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Diamond DA50

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DA50
DA50 at Airventure 2007
Role
National origin Austria
Manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries
First flight 4 April 2007

The Diamond DA50 is a five seat, single-engine, composite aircraft designed and built by Diamond Aircraft Industries. First shown in 2006, it made its maiden flight on 4 April 2007. The project has been proposed to be powered by several different engines, but was certified on 9 September 2020 with the Continental CD-300 diesel.

Development

The DA50 Super Star prototype was unofficially first shown in December 2006 at a Diamond company Christmas party.[1] The aircraft was designed with the intention of fitting it with gasoline, turboprop or diesel engines up to 350 hp (261 kW). The initial design goal was that it would have one of the largest cabins of the new generation of general aviation airplanes.[2]

The avgas-powered version of the DA50 was intended to be equipped with a single FADEC-equipped Continental TSIO-550-J powerplant with twin turbo chargers producing 350 hp (261 kW). The plane's wingspan was reported as 38.3 ft (11.67 m), with overall fuselage length of 29 ft (8.84 m). The maximum takeoff weight was planned to be 3,527 lb (1,600 kg). The Diamond DA50 Super Star was intended to be pressurized and to offer a Ballistic Recovery Systems aircraft parachute system as an option.[2]

Diamond DA50 Magnum prototype on display at ILA Berlin Air Show 2008
Diamond DA50 Magnum prototype on display at ILA Berlin Air Show 2008

The DA50 made its first test flight on 4 April 2007 at the Wiener Neustadt East Airport, Austria.[3] The airplane made its public debut at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in Germany on 19 April 2007 and was first shown in North America at Airventure in July 2007.[4]

The DA50 project was put on hold in 2009 as the economy entered the Great Recession and Diamond turned all their attention to the Diamond D-Jet.[5]

On 19 January 2015 the prototype, now designated DA50-JP7 and powered by an Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop powerplant, was test-flown in Wiener Neustadt. In 2015 type certification was expected near the end of 2016.[6]

At the April 2017 AERO Friedrichshafen show, Diamond announced DA50 variants powered by diesel SMA Engines and other powerplants. These included the four-seat 230 hp (172 kW) DA50-IV, the five-seat 260 hp (194 kW) DA50-V and seven-seat 360 hp (268 kW) DA50-VII - also proposed to be powered by a 375 hp (280 kW) gasoline Lycoming engine or an Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop. The DA50-V model was displayed at that show. It had made its first flight in March 2017 and at that time certification was planned for 2018.[7]

By April 2019 no DA50 models had been produced beyond one single prototype. The company then announced a new version of the design with fully retractable landing gear and a Continental CD-300 diesel engine,[8] at the 2019 AERO Friedrichshafen show.[9] That retractable gear-equipped second prototype was first flown on 28 October 2019. At that time Diamond planned to announce its price and start accepting orders at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in April 2020, with European certification and introduction expected in the third quarter of 2020.[10]

Diamond Aircraft announced EASA certification of the DA50 RG (retractable gear) on 9 September 2020, with deliveries planned to start in the first quarter of 2021.[11] FAA certification and the aircraft's first U.S. sale occurred in July 2023.[12]

Design

The five-seat DA50 RG airframe is constructed predominantly of composite material. It is powered by a single 300 hp (224 kW) Continental CD-300 diesel engine, with a fuel capacity of 50 U.S. gallons (190 L; 42 imp gal).[13]

The design features double-slotted flaps, retractable landing gear, a Garmin G1000 NXi flightdeck with autopilot and single lever power controls.[13] Optional equipment includes a removable right-hand control stick, an on-board oxygen system, electric-powered air conditioning, a TKS de-icing system and a Garmin GCU 476 input keypad.[9]

The aircraft cruises at 180 kn (333 km/h) and has a 750 nmi (1,389 km) range, with a fuel economy of 9 US gal (34 L) per hour.[13] It has a useful load of 1,232 lb (559 kg).[9]

Operational history

In its first long flight, a factory demonstrator DA50 RG was flown from the factory in Austria to the China AirShow 2021 in Zhuhai, Guangdong. The flight involved 12 stops en route and took 45 flight hours over eight days, flying 7,033 nmi (13,025 km).[14]

Variants

DA50 SuperStar
Pressurized version powered by a Teledyne Continental TSIOF-550J. US FAA certification was initially forecast for 2012.[15][16]
DA50 Magnum
Unpressurized version, with a standard integral oxygen system, powered by an Austro Engine AE 300 170 hp (127 kW) diesel, US FAA certification originally forecast for mid-2010.[15][17][18][19]
DA50-JP7
Seven-seat version powered by a 465 hp (347 kW) FADEC-controlled Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop engine. Two sub-variants were planned, one "tundra" version with rugged landing gear, and one high-performance version for training and private customers. Certification was initially planned for the mid to end of 2016.[6]
DA50-IV
Four-seat version powered by a 230 hp (172 kW) SMA SR305-230 diesel engine announced at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in April 2017.[20]
DA50-V
Five-seat version powered by an SMA Engines 260 hp (194 kW) diesel engine. It was first flown in March 2017 and introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in April 2017. Certification was initially planned for 2018.[20]
DA50-VII
Seven-seat version powered by an SMA Engines SMA SR460 360 hp (268 kW) diesel engine, a 375 hp (280 kW) Lycoming Engines gasoline powerplant or a 450 hp (336 kW) Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop. The model was announced at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in April 2017.[20]
DA50 RG
Five seat version powered by a Continental CD-300 300 hp (224 kW) diesel engine. The model received an EASA type certificate on 9 September 2020[13] and FAA certification on 25 July 2023.[21]

Specifications (DA50 RG)

Data from Diamond Aircraft[22]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: four passengers
  • Length: 9.23 m (30 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.41 m (44 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
  • Empty weight: 1,440 kg (3,175 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,999 kg (4,407 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 189 L (50 US gal)
  • Useful load: 559 kg (1,232 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental CD-300 turbocharged, FADEC controlled jet fuel engine, 224 kW (300 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed MT-Propeller MTV-12-D/210-56

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 335 km/h (208 mph, 181 kn) (ISA, 16,000 ft, 1,700 kg, MCP)
  • Stall speed: 106 km/h (66 mph, 57 kn) landing configuration
  • Range: 1,389 km (863 mi, 750 nmi) incl. 30 min. reserve
  • Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.3 m/s (1,040 ft/min)
  • Power/mass: 0.11 kW/kg (0.067 hp/lb)
  • Fuel consumption at max range: 34.1 L/h (9 US gal/h)
  • Take-off distance (ISA SL, MTOM, ground roll / 50 ft obstacle) : 440 m / 740 m (1,444 ft / 2,427 ft)
  • Landing distance (ISA SL, MTOM, ground roll / 50 ft obstacle) : 340 m / 640 m (1,115 ft / 2,100 ft)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ Diamond Aircraft (15 September 2020). "DA50 Super Star". diamond-air.at. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Diamond Aircraft (2007). "DA50 Superstar Brochure". Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Diamond Super Star makes first flight!". Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Diamond Excites AirVenture Crowd With New DA50 SuperStar". Aero News Network. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ Cox, Bill (21 June 2011). "Diamond DA40 XLS: Premier Edition" (PDF). Plane and Pilot. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Maiden Flight of the DA50-JP7 with turbine" (Press release). Diamond Aircraft. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Diamond enters helicopter market with DART 280 unveiling". Flight Global. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  8. ^ Bertorelli, Paul (10 April 2019). "Aero: Diamond Revives The DA-50, This Time As A Retrac". AVweb. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b c O'Connor, Kate (9 September 2020). "Diamond DA50 RG Earns EASA Certification". AVweb. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ^ Sarsfield, Kate (5 November 2019). "Diamond DA50 takes flight with retractable gear". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Diamond Aircraft DA50 RG receives EASA Certification" (Press release). Diamond Aircraft. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Diamond Aircraft celebrates DA50 RG FAA certification and first U.S. customer delivery". Diamond Aircraft, July 25, 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d Kate Sarsfield (9 September 2020). "Diamond DA50 RG secures European certification". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  14. ^ Phelps, Mark (28 September 2021). "Diamond DA50 RG Arrives at China AirShow 2021, Under Its Own Power". AVweb. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  15. ^ a b Peppler, Graeme (April 2009). "Diesel DA50 Headed To U.S." Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  16. ^ Diamond Aircraft. "DA50 SuperStar Specifications". Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  17. ^ Diamond Aircraft. "DA50 Magnum Specs and Options". Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  18. ^ Diamond Aircraft. "DA50 Magnum (Future Project)". Archived from the original on 30 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  19. ^ Alton K Marsh (March 2015). "Diamond DA50 turboprop enters flight testing". AOPA Pilot: 24.
  20. ^ a b c Niles, Russ (6 April 2017). "Diamond Launches High-Performance Singles". AVweb. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  21. ^ O'Connor, Kate (25 July 2023). "Diamond DA50 RG Earns FAA Type Certificate". AVweb. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  22. ^ "DA50 RG Preliminary facts and specifications" (PDF). Diamond Aircraft. June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2020.
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