6 April 2007
Diamond’s new aircraft, the DA50, made its <a href=’newsfeed.php?artnum=514′ target=’_blank’>expected maiden flight</a> on Wednesday 4 April ahead of its expected first public appearance at Expo 07 at Friedrichshafen later this month.
The flight was out of Wiener Neustadt in Austria, and was piloted by Christian Dries, the CEO and owner of Diamond. With him was Soeren Pedersen director of Sales, as chief test pilot.
The aircraft, we now know, has a MTOW of 1660 kg (3,670 lb) and a Teledyne Continental TSIOF – 550J engine 350+ hp with FADEC controlled and twin turbo charger.
Dries is proud that Manfred Zipper and his team made the DA50 Super Star a reality in less than 11 months from the idea to the maiden flight.
“The DA50 Super Star will become a big hit with 350 hp big bore and with variations of turbo-charged diesel engines,” he said. “I have a team that is unmatched in general aviation manufacturing. I know that they design and build the safest aircraft in the world.
“April 5th, the aircraft will be handed over to the flight test department. We expect production start not later than January 2008.”
