20 April 2007
Diamond Aircraft this morning revealed more details of its new DA50 aircraft. The five-seat (or four-plus-one seat) aircraft is to be powered by a Continental engine – the twin-turbocharged Alpha Series TSIOF-55OJ – which will be FADEC equipped. For the European market it will be de-rated to 320 hp (from the original 350 hp).
However, the company also revealed that it would be producing a lighter version of the aircaft, to be powered by a 170 hp diesel engine.
The DA50 is clearly being pitched directly against the Cirrus SR22 (we noted that the strapline to the press publicity says “Above Cirrus Clouds”). Performance is claimed to be 210 kt at 20,000 ft and 200 kt at 10,000 ft, all at 75 percent power. At its max all-up weight of 1,660 kg, it should climb at 1,600 fpm.
Price yet to be announced, but the top-end version is likely to cost more than the SR22.
Diamond says it is in talks with US company BRS in regards to putting a recovery parachute in both the DA50 and the DJET.
