Diamond Aircraft Industries is offering a fixed-pitch (FP) propeller version of its DA40-180 Diamond Star as the Textron Lycoming IO-360-M1A-powered DA42 Twin Star makes its maiden flight from Diamond's Weiner Neustadt, Austria-base.
The Diamond Star FP, displayed at last week's Sun 'n' Fun airshow, is powered by a carburated Lycoming O-360-A4D engine driving a fixed-pitch metal Sensenich propeller. Engine overhaul costs of the O-360 are about $5,000 lower than those of the fuel-injected IO-360 engine, Diamond says. Certification is planned for the fourth quarter. The Lycoming-powered DA42 Twin Star is earmarked for certification by early next year. Its diesel-engined stablemate, powered by the Theilert Aircraft Engines 1.7 Centurion, is set for European certification by the end of June and US approval in November.
Source: Flight International
