| DA42 Twin Star | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light twin-engined utility and trainer aircraft |
| National origin | Austria |
| Manufacturer | Diamond Aircraft Industries |
| Status | In production[1] |
| Number built | 600+ (2010)[2] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2002–present |
| Introduction date | 2004 |
| First flight | 9 December 2002 |
| Variants | Aeronautics Defense Dominator |
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four seat, twin engine, propeller-driven airplane developed and manufactured in Austria and Canada by Diamond Aircraft Industries, an Austrian subsidiary of China-based Wanfeng Aviation.[3] It was Diamond's first twin engine design, as well as the first new European twin-engine aircraft in its category to be developed in over 25 years.[4] In 2004, the DA42 became the first diesel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to perform a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic.
By 2012, the DA42 had become a key revenue generator for the company, having gained popularity with government and military operators in addition to the civil market that had suffered as a result of the Great Recession. Government customers have typically employed the type in the aerial surveillance role, which contributed towards the development of the Aeronautics Defense Dominator, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which had been derived from the DA42.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
AvWeb16Mar09was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jaggi, Rohit. "Flight test: the Diamond DA42 NG." Archived 2017-04-24 at the Wayback Machine Financial Times, 8 May 2010.
- ^ "New Owner: Great Plans for Diamond Aircraft"
- ^ Collins, Peter. "FLIGHT TEST: Diamond Aircraft DA42 – Sparkling performer." Archived 2017-04-23 at the Wayback Machine Flight International, 13 July 2004.