Fri, Apr 26, 2024
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40
Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of their battery powered eDA40s to the test in some true-to-life training operations.
The results are good enough to brag about, apparently, since both Diamond and Lufthansa Training said the eDA40 passed muster. The project saw engineers and flight test pilots head to Dübendorf Airport in Germany to carry out five assessment flights. Diamond hoped to uncover any developmental issues, weaknesses, or irritations ahead of full commercial release, and who better than one of the biggest customers of the DA40 NG? Lufthansa Aviation Training pilot spend every day with the diesel-powered version, so they are a good indicator of just how much the electric one deviates from that flight experience. In short? The eDA40 is 'surprisingly quiet', both inside the cabin and from the ground, but all things considered it handles just like a piston-engined Diamond. That's great news for the manufacturer, since the eDA40 should end up being the first certified electric airplane in its category when it reaches EASA certification in 2025.
“The European Flight Academy, the flight school of Lufthansa Group, is not only dedicated to highest training standards but also commits itself to new approaches to foster sustainability in aviation," said Matthias Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Aviation Training. "We are delighted to be part of the eDA40 development process. It gives us a deep understanding of the new technology used and enables us to use it for the most advanced training,” sums up."
“We are thrilled by the positive outcomes of our collaboration with LAT and their valuable feedback and cooperation. Our eDA40 represents our shared vision for excellence and practicality,” said Liqun Zhang, CEO of Diamond Aircraft. “As we prepare to certify this sustainable solution, Diamond remains committed to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. We believe that the successful evaluation of this product marks the beginning of a new era in sustainable professional flight training.”
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