Diamond DA50
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 98
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From: Ireland
Its a nice looking machine. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the Columbia 400 / SR22. Plenty of DA40 drivers out there ready to move on to something a bit quicker. I think they are talking about 200kts @ 75%..
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 17
From: U.K.
I like the DA40 apart from the fact it is grossly underpowered and has the build quality of the average pedalo.
Handling is good, viz good, access ok, noise levels ok. If the DA50 is just a bigger and badder version, it should do well. I wouldn't mind one. (Though they'd have to make it aerobatic and have it stressed to +10 -10!)
Handling is good, viz good, access ok, noise levels ok. If the DA50 is just a bigger and badder version, it should do well. I wouldn't mind one. (Though they'd have to make it aerobatic and have it stressed to +10 -10!)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Brussels - Twin Comanche PA39 - KA C90B
I climbed in one at Friedrichshafen, and i found it bigger looking on the outside than on the inside, also i don't know if it was hull number 1, but the one demonstrated at the show was awfully constructed, very very very bad finishing...if they will use that one for testing i'm sure that something will fall off..
they guy told me at diamond that the BRS parachute will be an option...
they guy told me at diamond that the BRS parachute will be an option...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
Diamonds are like that in the detail - a bit like an Ikea kitchen. That really put me off getting a DA40 a few years ago. The current DA42 seems a lot better, but the build quality close-up is nothing like say a new-ish TB20. It's hard to get the detail right with fibreglass, I guess, because making the mouldings just right and trimming them exactly is difficult.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Lifted from aero News network, video of DA-50 at Oshkosh;
http://www.aero-tv.net/index.cfm?do=...1-5134635248df
http://www.aero-tv.net/index.cfm?do=...1-5134635248df
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: England
Originally Posted by Say again slowly
I like the DA40 apart from the fact it is grossly underpowered and has the build quality of the average pedalo.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
The DA50 looks very interesting but who wants to be a beta tester for yet another new engine???
I am sure that 5 years from now this will all be sorted. But it's early days. If it had not been for the dreadful Thielert engine problems I would not be saying this.
I am sure that 5 years from now this will all be sorted. But it's early days. If it had not been for the dreadful Thielert engine problems I would not be saying this.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
beta tester for yet another new engine?
I assume the 4.0 Thielert will follow at a later stage.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: England
Originally Posted by B2N2
I assume the 4.0 Thielert will follow at a later stage.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Maders UK
"they are talking about 200kts @ 75%"
sounds reminiscent of the pre production performance figures for the DA42 and didn't they just live up to all our expectations (50kts slower!!).
Rule #1 of basic aerodynamics: Put a big engine in a poorly finished plastic bathtub and you get a far thirstier, slightly faster poorly finished plastic bathtub.
SB
sounds reminiscent of the pre production performance figures for the DA42 and didn't they just live up to all our expectations (50kts slower!!).
Rule #1 of basic aerodynamics: Put a big engine in a poorly finished plastic bathtub and you get a far thirstier, slightly faster poorly finished plastic bathtub.
SB
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Powered by a 350-hp turbocharged Teledyne Continental Motors TSIOF-550J FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) engine, the SuperStar has a projected top cruise speed in excess of 200 knots, a range of more than 900 nautical miles and a 25,000 service ceiling. The panel will feature a Garmin G1000 avionics suite
http://www.airventure.org/2007/8sun29/diamond.html
Cont 550 is pretty much the same engine as used in the Columbia 350/400 series.
No reason to doubt that sort of performance.
Curious about the wing design/airfoil used on the DA-50.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Yeah - damn Diamond for lying to us about real performance! Now if you take Piper or Cessna or Robin or Socata or any of the other plain vanilla manufacturers they never sold us a pig, and they haven't kept at it for the past 40 years either... 
No, I don't work for Diamond and I was equally disappointed when the DA42 didn't deliver on its promise. But I recently learned why that is the case, and it makes me all the more optimistic that we will zoom in our 42s in the not too distant future!
A friend who is connected told me about the first trial with the new 2.0 diesel that incidently wasn't strangled at 135 hp but delivered the certified 155...
The DA42 chase pilot firewalled his engines to keep up with the DA40 and couldn't!!
Regarding build quality I find that our 42 feels and looks better than our first 40, but we recently received a new 40 and I have yet to compare. Although I must say quality of certain details is not what you would expect in a 450-500000 EUR airplane. Diamond need to find a better supplier for the chrome plated stuff.
No, I don't work for Diamond and I was equally disappointed when the DA42 didn't deliver on its promise. But I recently learned why that is the case, and it makes me all the more optimistic that we will zoom in our 42s in the not too distant future!
A friend who is connected told me about the first trial with the new 2.0 diesel that incidently wasn't strangled at 135 hp but delivered the certified 155...
The DA42 chase pilot firewalled his engines to keep up with the DA40 and couldn't!!
Regarding build quality I find that our 42 feels and looks better than our first 40, but we recently received a new 40 and I have yet to compare. Although I must say quality of certain details is not what you would expect in a 450-500000 EUR airplane. Diamond need to find a better supplier for the chrome plated stuff.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
certified 155...
Yeah - damn Diamond for lying to us about real performance
There's a reason as to why they are developing their own engine now.You don't need a PhD to figure that one out.
One of my points being...the IO-550 is a established engine with a track record.
Columbia's got 'em, Mooneys too if I'm not mistaken so with a clean airframe 200+ KTAS should not be overly optimistic.
Given, it will be in the flight levels but that's the case with all of them.
Diamond is a company which has come form virtually nothing (motor gliders under previous ownership) to number 3 selling in the US in under 5 years.
Competing with companies that exist for over half a century and beating them.
Has anybody ever picked up a new Cessna at the factory? Given that one a good look over? Any idea how much they have to reimburse under warranty the first 2 years?
But then again they make their money with the Citation series...not with the little piston plonkers.
Name two manufacturers that came out with a new twin in the last ten years.
The cost of a new Baron is $1.2 million, the cost of a new Seminole is around $700K. New Seneca $800K. Tricked out DA-42.... $600K with everything.
Performance very similar to a Piper Twin Comanche. It will beat it on fuel cost and endurance. Don't see or hear anybody bitching about the Twin Comanche.
Oh hang on... wait a moment...they haven't been build for over 30 years.
Diamond is a very high profile company right now, always in the news... guess what they get most criticism. Give em a break people..
End of rant...
Will get my coat and another beer.......
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Brussels - Twin Comanche PA39 - KA C90B
Give em a break people
And they told us it's gonna be beautifull, fast and high quality. And they're not!