DIAMOND DA62: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
INTRODUCTION This is the Diamond DA62, created by
Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, which is one of the world's leading general
aviation aircraft manufacturers. The DA62 has been cataloged as "the ultimate flying machine",
specially made for use by individual owners, air taxis, and corporate operators. If
it could be defined in just five words, they would be: space, performance,
efficiency, luxury, and, of course, safety. The initial prototype of the DA62 took
flight for the first time in 2012, from then on, the development team was in charge of polishing
and perfecting every detail of this twin-engine aircraft, with the intention of being faster and
going farther than any other vehicle in its class, finally, it was formally introduced to the market
in October 2015, becoming the newest member of the Diamond family of aircraft.
EXTERIOR DESIGN The Diamond DA62 stands out at first glance
thanks to its beautiful and neat exterior design, as its stylized carbon fiber fuselage incorporates
a fully aerodynamic design that provides better performance and efficiency when flying, as
well as greater occupant protection provided by the passive safety technology incorporated
into its design. Diamond allows the exterior design to be completely customized according
to the customer's tastes and preferences, offering a wide range of colors to choose from,
and my favorite is the metallic ruby red.
A lot of aviators consider the DA62 as an
SUV or a minivan. It’s certainly big enough for that. Up close, it stands higher than
the original DA42 and is two feet longer. The wingspan is 47.8 feet, and the tips are
upswept. It stands 9 feet, 3 inches tall, and its length is 30 feet. The top of the tail is a full
foot higher than the DA42. As noticeable as these changes are from the outside of the airplane, the
cabin interior is noticeably larger in both width and length, thanks to a 5-inch plug inserted
longitudinally between the two fuselage halves. Where the original DA42 shared the forward-hinged
bubble canopy introduced on the DA40 single, the DA62 has a pair of gullwing doors that hinge
up out of the way for ingress and egress. For access to the rear, Diamond enlarged the left-side
hatch to barn-door proportions and supported it with a spring mechanism to make it easy to open
and close. Entering involves simply stepping down into the cabin from the wing.
INTERIOR The luxury that the exterior of the aircraft
transmits is also reflected in the interior of the plane, which incorporates premium elements
of different styles, colors, and materials. Its cabin is extra-large, ensuring crew
access without any problem. Its front seats are generously sized and adjustable. On the face
of it, this makes the DA62 a seven-seat airplane, with two up front, three in a wide bench seat
that serves as a midrow and two kiddie seats in the rear. But practically, it’s a four-seater
with enormous baggage capacity or a five-seater with moderate range and surplus payload.
The comfort inside the aircraft is indisputable. The material used for the seats, ceiling,
and carpet is top quality, offering up to four color options to customize your interior.
In any of the four available configurations, exclusive genuine leather panels are used
with inlays of other composite materials such as alcantara, all handcrafted and custom-made.
The materials used are also ultra-lightweight, fire-resistant, dirt-resistant, and UV-protected.
Ergonomic features include airconditioned seats with variable lordosis support and adjustable
backrest, central armrests, and folding legrests, all softly padded to provide a luxurious
traveling experience for passengers onboard.
Practicality
At 5071 pounds max gross, the DA62 is the largest,
heaviest airplane Diamond has ever built, and it doesn’t lack for useful load. Because of
European ATC regulatory limitations, there are two versions of the DA62, and the European version
is limited to 4397 pounds, a whopping 674 pounds less than the North American version. That’s more
than the weight of the full fuel load and turns the airplane into a two- or three-placer with full
fuel. Be glad you don’t live in Europe. Speaking of fuel, the airplane has a 4850-pound zero fuel
limit. So, on an empty weight of 3471 pounds, 1379 pounds can go in the cabin, but the remaining 221
pounds must be fuel. That’s about 32 gallons.
Performance and Handling
The 180-hp Austro AE330 engine incorporated into the DA62, is a reliable evolution of the
170-hp AE300 engines, which has been present in the Diamond DA40 and DA42. They weigh the
same as the AE300 but provide more power, so we can easily speak of an outstanding evolution
at the engineering level, and improved fuel efficiency. Of course, this provides a high level
of reliability and easy operability. The AE330s are turbocharged direct injection piston engines,
which use jet. This is particularly beneficial for the environment since their emissions are
relatively lower. Another important advantage is that Jet-A is available in every country,
so DA62 flight operations will not be limited. These are not only more silent and generate
less CO2, but also consume 45% less fuel than conventional piston aircraft engines that run
on AvGas. Another reason why this aircraft is one of the best options on the market.
Each engine features three-bladed MT constant speed hydraulic propellers,
which have advanced propeller geometry for more efficient performance, smoothness
of travel, and low noise, all automatically controlled by each engine's digital control.
The ignition process is quite simple. Just press the main switch and wait for the glowing
advert to go out, then press the engine start button and you're done. Everything will
come to life in no time. FADEC manages the rpm and continuously checks for faults.
The Diamond DA62 offers outstanding performance for its range, and not for nothing has it
been singled out by some industry experts as an all-rounder of the air. Its twin 180-horsepower
engines burn less than 11-gallons of fuel per hour on each side at maximum continuous power,
propelling the aircraft to a top speed of 192 knots at 14,000 feet. It has a total
range of approximately 1283-nautical miles, so it is ideal for regional flights
with the family or on a business trip.
Takeoff rotation comes at 75 knots after good but
not stunning acceleration. The airplane gathers itself a bit, and after gear retraction,
it settles into an easy 1500 FPM rate of climb. Diamond airplanes are known for their
balanced and gentle flight characteristics, and the DA62 continues that tradition.
Controls are via the same center stick arrangement as on the DA40 and DA42.
When disturbed in pitch, it barely has a phugoid at all, recovering to the trimmed
airspeed in a cycle and a half. Disturb it a lot, and the autopilot’s envelope protection
kicks in. That’s true of roll limits, too. Stalls are rather startling for a twin in that
holding the stick full aft provokes no break, wobble, or yaw, but a buffeting parachute mode
that takes little effort to maintain in a stable state. .
SYSTEMS Like every Diamond creation, the DA62 is
electrically complex and mechanically simple. The best thing is that the electronic
complexity is opaque to the pilot and involves integration of the engines with the
avionics. Other than the engines, mechanically, the airplane is manual operation. The flaps
are electric and the gear is electromechanical, with a power pack in the nose compartment. The
fuel system is simple. The left side feeds the left, the right feeds the right and crossfeed
is available. Total capacity is 86 gallons, with 50 gallons in two 25-gallon mains and 36
gallons in two 18-gallon nacelle auxiliaries. Because of its simplicity to the pilot, the
pre-flight checklist is short. Engine start involves flipping on the engine masters and
pushing the start button. The engines are throttle by wire and the power levers are silky
smooth. That makes steering with asymmetrical power the best way to drive the DA62 around on the
ground. It’s actually kind of fun. Pilots normally prefer twins because of the safety of the second
engine. But that comes with the challenge of handling an engine out. Singles has better safety
record than twins not because singles are safer, but some pilots don’t correctly handle
engine out procedures, which lead to crashes, but in the DA62. The engines are equipped with
auto-feathering and engine-out drills are much easier. Shut off the engine master and the rest is
automatic, you focus on flying, and climb rate on one engine is 450-fpm.
AVIONICS The DA62 series incorporates in its flight deck a
Garmin G100NXi with a standard GFC700 three-axis automated flight control system, a yaw damper
that decreases the oscillations of the dutch roll, and electronic stability protection, providing
excellent control and a high degree of situational awareness, reducing the pilots' workload.
The full integration of the Garmin G1000NXi is further complemented by other avionics attachments
and options that allow the aircraft to easily adapt to any task assigned to it, such as:
• Integrated weather radar, usually available only on more expensive aircraft.
• Air traffic detection and warning system.
• Synthetic vision, thus providing and guaranteeing a
higher level of safety in every flight. Another noteworthy aspect is that the lines
for unit replacement are located in special spaces that are easily accessible from the
outside, thus facilitating maintenance and the resolution of any problems that may arise.
To facilitate the programming of the G1000 NXi, the Diamond DA62 incorporates the
Garmin GU 476 alphanumeric keypad, so that from the cockpit they can interact
with the programming commands in a simpler and more intuitive way. This way, programming the
G100Nxi is anything but complicated. VARIANTS
There are two variants of this Diamond DA62, each
with particular characteristics and manufactured according to its maximum take-off weight.
The model intended for the European market is up to 4,407 pounds to avoid Air Traffic
Control fees placed on heavier airplanes, and has a total layout of up to 5 seats, while
the international version to be marketed in the rest of the world has up to 7 seats and
supports a maximum take-off weight of 5,070 pounds.
MARKET The price for the DA62 is upwards of $1m depending
on the configuration chosen by the client and the customizations made, with the highest version
being able to reach a price of over two million dollars. Although it is a very expensive price,
this aircraft is definitely an acquisition that you will not regret. It is worth it for all
the comforts it offers and its high level of technology.
CONS The downside of the DA62 is that in the seven
seats model, the last row is ideal only for children, an adult would be uncomfortable, not
to mention two. Apart from this, one of the biggest cons is not in the aircraft itself, but
in the sector in which it competes. A sector that has experienced a sharp decline in the sale of
twin-light piston aircraft units, to the point of being considered an almost extinct segment.
PROS Thanks to the harmonic integration of its
components both at hardware and software level, the Diamond DA62 is one of the most capable and
easy to fly piston aircraft ever produced. It has superior efficiency, high-quality construction,
and technical sophistication. The work on design, distribution, and space utilization has been
exceptional, and in terms of both passive and active safety, it is a product that is capable of
offering comfort and safety in equal measure. It is also perfect for people with very specific
tastes as they can customize it in their own way and have many options to choose from to meet
their needs. It has an aesthetic appearance from every perspective.
CONCLUSION To conclude, the Diamond DA62 is a
well-rounded product, a comfortable, beautiful, and easy-to-operate aircraft, with a
long list of positive attributes behind it, such as the implementation of sophisticated technology,
quality construction, and aesthetic appeal, and is capable of earning a place on the list of the
best twin light aircraft of all time. All in all, this aircraft is a pilot's dream. With its pros
and cons, the Diamond DA62 was designed for pilot satisfaction, and many important aspects and
minor details were taken into account for its construction. This is a one-of-a-kind flying
machine that moves farther and faster than any other aircraft in its class. There is no
doubt that the Diamond DA62 speaks of exquisite luxury and there is no way in the world that
an aviation enthusiast wouldn't like to fly it.
