Wed, Jul 23, 2003
Diamond Aircraft Congratulates Record-Setting
Airmen
Diamond Aircraft extends
congratulations to Assaf Stoler and Laksen Sirimanne for setting a
new FAI speed record, covering 2066 nautical miles in 17 hrs and 24
minutes. The flight establishes a new record in class for piston
aircraft between 500 and 1000kg.
This is the second FAI record in class for
Diamond. (In 1991 a Diamond HK36 Dimona set the altitude
record by climbing to 11020 meters (36,188 ft), a record which
still stands today.)
Flying a stock DA40 Diamond Star from John Wayne International
Airport in California to Kitty Hawk (NC), the two pilots achieved
an average speed, including 4 fuel stops, of 137 mph (118.2 knots).
Assaf had purchased the DA40 for his personal use and to lease back
to Sunrise Aviation in Santa Ana (CA). "It has very good
performance, especially at high altitude," he said. "We burned
between 8-9 gph in cruise."
Some things, you can't avoid...
When Laksen first mentioned the possibility of
breaking an internationally-recognized record, Assaf said: "We
could not not do it, when it became clear that it was
possible."
He added later, "The cooperation received from all involved
government services, including ATC, the local FSDO, etc, could not
have been better. The aircraft performed flawlessly and was very
comfortable for the entire flight," he said.
[Read our ANN interview with plane owner Assaf Stoler. Our
in-depth interview with the other pilot on the record run, Laksen
Sirimanne, is coming soon --ed.]
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