Inside The $1 Million Diamond DA42 VI 

Inside The $1 Million Diamond DA42 VI Plane
0:00 - Intro
This is the Diamond DA42 VI. With more than 20 improvements over the DA42 NG, the new DA42 VI is the ultimate in practicality. Today we’re going inside the Diamond DA42 VI to talk about everything you need to know about this fantastic aircraft.
1:00 - Interior
The interior of the DA42 was designed with the pilot and passengers in mind, and features a redesigned overhead environmental console, and ergonomically designed and climate-controlled seats with variable lordosis support and adjustable backrest. To those familiar with other Diamond products, the seats will be worth the cost. Describing a traditional Diamond seat as firm is being charitable; hard is more accurate. Thanks to an awakening in the industry toward proper interior appointments, buyers have the option for seats that recline and have lumbar support.
The cockpit panel perfectly captures the look of a modern trainer with the G1000 being the centerpiece. The cockpit writing and displays are all very high quality with the gauges having an option for showing reflections. There are also various luxurious and hand-made upholstering options, as well as great optional interior features such as built-in tablet mount provisions for the pilot and co-pilot. At night, the cockpit detail is also enhanced by individual lighting controls that can be adjusted for intensity in some cases. This gives the user full control over their preference of having full cockpit lighting or a more subtle lighting that allows you to enjoy the scenery outside.
The spacious cockpit is more like that of a car than the cramped space in most light aircraft. But there are some flashy features you won’t see on the motorway. The Garmin G1000 avionics system, now features synthetic vision, an accurate three-dimensional picture of what the world looks like outside the cockpit. The autopilot has a system with sophisticated capabilities more usually seen on much bigger aircraft.
Changing altitude and direction, or following an airport’s restricted-visibility instrument approach procedure, are but a knob-twiddle away. If you want to fly using all these systems, the Twin Star does so with serene efficiency. And if you want to fly by hand, the Diamond will obediently follow your instructions with the sort of smooth and undramatic handling that passengers as well as pilots appreciate.
3:17 - Engine and Performance
The real story of the DA42 VI, however, is the engines. Diamond bet its future on diesel engine technology, and it seems to be paying off. The Mercedes-Benz-derived AE300, with its FADEC, is a highly promising technology that meshes beautifully with this airframe, and gives the DA42 VI has a maximum speed of 197 knots and a maximum cruise speed of 190 knots, and a maximum range of 1,225 nautical miles or 2,270 kilometers. The plane can take off in 2,130 feet or 650 meters, has a maximum rate of climb of 1,114 feet or 340 meters per minute, a minimum landing distance of 2,122 feet or 647 meters, and a useful load of 1,276 lbs or 580 kg.
Make a pro/con list, and the benefits of the two 168-horsepower Austro AE300 diesel engines come in to focus. On the pro side, the engines sip fuel. High-speed cruise at 92% power burns about 16.5 gallons per hour total. Throttle back for more economy and the burn drops to about 10.5 gallons total. Oil changes are recommended every 100 hours as opposed to the usual 25 or 50 hours. And the FADEC translates to electronic engine diagnostics. According to John Armstrong, a Diamond sales representative, there have been no in-flight engine failures with more than 200,000 hours in service.
The con list is shorter. The 168-horsepower engines utilize a cast-iron block, so they’re heavy. They’re produced in Austria, so while the service and support network is coming together in the United States, it will be harder to find someone to work on the Austro than it would be for a “traditional” engine. Another potential negative is the overhaul time, which now stands at 1,800 hours. The high-pressure fuel pump is also life limited to 600 hours. At maximum gross weight and standard conditions, it will climb to about 12,000 feet or 3,657 meters. When the airplane is light or your bad luck strikes in the winter, it’s certified to climb to 18,000 feet or 5,486 meters on one engine.
8:50 - Purchase Price and Operating Cost
The base purchase price for a new DA42 VI is around $869,000 before options, and while the total fixed cost is roughly $100,000 to $130,000 per year, the average hourly operating cost is estimated at $250 to $350.
9:10 - Outro
Aviation Base is your favorite source for your daily dose of aviation videos: private jet reviews, as well as private jet interior, both cabin, and cockpit, along with turboprops, commercial planes, and helicopters. We also make videos about private jet charter, private jet price, and private jet cost. Subscribe so you don't miss any videos from us!