Aircraft: Two Times the Fun
June 1, 2005
The
turbocharged diesels produce 135 hp each, driving three-blade, constant-speed MT
propellers. The FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) manages all
aspects of the engines’ operation in flight. The Centurions are extremely
efficient, burning the less-expensive jet fuel at a rate that costs 30 percent
less than that of a traditional Lycoming or Continental gasoline engine of the
same power. Redundancy, a key safety aspect of twin-engine airplanes, is
ensured, as each engine has dual FADEC units, along with dual electrical systems
and independent batteries. This pair of engines can take the Twin Star to a
cruise speed of 210 mph at 80 percent power, while burning a total of only 12.2
gallons of Jet A1 per hour. That works out to about 19 mpg, a combination of
speed and economy that rivals the most efficient single-engine aircraft. Range
at the 80 percent maximum cruise power setting is about 1,400 miles.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The Twin
Star’s innovations do not end with speed and fuel economy. The cockpit features
floor-mounted control sticks, rather than the common control wheel or
contemporary side-stick controls. This refreshing return to traditional control
sticks adds a sporting feel to the Twin Star as well as the control authority
necessary for single-engine emergencies. The instrumentation package features a
fully integrated Garmin 1000 dual flat-panel display avionics system, which
includes flight instrumentation, navigation, communications, and engine
instrument display. The Garmin panel also features Traffic Awareness, Terrain
Awareness, and XM Satellite systems. For twin pilots looking for more
traditional engines, the Twin Star will be offered with 180 hp Lycoming 360s,
giving the slick airframe another 90 hp. Although the fuel burn will be somewhat
higher with the Lycoming engines, the increased rates of climb and speed put the
Twin Star in a class by itself. (Click image to enlarge)
More than 400 of the aircraft
have been ordered, about 200 of which are slated for U.S. owners and will be
built at Diamond Aircraft’s Canadian plant in Ontario. Options available for the
Twin Star include an integrated oxygen system, a TKS known-icing package, and
air-conditioning. Price: approximately $450,000.
Diamond Aircraft, 519.457.4000, www.diamondair.com
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