Diamond DA40 (Diamond Star)

Light-class Trainer / Utility Aircraft [ 1997 ]

The Diamond DA40 series of lightweight aircraft has seen adoption by various military services of the world including Austria, Singapore, and the United States.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from Diamond Aircraft marketing materials; DA40 XLT pictured.

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The Diamond "DA40" (Diamond Star / Star) is a lightweight, four passenger general aviation aircraft to come from Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria. The type is a further development of the company's twin-seat "DA20", of which over 2,000 examples were produced from 1994 onwards, and follows much of its form-and-function. A first-flight for the DA40 was recorded on November 5th, 1997 and production has been ongoing since with over 2,200 units to date.

Beyond their commercial sector usage, the DA40 series has been adopted by some world military air powers to be used as a flight trainer for new generations of pilots. This includes Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Singapore, and the United States.

The aircraft utilizes the tried-and-true single-engine configuration with the powerplant embedded in the nose. The engine drives a three-bladed propeller unit. Aft of the engine mounting is the side-by-side cockpit which seats the pilot and up to three passengers in comfort. Large windscreens are provided for excellent vision out-of-the-cockpit. The wings are of monoplane form and fitted low along the sides of the fuselage. A slight upturn of the tips is seen at the end of each mainplane member. The tail unit incorporates a Multhopp-style T-plane arrangement seating the horizontal plane high atop the vertical fin. The undercarriage is of tricycle arrangement and fixed with some versions featuring streamlined fairings over the wheels for inherent aerodynamics. Construction of the aircraft is largely of composites.

The aircraft has a running length of 26.6 feet with a wingspan of 39 feet and a height of 6.5 feet. Empty weight is 1,755lb against a gross of 2,640lb. Power is from a Lycoming IO-360-M1A 4-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston engine delivering 180 horsepower. Cruising speeds reach 175 miles-per-hour with ranges out to 835 miles and a service ceiling up to 16,000 feet. Rate-of-climb is listed at 1,120 feet-per-minute.

Initial production models were designated simply as "DA40" fitted with Textron Lycoming IO-360 M1A engine of 180 horsepower. The "DA40 D" then followed and carried the Thielert TAE 125-01 or TAE 125-02-99 engines and has reduced maximum gross weights for European airspace operations. The short-lived "DA40F" / "DA40 FP" was powered by the Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M engine.

The "DA40" NG represents the current offering of the line and carries a local Austro Engine AE 300 powerplant utilizing JET A-1 fuel. European certification was granted in April 2010 and some 500 units have been produced since.

The DA40 XLT appeared in April of 2013 and numerous updates and upgrades internally. The DA40 "Tundra Star" was given a reinforced undercarriage and carries an Austro AE300 diesel engine of 168 horsepower. The eDA40 is an all-electric aircraft reveled in October 2021.

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October 2018 - A modified hybrid-electric DA40 was flown for the first time on October 31st, 2018 out of Wiener Neustadt in Austria.

Specifications

Diamond Aircraft Industries - Austria / China
Manufacturer(s)

Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Bolivia; Ecuador; Indonesia; Jamaica; Singapore; United States
Operators

1997
Service Year

Austria
National Origin

Active
Project Status

1
Crew

60
Units

COMMERCIAL AVIATION
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

TRAINING
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

26.6 ft
(8.10 meters)
Length

39.0 ft
(11.90 meters)
Width/Span

6.5 ft
(1.98 meters)
Height

1,764 lb
(800 kilograms)
Empty Weight

2,646 lb
(1,200 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+882 lb
(+400 kg)
Weight Difference

monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Mainplane Arrangement

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.

Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.

Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.

1 x Lycoming IO-360-M1A air-cooled, 4-cylinder piston engine developing 180 horsepower driving three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
Propulsion

174 mph
(280 kph | 151 knots)
Max Speed

115 mph
(185 kph | 100 knots)
Cruise Speed

+59 mph
(+95 kph | 51 knots)
Speed Difference

16,404 ft
(5,000 m | 3 miles)
Ceiling

833 miles
(1,340 km | 724 nm)
Range

1,120 ft/min
(341 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

None.

DA40 - Base Series Designation; initial production model with Textron Lycoming IO-360 M1A engine of 180 horsepower.

DA40 D - Powered by Theilert TAR 125-01 / 125-02-99 engine of 135 horsepower; European market airframe.

DA40 F / DA40 FP - Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M engine.

DA40 NG - Modern offering; powered by Austro Engine AE 300 of 165 horsepower; certified 2010.

T-52A - USAF academy designation for training purposes; since succeeded by T-53A (Cirrus SR20).

DA40 XLT - Model of April 2013; internal upgrades throughout.

DA40 "Tundra Star" - Reinforced undercarriage; powered by Austro AE300 diesel-fueled engine of 168 horsepower.

eDA40 - All-electric model of 2021.

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Images

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Image of the Diamond DA40 (Diamond Star)

Image from Diamond Aircraft marketing materials; DA40 XLT pictured.

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