20111026061928/http://www.diamondaircraft.com/aircraft/da40.php. 26 October 2011. dead.
    3. "News Breaks", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1 January 2007.
    4. Sport Aviation. 100. Fear and Loathing for China. Mark Phelps.
    5. Web site: Diamond Aircraft introduces Synthetic Vision on DA40 Diamond Stars . Diamond Aircraft . April 2008 . 11 June 2008 . dead . https://archive.today/20130121113928/http://www.diamondair.com/news/2008_04_08.php . 21 January 2013 .
    6. Diamond Aircraft announces future All-Electric Trainer and partnership with Electric Power Systems . 12 October 2021 . Diamond Aircraft.
    7. Web site: Type Certificate Data Sheet A-224 Issue 10 . 21 March 2023 . Transport Canada . Transport Canada . 24 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20230321170934/https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/nico-celn/c_d.aspx?lang=eng&aprv_num=A-224+-+A.022&ISU_NUM=10&START_DATE=2020-06-24&AUTH_DESC=&DESC=&FRGN_NUM=A.022&aprv_type=TA&PARTS_NUM=&id_num=1694. 21 March 2023. live.
    8. Web site: TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. A47CE Revision 16 . Federal Aviation Administration . Federal Aviation Administration . 14 July 2021 . 21 March 2023. https://archive.today/20230321171035/https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/C67CC63755875EAE86258713004984D0.0001%3FmodalOpened%3Dtrue?modalOpened=true. 21 March 2023. live.
    9. Web site: DA40 XL Fact Sheet . 24 November 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205010723/http://www.diamond-air.at/fileadmin/uploads/files/productfacts/da40_diamond_star/preislisten_und_datenblaetter/DA40_XL_Fact_Sheet.pdf . 5 February 2012 .
    10. Web site: DA40 Diamond Star Innovation in Motion . Diamond Aircraft Industries . 11 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081012070244/http://www.diamond-air.at/da40_diamond_star+M52087573ab0.html . 12 October 2008 . dead .
    11. Flying the Diamond Star XLS, Flying, Vol. 135., No. 5, May 2008, p. 64.
    12. Aviation Week & Space Technology. 14 October 2013. 60.
    13. News: Fun With Parachute Mode . Bertorelli . Paul . 30 October 2011 . AVweb . 31 October 2011.
    14. News: Aviation Consumer: Cirrus Safety Record Just Average. 22 December 2011. 20 December 2011. AVweb.
    15. News: Stephen . Pope . Diesel Trainer Market Booming in China . . 2 April 2015 . 9 April 2015.
    16. Web site: Type Certificate Data Sheet for Noise EASA.A.022 Issue 13 . EASA . European Aviation Safety Agency. easa.europa.eu . 5 April 2016 . 24 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118235631/https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/TCDSN%20EASA.A.022%20Issue%2013.pdf. 18 January 2021. live.
    17. Web site: Type Certificate Data Sheet EASA.IM.A.022. 24 May 2021. EASA . European Aviation Safety Agency. easa.europa.eu. 22 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210524152631/https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/TCDS_EASA.IM_.A.022_DA40_issue_24_with_Appendix-A.pdf. 24 May 2021. live.
    18. Web site: DA40 New Generation . Diamond Aircraft Industries . 24 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120530042123/http://www.diamond-air.at/da40_diamond_star+M52087573ab0.html . 30 May 2012 . dead .
    19. Web site: Air Flight Manual DA 40 NG . 24 May 2012 . Diamond Aircraft Industries . April 2010 . 9 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009150636/http://www.cockpitseeker.com/wp-content/uploads/goodies/ac/Flight%20Manual%20DA40.pdf . dead .
    20. Web site: 557 FTS Aircraft – T-52A . 6 May 2010 . USAFA . August 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716224524/http://www.aetc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090825-024.pdf . 16 July 2011 .
    21. News: Academy gets 25 new trainer aircraft for $6.1M . 17 June 2011 . . June 2011 . Air Force Times.
    22. Web site: Diamond Introduces DA40 XLT . Avweb.com . 9 April 2013 . 13 April 2013.
    23. Web site: DA40 Tundra Star – Takes you places . Diamond Aircraft Industries . 19 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151120072609/http://www.diamond-air.at/single-engine-aircraft/da40-tundra-star.html . 20 November 2015 . dead .
    24. Web site: NBAA: Diamond unveils jet fuel variant of DA40 Tundra . Flightglobal.com . 19 November 2015.
    25. News: Niles . Russ . Diamond Predicting 20-Minute Charge For Electric eDA40 . 30 April 2022 . AVweb . 28 April 2022.
    26. Web site: Diamond Aircraft's All-Electric eDA40 Completes First Flight. 28 July 2023. Phelps. Mark. AVweb. 27 July 2023. https://archive.today/20230728111739/https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/airventure/diamond-aircrafts-all-electric-eda40-completes-first-flight/. 28 July 2023. live.
    27. News: Saudi Academy Orders 60 Diamond Trainers . James Wynbrandt . 10 December 2018 . AIN online.
    28. Web site: Waldron . Greg . AVALON: Canberra leases eight DA40 NGs for cadets . FlightGlobal . 1 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190301082348/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/avalon-canberra-leases-eight-da40-ngs-for-cadets-456235/ . 1 March 2019 . Melbourne . 1 March 2019 . live.
    29. Web site: Neue Schulflugzeuge und Löschfahrzeuge an Truppe übergeben. bundesheer.at. 4 May 2018.
    30. Web site: Trade-Register-1971-2019.rft . Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . 2020-03-11.
    31. New Basic Trainers for Bolivian Air Force, Air Forces Monthly, September 2010, p. 23
    32. Web site: Pope . Stephen . Ecuador Air Force Buys DA20s. . Flyingmag.com . 1 November 2011 . 27 August 2012.
    33. Web site: Ecuador Air Force accepts delivery of Diamond DA20 fleet . Diamond Aircraft . 27 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120525102927/http://www.diamondaircraft.com/news/news-article.php?id=133 . 25 May 2012 .
    34. Web site: Ini Dia, Penampakan C295 Berseragam Polisi Udara. airspace-review.com. 1 June 2018. 7 March 2021. id.
    35. Web site: 2008. Indonesian Airforce Impressions Part 8 / 10. 7 March 2021. dutchaviationsupport.com.
    36. https://web.archive.org/web/20180117224725/https://www.janes.com/article/77126/jamaica-defence-force-buying-new-helicopters-training-aircraft Jamaica Defence Force buying new helicopters, training aircraft
    37. Web site: ncoicinnet . Diamond DA40 FP . Jdfmil.org . 23 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170402174204/http://www.jdfmil.org/equipment/aircraft/aircraft_home_Diamond_DA40.php . 2 April 2017 . dead .
    38. Web site: Singapore Registered Aircraft Engine Nos – Nov 2017 . . 30 November 2017 . caas.gov.sg . . 10 December 2017.
    39. Web site: Doss Aviation. December 2008. Diamond DA40 Selected For USAF Academy Powered Flight Program. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710145512/http://www.dossaviation.com/page.asp?id=71&name=Dec+2008. 10 July 2011. 15 April 2009.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Diamond DA40 Diamond Star".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.