Diamond Aircraft officially introduction its single-engine, retractable gear DA50 RG on Wednesday. The model was first announced at Aero Friedrichshafen in 2019 and completed its first flight the following October. Diamond expects the DA50 RG to receive its EASA type certificate later this summer with deliveries beginning during the first quarter of 2021. FAA certification is expected by the end of 2021.
“We are very excited to be presenting the DA50 RG to the market,” said Diamond Aircraft Austria CEO Liqun Zhang. “We are convinced that our all-new DA50 RG will be the new star on the piston single market for private pilots needing more seats and space and charter operators looking for a low-cost alternative.”
The five-seat DA50 RG is powered by the Continental CD-300 engine and comes equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck. Optional features include a removable right-hand control stick, oxygen system, electric air conditioning, TKS de-icing system and Garmin GCU 476 keypad. The DA50 RG has a top speed of 181 knots, range of 750 NM and useful load of 1,232 pounds. Model price has not yet been announced.
So not impressed. a retractable? same speed as the SR22 and less useful load. So can you really put 5 full size adults and go anywhere?
You have to take account on few details. It is heavied due to retractable landing gear and diesel engine. OTOH, it has much lower fuel burn (roughly 10 vs. 17 gph) which nicely compensates for a littla less useful load. Useful load itself is also dependant of equipement, there are many SR22’s with useful load just over 1000 lbs.
At the end, let’s not forget about the cost of fuel, especially outside of US. In Europe, price of JetA1 is about 5$ per gal, 100LL can reach 10$, in some places even more. So, 17 times 10 equals 170 $ per hour, or 10×5=50$. That’s quite impressive in my book.
Does $170/hr really matter to a person who can afford an airplane priced at more than $850,000?
It probably does for business and commercial operators who will be able to depreciate much of their capital investment over the life of the asset, and for whom operating costs loom larger.
Was introduced years ago but never made it to certification. Really sad to see so many popular manufactures owned by Chinese.
Actually, it’s sad to see very few US-owned manufacturers.
Not so impressed either. I have a 43 year old Turbo Arrow III that will do 180 Kts at altitude with 4 adults aboard and made in USA.
You have to take account on few details. It is heavier due to retractable landing gear and diesel engine. OTOH, it has much lower fuel burn (roughly 10 vs. 17 gph) which nicely compensates for a little less useful load. Useful load itself is also dependant of equipement, there are many SR22’s with useful load just over 1000 lbs.
At the end, let’s not forget about the cost of fuel, especially outside of US. In Europe, price of JetA1 is about 5$ per gal, 100LL can reach 10$, in some places even more. So, 17 times 10 equals 170 $ per hour, or 10×5=50$. That’s quite impressive in my book.