322c Section 2015.
Diamond Aircraft DA-42 Twin Star
Poland
History
History
In 1981, a new airline company was created in Austria, which adopted the name Hoffmann Flugzeugbau. The company designed and built General Aviation aircraft. At the end of the 80s, the company underwent ownership changes and adopted the new name Diamond Aircraft. The company is socializing in composite aircraft.
Diamond Aircraft also opened its branch in Canada, where it produces aircraft mainly for the North American market.
The company, work on the twin-engine aircraft was started in the 1980s. However, market research has shown that such an aircraft is not sought after. It took almost twenty years for the demand for such constructions to appear.
In 2000, the company began to develop a small twin-engine aircraft, which received the designation Diamond DA42 Twin Star. The aircraft made its first flight on December 9, 2002. The first public presentation took place in December 2002. Series production began in 2004. In April 2004, the DA42 Twin Star aircraft was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and in July 2005 the aircraft was also certified by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in the United States. The aircraft has been certified for flights according to both flight visual principles (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR), so it can be operated in a wide range of conditions. By 2010, over 400 copies had been built. The aircraft is manufactured in Austria and Canada. The price of the aircraft in 2010 was around 525,000 Euro.
In 2004, the DA42 became the first diesel-powered aircraft to make a continuous flight across the North Atlantic. The flight took 12.5 hours, with an average fuel consumption of 21.73 liters (4.78 gallons; 5.74 US gallons) per hour of flight, for both engines.
Due to its excellent range and low fuel consumption, the DA42 became good for patrol (aerial surveillance). He was eagerly bought by the army and government agencies in several countries. Sales of DA42 aircraft became the company’s main revenues. DA42 is a good platform for unmanned aerial vehicles.
In 2008, Diamond Aircraft unexpectedly got into trouble because engine manufacturer Thielert proved insolvent. Thielert has stopped servicing its engines. In July 2008, Diamond Aircraft announced that DA42 aircraft production had been suspended. In March 2009, Diamond Aircraft obtained the EASA certification for the Austro Engine AE 300 engines, which enabled the resumption of DA42 production. The new aircraft received the designation DA42 NG.
In April 2009, the first DA42 NG Austro drive was delivered to a customer in Sweden. On April 9, 2010, DA42 NG received FAA certification, enabling resumption of sales to North American customers.
In June 2010, DA42 powered by Austro AE300 engines became the first publicly operated jet fuel (aviation kerosene) from marine algae.
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four-seat, twin-engine, low-wing aircraft, with a classic layout. The aircraft is intended mainly for tourist and training purposes. Garmin avionics was used. The plane can fly "in all weather conditions".
DA42 in Poland
In Poland, DA42 aircraft were first registered in 2015. In 2018, two DA42 planes SP-NEU and SP-NRD were in the status of the Aeroclub in Dęblin. Both aircraft in the Diamond DA42-IV Twin Star version.
DA42 planes with registrations: SP-OLA, SP-NAT, SP-NBO, SP-SZE, SP-TRL were still registered in Poland.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman
322c Section 2015.
Diamond Aircraft DA-42 Twin Star
Poland
Construction
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four-seat, twin-engine, low-wing aircraft, with a classic layout. The aircraft is intended mainly for tourist and training purposes. Composite construction. Garmin avionics was used. can fly in any weather.
The design of the Diamond DA42 Twin Star airframe consists of composite materials in which carbon fiber reinforced polymers have been used to a large extent; this design provides aircraft with an adequate level of passive safety, consistent with the established regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) PART 21, as well as relatively efficient aerodynamics and essentially unlimited airframe life. However, the airframe is difficult to repair after damage.
The cabin accommodates four people in a car-like arrangement. All people sit in individual armchairs equipped with three-point seat belts. Aircraft control can be done from both front seats. Behind the rear seats is a luggage compartment, which is also accessible through the external doors. There were luggage hatches in the nose of the aircraft fuselage.
The aircraft is equipped with a three-chassis front wheel. The chassis is retractable.
Avionika is a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit. There are two large monitors (liquid crystal displays) on the front dashboard. Monitors display various information about the aircraft as well as navigation data and flight information. Both screens can display identical basic information or be configured for flight data on the left monitor and navigation on the right. The monitor can display a "moving map" which makes navigation much easier. The DA42 is also equipped with the sophisticated GFC 700 three-axis autopilot built by Garmin and the GWX 70 weather radar. The aircraft was equipped with the TAWS anti-collision system.
The DA42 warns against stalling already at a speed of 5-7 kn against the minimum speed and bends the nose of the aircraft by 5-10 degrees.
The DA42 has good performance. It stays up to 13 hours on a standard amount of fuel in the air. The DA-42 even on one engine can climb (700 ft / min), so it can only take off with one engine running.
The DA42 is equipped with anti-icing system.
DA42 engines
The original DA42 aircraft was powered by a pair of TAE 125-01 Centurion 1.7-liter engines built by Thielert Aircraft Engines. However, Thielert has completed the production of the 1.7-liter engine in favor of a new 2.0-liter engine, designated TAE 125-02-99. Although the engine capacity increased, its rated power was intentionally lowered to achieve the same 101 kW (135 hp) and 409 N⋅m (302 lb / ft) of torque as earlier 1.7-liter engines. But Thielert declared insolvency. The aircraft was deprived of engines.
At the end of 2008, Diamond Aircraft announced that they are beginning to build and install Austro Engine AE 300 engines. AE 300 engines have less power, but are lighter and burn less fuel per unit of power, making them more efficient (46%). The Austro Engine AE 300 version has 127 kW (170 HP). EASA certificate in March 2009. FAA certificate April 2010. He obtained the Transport Canada certificate on April 16, 2012.
At the same time, Diamond Aircraft announced that the DA42 is available with Lycoming IO-360 engines. The Lycoming IO-360 134 kW (180 HP) engine runs on 100LL fuel. This model is intended for the North America market.
New silencers have also been developed for aircraft to reduce noise levels. Noise reduction to 59 decibels at an altitude of 500 feet (150 m).
Data DA42
Span 13.42 m (44 ft 0 in)Length 8.56 m (28 ft 1 in)Height 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)Wing area 16.29 m2 (175 sq ft)Curb weight 1 251 kg (2.761 lb)Take off weight 1,700 kg (3.748 lb)Max speed 356 km / h (222 mph, 193 kn)Climb speed 6.5 m / s (1.280 ft / min)Range 1,693 km (1,055 mi, 917 nmi)Operating ceiling 5,486 m (18,000 ft)2 × Austro turbocharged diesel engine, 125 kW (168 HP) each
Written by Karol Placha Hetman
322c Section 2015.
Diamond Aircraft DA-42 Twin Star
Poland
Tally
DA42 in Poland
In Poland, DA42 aircraft were first registered in 2015. In 2018, two DA42 planes SP-NEU and SP-NRD were in the status of the Aeroclub in Dęblin. Both aircraft in the Diamond DA42-IV Twin Star version.
DA42 planes with registrations: SP-OLA, SP-NAT, SP-NBO, SP-SZE, SP-TRL were registered in Poland.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman