Diamond Aircraft’s single-engine turbine prototype made its maiden flight this week in Austria. The DA50-JP7, first announced in 2013, is designed for seven passengers and touts higher fuel efficiency with a Ukrainian-built 465-horsepower, AI-450S engine. Diamond CEO Christian Dries flew as test pilot, accompanied by Ingmar Mayerbuch, head of flight testing.Diamond plans to make two versions of the turboprop — one for the training and private aviation markets, and a Tundra version with beefed-up wheels and landing gear.
The company expects certification in the second half of 2016, with manufacturing to take place at its headquarters in Wiener Neustadt. When introduced at Aero Friedrichshafen in April 2013, Dries said he wanted the DA50 to be designed to perform as a workhorse for unimproved airports in Russia, as the engine maker, Motor Sich, had historically built engines for Soviet military aircraft. The unpressurized airplane will feature a 20 percent-lower fuel burn than similar engines and will be most efficient at medium altitudes, Diamond said. It also will have dual FADEC.
Watch the flight video here.
