European Deliveries Of Newly-Engined Diesel Planes May Commence

Diamond Aircraft tells ANN it received the "much anticipated" European Aviation Safety type certificate for its DA42 NG, powered by the 170-hp Austro Engine AE-300 turbodiesel, on Friday.

"We are delighted to be able to resume volume deliveries of the DA42, less than 11 months after the insolvency of TAE," said Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Industries. "The DA42 NG is better in every respect with much improved performance, increased gross weight, even better fuel efficiency and the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot and is prepared for Garmin Synthetic Vision System.

"With over 40 airframes already in various stages of production, we will be delivering the first aircraft almost immediately," Dries continued. "Most important to the existing customer base, we are focusing our efforts to achieve the certification of the optional upgrade of all delivered DA42s with the Austro Engine, such that all customers can benefit from these improvements along with comprehensive customer support for their engines."

Dries also noted Diamond will give details soon about "an all-inclusive maintenance program that will ensure a superior level of support as we work to extend the TBO of the engine from 1000 to 2000 hours. In parallel we are pursuing validation of the certification in all other markets as quickly as possible," including FAA certification of the AE300 and installation on Diamond planes.

Over 500 DA42s have been delivered to date, 99.999 percent of them powered by the Thielert Aircraft Engines Centurion series... the engine the AE300 is destined to replace in Diamond planes.

As ANN reported, the AE300 earned EASA approval in January.

FMI: www.diamondaircraft.com, www.austroengine.at, www.easa.eu.int