Diamond Aircraft Announces New Continental Engine For Company’s DA50 Aircraft Program

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Diamond Aircraft recently completed the first test flight for its single-engine DA50 aircraft using a 300-horsepower CD-300 Jet-A1 engine from Continental. (Photo courtesy of Diamond Aircraft.)

Austria-based Diamond Aircraft recently announced a change in direction for its DA50 aircraft program, which Diamond introduced in 2017 with five-, six-, and seven-seat variants. Diamond says after spending 2018 re-evaluating all its ongoing projects, it decided to change the DA50’s “engine concept.” As such, Diamond is now partnering with Continental Aerospace Technologies to equip the DA50 with Continental’s 300-horsepower CD-300 Jet-A1 engine. Initial ground tests of the DA50 with the new engine occurred March 15, and the first flight with the new engine happened March 22, marking the official start of the aircraft’s flight test program with the CD-300.

High-Performance Power

It was in 2017 that China-based Wanfeng Aviation Industry acquired full ownership of the Austria-based Diamond Aircraft Group, founded in 1981 and maker of single- and twin-engine piston aircraft, including the four-seat DA40, four-seat DA42, and seven-seat DA62 models. Wanfeng’s acquisition also included Diamond’s sister company and diesel aerospace engine maker Austro Engine.

Frank Zhang, Diamond Aircraft Industries CEO, says, “After careful consideration, we determined that the CD-300 engine aligns with Diamond’s jet fuel philosophy and that it is a suitable solution for our DA50 platform." Certified in December 2017, the CD-300 is the third platform in Continental’s Jet-A fueled piston engine lineup, the companies say, adding that “the engine was specifically designed to power high-performance, luxury piston-powered aircraft.”

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This rendering of Diamond Aircraft’s single-engine DA50 aircraft shows it with retractable gear. Diamond, which recently completed the aircraft’s first flight using a Continental 300-horsepower CD-300 Jet-A1 engine, is aiming for EASA certification for the DA40 by summer 2020. (Image courtesy of Diamond Aircraft.)

Certification By 2020

Diamond Aircraft is aiming for basic European Union Aircraft Safety Agency certification for the five-seat DA50 variant with the CD-300 and retractable gear for summer 2020. The company also says it will provide performance data concerning the DA50 and CD-300 combination later this year.

You can find scores of new and used planes from Diamond Aircraft for sale every day on Controller.com, including DA62s, DA42s, DA40s, and DA20s.

Source: Diamond Aircraft

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