Aircraft: Two Times the Fun

Jan Morgan

06/01/2005

Diamond aircraft DA42 Twin Star
There is nothing like the feel of a twin-engine aircraft. As any “twin driver” will tell you, the view of those two props and the handful of throttles is what flying is all about. Pilots will rationalize owning a twin with talk of the safety of redundant systems and higher speed, but the real reason for having a multiengine aircraft lies in the visceral satisfaction derived from operating such a machine.
 
For the first time in 25 years, a new light twin-engine aircraft is poised to enter the U.S. market. Diamond Aircraft, the Austrian-based builder of motor gliders, trainers, and single-engine personal aircraft, has obtained full European certification for its new twin-engine DA42 Twin Star; FAA certification for the United States is expected to be granted this summer.
 
The Twin Star is not just a rehash of previous four-seat, twin-engine aircraft rendered in composite materials. It is a dramatic new entry into a niche market that has seen little development since the introduction of the Ted Smith Aerostar nearly 40 years ago. (Click image to enlarge)
 
Although its unusual proportions, forward-hinged canopy, T-Tail, and winglets are interesting features, the most revolutionary parts of the DA42 are the new TAE (Thielert Aircraft Engines) Centurion 1.7 liquid-cooled, turbocharged diesel powerplants within its narrow, streamlined nacelles. For flying enthusiasts who cannot put the words “diesel engine” and “flight” into the same sentence, rest assured that the Centurion is a very advanced jet-fueled piston aircraft engine with FAA certification. The Centurion is based on the design of the 4-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 1.7-liter automotive diesel, but is engineered for aircraft use. Rather than burning expensive Avgas or automotive diesel fuel, the Centurion sips common aviation Jet A1, the preferred diet of jets and turboprops.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.

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