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.]

FMI: www.sunriseaviation.com; www.fai.org; www.diamondair.com