Diamond DA42

The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four seat, twin engine, propeller-driven airplane manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries. Its airframe is made largely of composite materials.

Development

The DA42 Twin Star was certified in Europe in 2004 and in the United States in 2005.

The airplane is made of carbon composite material. It is equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit.

The DA42 Twin Star was the first diesel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to make a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic, in 12.5 hours, with an average fuel consumption of 21.73 litres (4.78 imp gal; 5.74 US gal) per hour (10.86 litres (2.39 imp gal; 2.87 US gal) per hour per engine).

In June 2010 a DA42 powered by Austro AE300 engines became the first aircraft to be publicly flown on algae-derived jet fuel.

By March 2012 the DA42 had become the major income driver at Diamond Aircraft. Company CEO Christian Dries indicated that the market focus of the company had been changed by the recession of 2008—2010 and that the company now derives two-thirds of its revenue from military and government contracts, primarily for manned and unmanned (Aeronautics Defense Dominator) surveillance aircraft.