Diamond Aircraft Industries hopes to receive European day and night visual flight rules certification for its DA40-180 Diamond Star piston single by the end of August. Instrument flight rules (IFR) approval is expected to follow at the end of the year. The Weiner Neustadt, Austria-based general aviation aircraft manufacturer, which also has a base in Ontario, Canada, has notched up around 300 orders and options for the four-seat aircraft, with the majority of sales in IFR configuration. The all-composite Diamond Star is powered by a 135kW (180hp) Textron Lycoming IO-360 driven by a three-bladed constant-speed propeller. It offers a maximum cruise speed at 75% power of 145kt (268km/h) and a range with 45min reserves of 1,100km (600nm).
Source: Flight International
