Diamond announces all-new DA50 RG
300 horsepower jet-fueled engine, five seats
Power, leg room, and premium avionics are among the selling points of the latest offering announced by Diamond Aircraft, a retractable-gear single that climbs straight to the top of the company’s piston-single lineup with Continental’s 300-horsepower, jet-fuel-burning CD-300 up front.
The carbon-fiber airframe will be packed with features borrowed from Diamond’s DA62 twin: large, adjustable seats (two up front, and three in a second-row bench), gull-wing doors, and lots of room to stretch out. European type certification is expected in late summer, with FAA certification expected to follow by the end of 2021, the company said in a June 24 press release.
“Plus, the extra benefits of operating a jet fuel powered aircraft—much lower emissions compared to leaded and even low leaded aviation fuels and saving many gallons of fuel and money due to excellent fuel efficiency,” Zhang said in the news release. “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 company did not release pricing details, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking that information. Diamond was far more verbose when it came to features and specifications, listing in the preliminary technical specifications a 181-knot top speed, 20,000-foot maximum operating altitude, and 1,232 pounds of useful load. Maximum range was listed at 750 nautical miles (including a 30-minute reserve), with a 9-gph fuel burn for maximum range. The DA50 RG will hold 50 gallons of Jet fuel.
