Diamond’s still-in-development DA52 got a name change on Wednesday. It will now be known as the DA62, a move the company said is supposed to provide it some addition product identity.
We are renaming the DA52 to improve differentiation from our DA42 series that continues indefinitely in parallel production, said Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, in a press statement. The DA62 series is designed with significant growth potential and continues the upward expansion of Diamonds piston aircraft offerings. It will compete well with conventional six-seat single and twin engine piston aircraft and offers a great step-up alternative to owners of high-performance four and five seat singles seeking more space and capability without sacrificing operating economics.
The DA52, which AVweb flew in test mode last year at Diamond’s Austria headquarters, uses the Austro AE300 which, at 168 horsepower, is the most powerful variant of the Austro line. Austro coaxed more power out of the AE300 essentially by tweaking the ECU software. In its statement Wednesday, Diamond said the DA62 will be equipped with “growth versions” of the AE300, possibly suggesting there’s more power yet lurking in the base engine.
When it displayed the DA52 at the 2013 Aero show in Friedrichshafen last year, Diamond’s Dries described the airplane as a mini-van concept, capable of carrying up to seven passengers but also configurable for other seating arrangements. The DA52 is the largest piston airframe Diamond has produced and the DA62 will have the same flexibility and performance, with max takeoff weights of up to 5000 pounds or 2300 kg.
Diamond has three prototypes flying and expects certification sometime next year. Prices will be announced later, but last year, Dries estimated the new aircraft will sell for around $1 million, give or take.
