Diamond Aircraft president Peter Maurer shows off his company's latest offering, the luxuriously fast DA-50 SuperStar, making its first appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. Photo by Dave Higdon

Diamond Aircraft Industry’s DA50 SuperStar made its U.S. debut this week at Oshkosh and company President Peter Maurer was available to talk about plans for the new model. A five-place high-performance single, the DA50 continues the company’s aggressive expansion of its fleet, which ranges from the DA20 two-place trainer to the D-Jet, Diamond’s highly anticipated single-engine personal jet, scheduled to begin deliveries by mid-2008.

Powered by a 350-hp turbocharged Teledyne Continental Motors TSIOF-550J FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) engine, the SuperStar has a projected top cruise speed in excess of 200 knots, a range of more than 900 nautical miles and a 25,000 service ceiling. The panel will feature a Garmin G1000 avionics suite.

The SuperStar is positioned as a step up from the current crop of modern high performance four-place singles–Cirrus, Mooney, Columbia, et al.—Maurer told AirVenture Today at the company’s display area. "It’s a very capable aircraft, one you can truly fill the seats with adults and take lots of bags, and go cross-country."

The SuperStar’s performance is complimented by luxurious interior appointments of polished wood and soft leathers, combined with high-tech touches like video screens on the back of the forward seats. The rear bench seat can accommodate two full-sized adults or an adult and two children. The 52-inch wide cabin is the most expansive among piston singles.

Up front, the FADEC engine will optimize fuel consumption, an increasing priority as prices fluctuate.

"I think customers are always concerned about operating costs," Maurer noted. "Any airplane owner I speak to, whether operating a very expensive jet or a smaller propeller aircraft, they’re always discussing operating costs. And of course a big factor is the fuel costs and how much the aircraft consumes."

With an eye toward economy, Diamond also will create a reduced weight, lower-powered version of the DA50.

"It will not match the [DA50’s] performance, but it will give a reasonable cruise performance and essentially have less than half the fuel burn," Maurer said.

The DA50 had its world debut earlier this year at AERO EXPO in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Response to SuperStar at AirVenture has been as impressive as the aircraft’s projected performance. By Friday morning the company reported taking about 25 $15,000 deposits for the (approximately) $600,000 aircraft, which is scheduled to begin deliveries in mid-2009.

Maurer also provided updates on the company’s other aircraft. Diamond is now delivering two twin-engine DA42 Twin Stars per week in North America. Originally marketed with a choice of either Lycoming engines or 135-hp Thielert diesel FADEC engines, demand for the diesels has been so strong, the company no longer offers the Lycoming-powered variant.

"Frankly, customers overwhelmingly went for diesel," Maurer said. "The performance is better with the Lycomings, but only marginally, and they have more than double the fuel burn."

Additionally, the FADEC, by eliminating mixture and prop controls, simplifies operation.

"When we talked to customers, part of their reason for wanting a modern airplane was the convenience of the new technology," Maurer said.

As for the D-Jet, which was the first of what is now a growing field of single-engine personal jets, Maurer said the company has some 300 orders for the aircraft.

"In 2003 [when the D-Jet program was announced], a lot of people were questioning the idea of a single-engine jet, and the idea seems to be catching on," Maurer said, alluding to the single turbofans under development by Cirrus, Piper, and Eclipse. "All these other jets sort of validate our original concept."

Maurer, who first came to the fly-in when he joined Diamond as an engineer in 1993, expressed delight at returning to AirVenture with his company’s expanding line of aircraft.

"I always enjoy walking around and seeing what other people are doing," Maurer said. "There’s a lot of talent in the industry, and as an engineer I’m very curious to see how other people have solved the same problems we have or the same issues we have. We do get sometimes inspiration from some of the other designs, but I think that equally there are a lot of people walking around getting inspiration from what we do."

The DA50 and all the other Diamond family of aircraft, as well as a mock up of the D-Jet are on display at the company’s exhibit area on the south side of Exhibit Hangar C (Combo L).

Diamond Aircraft owners group launched at Oshkosh

A new aircraft owners group endorsed by Diamond Aircraft Industries was officially launched Friday night at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. The Diamond Aviators Association (the DAA), formed by current Diamond aircraft owners, is dedicated to enhancing the experience of anyone who flies, owns, or is a fan of Diamond aircraft by promoting education and safety; offering social and networking activities; and promoting goodwill within the general aviation community.

DAA Membership benefits include:

• Safety seminars
• Maintenance seminars
• Fly-ins and meetings
• Special events
• Diamond and general aviation news & announcements
• A subscription to the Diamond Aviator magazine
• An extensive online forum and members-only Internet community
• A connection to factory support, providing member advocacy

Anyone interested in joining or learning more about the DAA should visit the organization's website www.diamondaviator.org.