The Diamond DA62 is a five- to seven-seat, twin-engine light aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries and first announced in March 2012.[2][3][4]
The prototype, designated as the DA52, first flew on 3 April 2012 after six months of development.[3][5] In June 2014 it was announced the production aircraft would be designated the DA62.[6][7]
Design and development
The DA62 development team is headed by Diamond managing director Manfred Zipper. It is based upon the fuselage of the single-engine Diamond DA50, but with two Austro AE300 Diesel engines burning Jet A fuel. Company CEO Christian Dries indicated that the engines may be replaced with turboprops.[2][5]
In flying the prototype from Diamond's Wiener Neustadt plant to the 2012 AERO Friedrichshafen aviation trade show, the aircraft achieved 16.6 mpg (14.2 litres/100 km) fuel efficiency, the result of improvements in cooling drag and aerodynamic drag made during its development.[8]
The company originally intended to have the aircraft available for sale in July 2013 and expected to offer fly-by-wire controls as an option by 2014, but development was delayed and those dates were not met.[3][4] The DA62 was European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-certified on 16 April 2015.[9][10] By September 2015, the company was preparing to deliver the first production DA62s to customers the following month and was manufacturing the first aircraft destined for the United States market — the tenth DA52/DA62 to be built and the third production aircraft — for an appearance at that year's National Business Aviation Association Convention in November.[11] American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification was received on 23 February 2016[12][13] The FAA certification came ten months after EASA certification.[12] At the 2016 AERO Friedrichshafen show, Diamond's CEO Christian Dries reported that production would be increased to 60–62 aircraft per year to meet strong demand.[14]
The aircraft is available in two weight versions. The "European" version has five seats and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 1,999 kilograms (4,407 lb), the "US" version has seven seats and a MTOW of 2,300 kilograms (5,071 lb).[15][16] The lower MTOW of the "European" version is to allow operators to avoid higher weight-based air traffic control user charges.[11] The third row of seating and increased MTOW of the "US" version are available as factory options at extra cost.[15] At the 2016 AERO Friedrichshafen, Christian Dries said a special version with an additional baggage belly pod was under consideration for the air charter market.[14]
By April 2019 more than 120 DA62s had been delivered.[17] Aircraft are built in both Austria and Canada.
In January 2023, it was announced that Aeromot will assemble DA62s in Brazil from kits supplied by Diamond Aircraft Canada, starting in 2025. The intention is to ramp-up production to 50 aircraft per year. The completed aircraft will be sold primarily in the south American market.[18]
Operational history
Notable owners include German Leader of the Opposition Friedrich Merz, who, controversially flew to the wedding of Minister of Finance Christian Lindner in July 2022, claiming that the DA62 consumed less fuel than official limousines. Media fact checking disputed that claim, however conceded that the total consumption will probably be lower, if the travelling speed and detours - almost unavoidable for cars bound to roads - are factored into the comparison.[19][20]
On October 6, 2023, the Nigerian Air Force acquired four DA 62 MPPs, registered in Nigeria as NAF260/261/262/263.[21]
Specifications (DA62)
Data from Air International[25] and Diamond Aircraft website[26]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: up to six passengers
- Length: 9.19 m (30 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 14.55 m (47 ft 9 in)
- Height: 2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 17.10 m2 (184.1 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,570 kg (3,461 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 326 litres (72 imp gal; 86 US gal)
- Powerplant: 2 × Austro AE330 turbocharged 2.0 liter diesel aircraft engines, 134 kW (180 hp) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed MT propeller MTV-6-R-C-F/CF 194-80[26]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 356 km/h (221 mph, 192 kn) True Air Speed (TAS)[27] at Maximum Continuous Power (MCP) at 14,000 ft.[26]
- Cruise speed: 317 km/h (197 mph, 171 kn) (TAS) at 75% power[26]
- Stall speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 379 km/h (235 mph, 205 kn)
- Range: 2,380 km (1,480 mi, 1,290 nmi) [27]
- Endurance: 10 h[28]
- Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.2 m/s (1,029 ft/min)
- Fuel consumption: 7.4 US gal (28 L) per hour total at loiter,[28] 11.8 US gal (45 L) per hour at 60% (12,000 ft) in total[26]
Avionics
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