Diamond DA42 Twin Star

Diamond Aircraft · Austria · first flew 2002 · light aircraft

The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a sleek all-composite four-seat twin, originally diesel-powered, designed for economical touring and modern multi-engine training.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.56 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Glossy white composite airframe with upturned winglets
Long slender glider-like wings carrying twin nacelles
T-tail with the tailplane high atop the fin

The combination of a high T-tail, long slim winglet-tipped wings and a glossy white composite finish is distinctive, as are the two slender nacelles and the bubble canopy.

Specifications

The Diamond DA42 Twin Star has a length of 8.56 m (28 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.55 m (44 ft).
Its maximum speed is 365 km/h (227 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot + 3 pax.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Diamond's first twin made its maiden flight in December 2002 and was the first new European aircraft in its class for over 25 years. In 2004 a DA42 became the first diesel fixed-wing aircraft to fly the North Atlantic non-stop.

Variants

Early aircraft used Thielert diesels; the DA42 L360 fitted Lycoming petrol engines, while the DA42 NG and DA42-VI adopted Austro AE 300 diesels. Special-mission DA42 MPP versions serve as surveillance platforms.

Where you'll see it

Increasingly common in UK and European training fleets, the DA42's Jet-A-burning diesels and glass cockpit make it a modern choice for the multi-engine and instrument ratings, favoured by schools moving away from older avgas twins.

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