Photograph:
Diamond DA-42L-360 VH-UNA (c/n 42.AC135) at Camden, NSW in June 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Austria
Description:
Twin-engine four-seat touring and training monoplane
Power Plant:
Two 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed fuel-injected counter-rotating air-cooled engines
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 13.42 m (44 ft 0¼ in)
- Length: 8.56 m (28 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 16.46 m² (177.2 sq ft)
- Max speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 300 km/h (186 mph)
- Rate of climb: 427 m/min (1,400 ft/min)
- Max operating altitude: 5,486 m (18,000 ft)
- Max single-engine ceiling: 1,981 m (1,640 ft)
- Take-off run: 485 m (1,590 ft)
- Landing run: 368 m (1,210 ft)
- Max range: 1,482 km (921 miles)
- Useful load: 535 kg (1,180 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,785 kg (3,935 lb)
History:
In August 2008 Diamond announced it was introducing two new models of the Twin Star, the first being the DA-42NG with 120 kw (170 hp) turbo diesel engines, and the DA-42L-360 with normally aspirated Lycoming IO-360 engines, the latter being specifically aimed at the US market.
The first of these models was fitted with Austro Engine GmbH AE300 diesel engines, these offering 26 per cent more power than the Thielert units and 15 per cent better specific fuel consumption, this preserving the range, endurance and economy of the earlier variant. The Austro Engine company was set up in 2007 to create a new generation of power plants and was involved in this development along with Mercedes Benz and Bosch.
Due to AvGas being readily available in the United States, Diamond offered the DA-42 with the proven Lycoming O-360 engine, these being expected to be popular with flight training operators, and owner/operators looking for an affordable conventional light twin. This engine, with familiar operation and maintenance requirements, and low fuel burn, was expected to be popular with operators.
A new canopy was designed to provide a more spacious cockpit with more head room for taller pilots, and the aircraft was fitted with new avionics. Further variants were developed, including the DA-42M, a special mission variant in Austria; the DA-42MPP, a surveillance systems model converted for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence; and the Dominator II, designated the Aeronautics Defense Dominator, first flown in July 2009, this being a UAV (Unmanned aerial vehicle) with a payload of 408 kg (900 lb), with an endurance of 28 hours.
Certification of the DA-42L-360 was received from Transport Canada, this certification permitting a factory retrofit of previously delivered Thielert-powered DA-42 Twin Stars to Lycoming or diesel power.
In 2009 the New Zealand-based Massey University at Palmerston North announced it had ordered two examples of the DA-42-L360, these being delivered that year.
First of the model in Australia was delivered to Bankstown-based University of NSW Aviation College and subsequently a number have been imported.
In October 2014 Hawker Pacific, the Australian importer, imported a demonstration model for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, this model being known as the DA-42NG, powered by Austro Engine AE300 diesel engines, having several improvements over earlier models and an increase in payload of 100 kg (220 lb). Two examples had been imported by late October 2014, these becoming VH-VMX (c/n 42.N139) and VH-NGI (c/n 42.N032).