Diamond Aircraft secured European certification for its DA62 at Aero 2015, and formerly opened the orderbook for the seven-seat piston-twin.
“We have already received a lot of interest in the aircraft, but we haven’t wanted to take anyone’s money until we are sure what we can deliver and when,” says Diamond Aircraft chief executive Christian Dries.
The DA62 – previously known as the DA52 – is the largest aircraft in the Austrian airframer’s family, and is pitched against high-performance piston-singles and piston-twins such as the Beechcraft Baron and Cessna 400 series.
Targeted at private owners, corporate operators and air taxi companies, the DA62 is powered by two 180hp (130kW) AE330 Jet A1/diesel-fuelled engines developed by Diamond's sister company, Austro Engines. The aircraft boasts a maximum speed of 200kt (370km/h), a maximum range of 1,310nm (2,430km) and an operating altitude of 20,000ft.
Dries says the €920,000 ($983,000) DA62 is available in two variants. The first is a five-seat model with a maximum take-off weight of just under 2,000kg (4,400lb). “This is ideal for the European market, where aircraft over this weight [benchmark] are subjected to Eurocontrol [air traffic control user] fees,” Dries says.
The other version is equipped with seven seats, has a MTOW of 2,300kg and is targeted at the US market. US Federal Aviation Administration validation is now being sought, and Dries anticipates a high take-up for the all-composite type – especially from the county’s growing population of piston-engined air taxi operators. “There are around 120 Cirrus [SR22s] operating in the air taxi market in the US. A number of these owners have already expressed interest in the DA62,” Dries adds.
No less than eight DA62s will be manufactured this year, Dries continues, adding that this will reach one per week by early 2016.
Aero also marked the show debut of Diamond’s first single-engined turboprop – the DA50-JP7. The seven-seat aircraft made its first flight in January, powered by Motor Sich’s new 465hp (347kW) AI-450S turbine engine. Certification and service entry are earmarked for 2016.
Source: Flight International
