Diamond DA50

The Diamond DA50 Super Star and DA50 Magnum are Austrian five-place single-engine composite aircraft designed by Diamond Aircraft Industries.[1] Introduced in 2006, the project was later put on hold until the turboprop JP7 variant was introduced in 2015.

DA50 Super Star & Magnum
DA50 at Airventure 2007
Role
National origin Austria
Manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries
First flight 4 April 2007
Number built two prototypes

Development

The DA50 was unofficially presented in December 2006 at a company Christmas party and is to be able to be operated with gasoline and diesel engines up to 350 hp. The new five seater will have one of the largest cabins of the new generation of general aviation airplanes.[1]

The avgas powered version of the DA50 is 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 is currently reported as 38', 4", with overall fuselage length of 29 feet. The maximum takeoff weight is planned to be 3,527 lbs. The Diamond DA50 Super Star will be pressurized and offer a Ballistic Recovery Systems aircraft parachute system as an option.[1]

The DA50 made its maiden test flight on April 4, 2007 at the Wiener Neustadt East Airport, Austria.[2] The plane made its public debut at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in Germany on April 19, 2007.

The DA50 project was put on hold in 2009 as the economy entered an extended downturn and Diamond turned all their attention to the Diamond D-Jet.[3]

On 19 January 2015 the prototype now designated DA50-JP7 and powered by a 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.[4]

At the April 2017 AERO Friedrichshafen show, Diamond launched variants powered by diesel Safran/SMA Engines : the four-seat 230shp DA50-IV; five-seat 260shp DA50-V which was on display, made its first flight in March and is scheduled for certification in 2018; and seven-seat 360shp DA50-VII - also available with a 375shp petrol Lycoming engine or an AI-450S turboprop.[5]

By April 2019 no DA50 models had been produced beyond one single prototype. The company announced a new version of the design, with fully retractable landing gear and a Continental CD-300 diesel engine.[6] That retractable gear-equipped second prototype was first flown on 28 October 2019, by then, Diamond planned to announce its price and open the orderbook at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in April 2020, and expected European certification and introduction in the third quarter of 2020.[7]

Variants
DA50 SuperStar
Pressurized version powered by a Teledyne Continental TSIOF-550J. US FAA certification was initially forecast for 2012.[8][9]
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[8][10][11][12]
DA50-JP7
7-seat version powered by a 465 hp (347 kW) FADEC-controlled Ivchenko-Progress Motor Sich AI-450S turboprop engine. Two sub-variants are planned, one "tundra" version with rugged landing gear, and one high-performance version for training and private customers. Certification is expected mid to end 2016.[4]
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.[13]
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 is planned for 2018.[13]
DA50-VII
Seven seat version powered by a 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.[13]

Specifications (DA50 SuperStar)

Data from Diamond Aircraft[1][9]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: four passengers
  • Length: 28 ft 11 in (8.81 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.68 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
  • Wing area: 148 sq ft (13.7 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,560 lb (1,615 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 74 US gallons (280 litres)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Teledyne Continental TSIOF-550J six cylinder, four-stroke, piston aircraft engine, 350 hp (260 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant speed, with 4-bladed propeller optional

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 200 kn (230 mph, 370 km/h)

Avionics

See also

References
  1. Diamond Aircraft (2007). "DA50 Superstar Brochure". Archived from the original on 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  2. "Diamond Super Star makes first flight!". n.d. Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  3. Bill Cox, "Diamond DA40 XLS: Premier Edition", Plane and Pilot, 21 June 2011
  4. "Maiden Flight of the DA50-JP7 with turbine". n.d. Archived from the original on 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  5. "Diamond enters helicopter market with DART 280 unveiling". Flight Global. 6 April 2017.
  6. Bertorelli, Paul (10 April 2019). "Aero: Diamond Revives The DA-50, This Time As A Retrac". AVweb. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. Kate Sarsfield (5 Nov 2019). "Diamond DA50 takes flight with retractable gear". FlightGlobal.
  8. Peppler, Graeme (April 2009). "Diesel DA50 Headed To U.S." Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  9. Diamond Aircraft (n.d.). "DA50 SuperStar Specifications". Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  10. Diamond Aircraft (n.d.). "DA50 Magnum Specs and Options". Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  11. Diamond Aircraft (n.d.). "DA50 Magnum (Future Project)". Archived from the original on 30 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  12. Alton K Marsh (March 2015). "Diamond DA50 turboprop enters flight testing". AOPA Pilot: 24.
  13. Niles, Russ (6 April 2017). "Diamond Launches High-Performance Singles". AVweb. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
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