Diamond prepares first DA62 piston twins for service entry

Diamond Aircraft is preparing to deliver the first DA62 piston-twins in October, to two unnamed German owners.

The first four customer aircraft – serial numbers 5 to 9 – are destined for European operators, says Christian Dries, chief executive of the Austrianairframer. Serial number 10, now under construction at Diamond's Wiener Neustadt headquarters, is the first DA62 built for the US market.

“We will be taking this aircraft to the NBAA convention in November, where it will be promoted as a platform for corporate and charter operations,” says Dries.

The DA62 will then remain in North America, where it will be used as a customer demonstrator by Diamond’s Canadian sister company.

Dries points out that the US version of the all-composite DA62 is heavier than the model targeted at the European market.

Diamond Aircraft

The smaller variant, he explains, seats five and has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of just under 2,000kg (4,400lb). “This model is ideal for the European market," Dries says, "as aircraft over this weight [benchmark] are subjected to Eurocontrol [air traffic control user] fees.”

European Aviation Safety Agency certification for this €960,000 ($1.07 million), 1,300nm (2,430km)-range version was secured at the AeroFriedrichshafen business and general aviation show in April.

The larger DA62, which is now awaiting US approval, is equipped with seven seats, and has a MTOW of 2,300kg and a range of 1,280nm.

Dries anticipates a high take-up for this $1.25 million version, from private, corporate and commercial operators, and is eager to secure a slice of the nascent US short-haul air taxi market. “Cirrus’ SR22 piston-single is successful in this sector, so we expect the DA62, with its large, comfortable cabin and two fuel-efficient engines, to be popular too,” he says.

Powered by two 180hp (130kW) Austro AE330 diesel engines developed by Diamond's sister company Austro Engine, the DA62 is the largest model in the airframer's 10-strong family of propeller-driven aircraft.