Each year the staff of the Aero-News Network attempts to name those aircraft that distinguish themselves in the previous year. This year, like previous years, has been a difficult one to judge from the standpoint of determining what we like to call the "Best of the Breed."

The general aviation industry, after several years of somewhat revolutionary updates, is settling into a more evolutionary path at the moment... one that eschews truly monumental upgrades, but still manages to demonstrate exciting progress and better products from year to year. And, as each of these products evolves and becomes better from year to year, it sure as hell makes our task a  whole lot more difficult in trying to distinguish one truly outstanding aircraft from another. 2006 represents the most difficult year we have encountered in attempting to not only name the best Plane Of The Year, but the best plane in a number of pivotal categories.

As a matter of fact, it strikes us that naming an overall "best" aircraft across the entire spectrum of general aviation is probably no longer reasonable. There are simply too many aircraft that have distinguished themselves in too many outstanding ways for one to truly be called better than the other on an overall basis. One man's perfect high-speed Hot-Rod, for instance, becomes the expensive "way too hot to handle" mistake of another pilot whose mission requirements may differ markedly. So... we're going to cop out -- just a bit, mind you. We will name the best aircraft in individual categories, and reserve the right in the future to whittle down those categories as necessary. But, the fact of the matter is that no one airplane is all things to all pilots, and within the spectrum that we have decided on, these are the aircraft selections that truly impressed us in each of five categories.

• GA Piston Single
• GA Piston Twin
• SA Experimental Kit
• E-LSA Kit
• S-LSA RTF (Ready To Fly)

Let me also note that while aircraft that previously were named Best Of Breed in any category, or overall, are eligible for inclusion in this year's list, we have decided to make it more difficult (in our judging protocols) for a previous winner to take the top spot in our judging criteria, so that a repeat winner truly earns the distinction. Please also note that there are a number of new categories under consideration, covering other aspects of aviation, included the BizAv segment, but that we're going to wait until 2007 before we add those aircraft our annual judging criteria.

Herewith, our final selections for the category of GA Piston-Twin...

Diamond Aircraft DA42

The GA world hasn't seen a REALLY new-piston twin in many moons... much less one based on as clean a sheet of paper as that which produced the doubly-daring Diamond DA42. When you look at the entire GA fleet, no airframe represents as much real progress in every aspect of aviation technology (airframe, powerplant and avionics) as does the Diamond DA42.

Offered by a highly capable company with an uncanny knack for coming up with solid products, Diamond Aircraft; the DA42 remains the single most innovative aircraft currently offered to GA... bar none (at least until the DJet gets into production). It's not just a lovely composite apparition with a full-fledged glass panel and known ice-capability. Nope... this bird also burns (far less expensive) JET A! Via FADEC-controlled turbo-diesel engines that were actually designed within the last decade (versus those other piston engines whose designs date back the better part of a century), the aircraft offers phenomenal versatility and unparalleled efficiency. All this, for a price that is equivalent to any one of several competitive single-engine airplanes... Amazing. Just plain amazing.

The DA42 is powered by two 135 HP Thielert diesel engines, cruises 172 knots (while sipping 12.5 GPH), boasts a S/E service ceiling of a whopping 10,000 feet (quite a bit for a piston twin), and a useful load of 1174 pounds. Takeoff requirements are 1730 feet over a 50' obstacle, and landings over the same 50 footer is 1877 feet. And yes, let me repeat, it burns jet fuel. TKS Deicing and known ice certification is available as an option.

Our flights in the bird have been revealing. The bird handles exceptionally well, the single-engine properties are not remotely difficult, and as soon as the known-icing package comes fully available, this is going to be the airplane to beat for folks who not only have to get around, but need to do so dependably.

Finally; the greatest benefit this $478,638 aircraft brings to the mix is the company that backs it up... easily one of the best in the business and one that seems committed to even greater efforts in the coming year. We have great faith in the dependability of this company and recommend it without reservation. No doubt about it, the DA42 qualifies, again, as one of our "Best of Breed" selections.

FMI: www.diamondair.com

Piper Seminole

An oldie but a goodie, the $484,900 Piper Seminole has seen some exciting updates to its panel and added a host of extensive options. You see them everywhere... in the hands of private owners, beating the air senseless for countless flight schools and aero-colleges, and even in airline livery for a number of carriers looking for keep their pilots up to snuff. The Piper Seminole has become the Piper Apache (possible the best piston twin trainer when it was in fashion) for the new century.

The Seminole hauls four people around between two 180 hp Lycoming IO-360 engines, and at speeds up to 168 knots. The bird has a 15,000 foot service ceiling, a range of 770 nautical miles and a hefty useful load of 1197 lbs. The T-Tailed tricycle retractable now sports the ability to host a full Avidyne PFD and MFD equipped panel and all the accessories that go with it... C-Max, E-Max, Multilink, Stormscope, Skywatch... you name it. We're talking SERIOUS panel toys, folks.

The Seminole stalls at 55 KIAS (Vso), has no effective Vmc, a S/E service ceiling of 3800 feet, and when jumping the stereotypical 50 foot obstacle, needs 2200 feet for takeoff and 1490 feet for landing.

The manners of this aircraft can not be underplayed. Years ago, I got talked into a legal but somewhat inadvisable (OK, stupid) IFR takeoff out of Fresno, California, during the height of the Tule fog season. It was a great trip until the high-time right engine decided to have a panic attack -- at all of 200 feet -- and with several hundred feet left before I was able to get out of the scud. My idiocy almost got me killed... but the very good manners of the Seminole allowed me to control a dumb situation and manage the climb to VFR conditions, settle the airplane down, and work my way down to a VFR airport whereupon I had a come-to-Jesus with the "facilities."

Light twins, by and large, can't offer the kind of performance that their turbine cousins can, but good manners in asymmetric power configurations are a prerequisite for survival... and the good manners of the Seminole have my undying (in more ways than one) respect. This is a great airplane with solid backing from an aviation legend, Piper Aircraft.

FMI: www.newpiper.com

Raytheon Baron G58

Boasting an aero-pedigree that spans decades, Raytheon's G58 Baron has withstood the test of time awfully well... especially once it got a new panel and the magic associated with Garmin's highly accomplished G1000 EFIS and GFC700 autopilot. The Baron line is a nearly legendary series of light twins... and possibly the best airframe Raytheon/Beech ever built -- especially when you concentrate on the the -58 series.

The new G58 series Baron does 202 knots and works itself up to its service ceiling of 20,688 feet at 1700 fpm. The S/E service ceiling is 7284 feet. With a 1592 SM range (at 10K, 21/21), the 6 place Baron is a heavy hauler boasting a 1544 pound useful load, when lofted by two TCM IO-550C powerplants pushing 300 HP a piece. And leave us not mention the charms of that wonderful double back door that gives such easy access to the passenger cabin for four of your best buddies... it offers the nicest passenger entry in the twin game, bar none.

Baron handling is about as good as it gets, especially when the workload gets heavy. The well-muscled Baron handles tough crosswinds and lousy weather well due to a fairly hefty wing loading of 27.6 lbs/sq.ft and rudder that does nto know the meaning of "quit." And thankfully, the Baron is a light twin that actually has some guts when faced with an engine out -- including a S/E service ceiling that won't (for a change) keep you in the weeds).

The workmanship is, of course, Raytheon's calling card with each bird pretty much hand-built due to the limited numbers being brought forth from the holy land of Wichita, and if you check the bird out, you will see one of the best crafted twins in the GA world. Unfortunately, though, that quality comes at a price. A loaded G58 will go out the door at over 1.2 million dollars... which, as good as the bird is, seems pretty high when compared to its competition... all across the board.

That's a shame, because the G1000/GFC700 equipped G58 is about as close to a small personal airliner as the piston world produces... but at over twice the price of the average competition, all that capability and quality comes at a lofty price. Still... if price is no object, the G58 is one sweet ride.

FMI: www.raytheonaircraft.com

Be sure to check back with us in a few days to see which of these aircraft earned Top Honors as the "Best of the Breed" in this category!