DA42 "Twin Star"

derg

derg

Apparently a "terse" writer
Staff member
Anyone have experience flying one of these:

DA42big.jpg


The Diamond DA42 "Twin Star".

I saw one of these puttering around Orange County and thought it might be cool for a multi-engine trainer.

Also, I have ZERO GA glass experience. Do some of these manufacturers allow a selectable glass display? Like switching from something like this for primary students:

this.jpg


to this: for renters?

that.jpg
 
From my understanding, ERAU's CAPT was supposed to switch to those twins. I bet ATP has a big order for them too - something like 14 GPH fuel burn (both sides) and 200 knots. I'm too lazy to look it up, but if I remember correctly the max endurance was around 10 hours if you pull the levers back...
 
We have a DA40 and DA42 here at UND right now to play around with for a few weeks. I know that UND has been in talks with Diamond for a few years now...maybe they'll buy some...who know's...

wheelsup said:
I bet ATP has a big order for them too
Click to expand...

As far as ATP goes... they have 5 of them right now, but I think they have a few more on order... I've checked out one of ATP's DAs, they look pretty sweet.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Anyone have experience flying one of these:

DA42big.jpg


The Diamond DA42 "Twin Star".

I saw one of these puttering around Orange County and thought it might be cool for a multi-engine trainer.

Also, I have ZERO GA glass experience. Do some of these manufacturers allow a selectable glass display? Like switching from something like this for primary students:

this.jpg


to this: for renters?

that.jpg
Click to expand...

Most of the GA glass right now is pretty strict in what it'll display. The G1000 is the most flexible, I believe, in that it will allow you to put up a standby display of your AI screen on the second panel if the first one bombs out.

In other words, no. ;)
 
Kingairer said:
I think it only burns like 6 GPH total or something.
Click to expand...

Just looked it up - 14.3 gal/hr at 164 TAS @ 90% power (10,000 ft)
7.1 gal/hr at 135 TAS @ 50% power (18,000 ft)

Not bad, but no room for cargo in that sucker.
 
You know they are diesel, right?

They are popular in England, where Avgas is 3 times the price of Jet-A1.
 
NickH said:
You know they are diesel, right?

They are popular in England, where Avgas is 3 times the price of Jet-A1.
Click to expand...

But you can run them off of Jet-A.
 
Ah, I knew the DA40 had a choice of 180hp lycoming or 135hp Diesel, (at around $80 or $18 respectively an hour for fuel in the UK), but I didn't know the DA42 had the option.
 
I think it'd be interesting to have a technically advanced, cost-efficient aircraft with low operating costs so you can pass on the savings to the student and pay your instructors more. If you got your ME in a Baron 58TC or a Apache, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans. But if you could get Baron dispatch reliability with the costs of an Apache, nirvana.
 
That's Axe body spray, dingleberry.

Two stripe epaulets and a spritz of Axe and the ladys come a runnin'! :)
 
I hope all your pilots/students are midgets... I hear the cockpit on that twinstar is going to be the same as the one on the diamondstar and I can't fit in that thing safely. My legs are too long and the foot pedals are too close, even when I extend them as far as they can go. This pushes my knees up in my chest and into the panel pushinig all sorts of buttons. The seat is fixed for the most part which makes the top of my head rub on the roof. Don't know how I would be able to put on a normal headset?

Before I sat in one, I thought the Diamond was the coolest looking thing around and I was wanting to switch to them from Cessnas but after seeing it up close, it just felt really flimsy compared to a 172. Also when I closed the cockpit, I got a chlostrophobic feeling that I have never had before... I was shocked actually and really disapointed after expecting so much more.
 
I have the luxury of only being 5'8.

Sure I fit in aircraft easily, but chicks dig tall guys.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Sure I fit in aircraft easily, but chicks dig tall guys.
Click to expand...

And which of those is more important at this stage of your life?


(Careful how you answer - never know who's reading!)




:D
 
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