Diamond DA 50 RG is stunning!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRw-5a-cxdE

$1300 AMUs

Great to see a modern retractable design. Planes just look better with the gear folded away. I would also love to see a successful diesel in the 300 hp class, it gives the fleet more fuel options.

Just leaving OSH today. The DA50 looks great in person, very aggressive. I like the matte paint job on the one they brought to the show. $1.15 mm base price, plus options gets you to about 1.3-1.4 depending on your options. 165 knot cruise at 75-80% power, estimated at about 13 gph at that power setting. 750 NM max range at economy cruise, probably 500-600 at normal cruise but that’s not entirely clear yet.

Value proposition is another matter entirely, as its competition would be the SR22 and A36, for the most part. The DA62 twin is only slightly more expensive … with slightly more fuel burn (2-3 gph), same cabin, more speed, more range, second engine … but the plane does look good!

The buzz out of OSH is that pricing on the DA62 (and DA42 and DA40) will be increasing by about 7% within the next week or two.

My DA42 will do the same speed on the same fuel burn. I'll take the spare engine over the larger cabin, at least for now. IMO, the DA50 would be more attractive if it could approach the SR22's speed and range. Maybe the next iteration will improve on those parameters.

I really wanted to like this, but I just can't. The range is disappointing, and on a AMU spend basis, the DA62 is not significantly more expensive...

It is a fabulous plane in person.

The performance seems rather disappointing. My Columbia 400 is substantially faster, even when running LOP in economy cruise.

I really like it, and even sat up front for a few minutes. I love the concept. I did not like the visibility with the door closed. I also cannot believe it only has 51? Gallons usable fuel! That's just silly for a traveling plane, especially with a large engine. My 200 hp Mooney has 64 gallons.

So where do you hangar an airplane with a 44’ wingspan and how much will it cost?
The 40 has 200 miles more range than the 50. It doesn’t make any sense.
I don’t understand what market it’s trying to target. It sure isn’t range or speed.

Wasn't the 50 supposed to be pressurized?

One thing to note is that JetA is substantially cheaper, half price in most cases, than Avgas.

Those are substantial savings over the course of 2000 hours.

That’s like $50,000 savings on a plane that should cost half what it does. This plane is priced in Mirage territory and who picks a non-pressurized at that price? Heck a g1000 meridian goes for the same price. Crazy. Love the looks of it.

Chip-

For everyone commenting on the small fuel tanks…. If you were designing a plane and they said you had to use an engine that weighed 2x as much as usual, same power and payload as usual, what else can you do? Small fuel tanks are the obvious solution. The mitigating factor is somewhat higher fuel efficiency, so the range reduction is less severe.

One thing to note is that JetA is substantially cheaper, half price in most cases, than Avgas.

Those are substantial savings over the course of 2000 hours.[/quote]


Sorry Penman, not even close in my neck of the woods.

Wes, hate to break this to you but you never pay retail for JetA. Pretty much always on contract, especially at Atlantic