DIAMOND DA-40 STARThe Diamond DA40 Diamond Star is an Austrian four-seat, single

engine, light aircraft constructed from composite materials. Built in

both Austria and Canada, it was developed as a four-seat version of

the earlier DA20 by Diamond Aircraft Industries.

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Based on the success of the earlier DA20 two-seat aircraft, the

company designed a four-seat variant, the DA40. The DA40 is a four-

seat low-wing cantilever monoplane made from composite materials.

It has a fixed nose-wheel landing gear and a T-tail. The Rotax

914powered prototype DA40-V1, registered OE-VPC, first flew on the 5

November 1997 and was followed by a second prototype DA40-V2

(registered OE-VPE) which was powered by a Continental IO-240. In

1998 a third prototype DA40-V3 flew powered by a Lycoming IO-360

engine. Four more test aircraft were produced followed with the first

production aircraft in 2000. JAR23 certification of the IO-360

production variant was obtained in October 2000. In 2002 the

production of the Lycoming engined variant was moved to Canada and

the Austrian factory concentrated on diesel-engined variants.

The DA40 has only officially appeared in three versions, the DA 40, DA

40D and DA 40F, as documented on its type certificates. The various

model names that the aircraft has been sold under are marketing

names and are not officially recognized by the authorities that have

certified the aircraft.

The DA40 was initially marketed as the DA40-180, powered by a fuel

injectedTextron Lycoming IO-360 M1A engine.

In late 2006, the XL and FP models replaced the DA40-180. The FP

replaced the fixed-pitch propeller version of the 180 and the XL

replaced the constant-speed propeller version. The major difference

between the new models and the 180 is the higher maximum cruise

speeds. The DA40-XL is approximately four knots faster than the

preceding DA40-180/G1000 with the two-blade Hartzell propeller and

the "Speed Gear" option. The XL's speed increase is mostly due to the

Powerflow exhaust system.

The DA40-XL has a constant-speed propeller and is powered by a

180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming IO-360-M1A fuel injected engine. It has a

maximum cruise speed of 147 knots, burning 9.2 gallons of Avgas per

hour. Its maximum take off weight is 2,535 lb (1,150 kg).

The DA40-F (marketed as the "FP") has a fixed-pitch propeller, a

180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360-A4M engine, which has

a carburettor rather than fuel injection and a more basic interior, but

is otherwise similar to the XL.

The DA40-TDI uses a Thielert "Centurion" 135 hp (101 kW) diesel

engine and burns diesel or jet fuel. It has a constant speed

propeller and FADEC (single lever) engine control. The first flight of

the DA40D was made on Nov. 28, 2002. This model is not certified in

the US.

Efforts to increase the DA40's cruising speed centered on the

propeller and wheel spats. The wheel fairing streamlining was

improved, a three-blade scimitar-type constant-speed propeller was

incorporated and the Powerflow exhaust system from the XL was

retained. The canopy contour was also revised, with the sides being

more vertical before curving into the roof, which provides more

shoulder and head room.

In the last half of 2007 the company updated the DA40 line by

introducing the XLS and CS versions and eliminated the FP model. The

XLS is the deluxe version, with the integration of some options into

the standard offering including a Powerflow tuned exhaust, WAAS-

capable G1000, GDL69 datalink, and TAS traffic alert system. The CS is

the budget version, with fewer standard features.

Both CS and XLS versions of the DA40 use the Lycoming IO-360-M1A

fuel injected engine. The major difference is the choice of propeller,

with the CS using a Hartzell two-blade aluminum constant speed prop

and the XLS using an MT composite three-blade unit.

Pilot and passengers enter the DA40 via the leading edge of the wing,

an unusual feature among low-wing aircraft. The aircraft's nosewheel

is free-castoring and directional control while taxiing is by mainwheel

differential braking.

DA40s are produced at Diamond's aircraft factories in Wiener

Neustadt, Austria and in London, Ontario, Canada. A joint venture has

also been set up in China with Shandong Bin Ao Aircraft Industries for

production of the DA40 inShandong Province. Capacity is available for

up to 1,000 aircraft a year to be produced with certification by

theEuropean Aviation Safety Agency in 2008.

Past DA40 models were available with either traditional mechanical

instruments or an optional Garmin G1000 glass cockpit suite. Current

production DA40s are built only with the Garmin G1000 as standard

equipment. In April 2008, Diamond introduced the optional availability

of Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology on the DA40 XLS.

GENERALITIES

DA 40 TDI Diamond Star is a single-engine four-seat airplane with a tricycle landing gear. This plane is powered by 135hp diesel

poweplant THIELERT Centurion 1.7 with three-bladed variable pitch propeller MT 3. The powerplant and propeller controls are the same as

in DA 42TDI; the FADEC computer control unit. Engine diagnostics is the same as well. The plane can be equipped both for visual flight

rules and instrument flight rules. The plane can also be equipped with additional fuel tanks for longer range. The plane is not equipped with defrost system. DA 40 Diamondstar is valued for low noise levels and low fuel consumptions. At 105 knots the fuel consumption is 16 liters

per hour of flight.

Take-off length: 635 m

Climb rate at sea level: 3,3 m / sec

Cruise speed at 70% power at 10 000 ft:

232 kph TAS (True airspeed)

Fuel consumption: 18,5l / hour

Range at 60% power at 10000ft:

standard fuel tank - 1372 km / with additional fuel tank - 2006 km

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

The DA40 has accumulated a very low accident record, particularly

with regard to stall and spin accidents. Its overall and fatal accident

rates are one eighth that of the general aviation fleet and include no

stall-related accidents. The level of safe operation is attributed to its

high aspect ratio wing, low wing loading and benign flight

characteristics. The aircraft can be trimmed full nose up, engine set to

idle and it will descend at 600-1200 feet per minute at 48 kn (89 km/h)

hands-off, a lower rate of decent than the competitive Cirrus SR22 can

achieve with its airframe ballistic parachute deployed.

In a 2011 analysis by Aviation Consumer magazine, the DA40 was

shown to have a fatal accident rate of 0.35/100,000 hours, the lowest

in US general aviation and considerably better that the Cirrus

SR20 and SR22 with a combined fatal accident rate of 1.6/100,000

hours, despite its full aircraft parachute system.

.AIRCRAFT ITEM INFORMATION

Engine Lycoming IO-360-M1A

Horsepower 180 hp

Propeller MT 3-blade compositeconstant-speed

Airworthinesscategory Normal and utility

Length 26 ft 5 in

Height 6 ft 6 in

WingSpan 39 ft 6 in

Maximumtakeoffweight 2,645 lbs

Useful load 860 lbs (standardequippedairplane)

Fuel capacity, usable 50 gal

Fuel AVGAS 100 LL

Takeoffdistance, ground roll 1,175 ft

Takeoffdistance, 50-foot obstacle 1,700 ft

Landingdistance, ground roll 1,155 ft

Landingdistance, 50-foot obstacle 2,093 ft

Rate of climb, sea level 1,120 ft/min

Maximumoperatingaltitude 16,400 ft

Maximumspeed 157 ktas

Cruisespeed at 75% 150 ktas/10 gal/hr

Stallspeed, full flaps 49 kias

Maximumdemonstratedcrosswind 20 kts

Range, at 75% 45 minute reserve 720 nm

Range, at 55% 45 minute reserve 785 nm

DA40 XLS SPECIFICATIONS*

ENGINECenturion 1.7, is a 1.7 liter engine - a departure from 4+ liter

conventional gasoline engines - with four cylinders in a row - again differing from the common boxer, or "opposed", layout - featuring a

turbocharger, a fairly normal accessory on all piston engines regardless of the fuel they use. It's output is 135 HP, controlled by

a Full Authority Digital Engine Controlsystem - or FADEC - which oversees the operation of the engine and adjusts parameters as

necessary, doing away with the famous mixture and prop levers in the cockpit. 

Picture 1: the Centurion 1.7 with it's associated propeller system (www.emair.com.tr)

Intended for four-seaters of the Skyhawk and Warriorclass that normally sport 160 HP engines, the 25 HP lower output of

the Centurion may seem to be too much of a performance loss. However, like with automotive engines, aviation Diesels make up for their lower power with more than enough torque, a parameter that is

more important than pure horses when you have to spin a prop up front.

Photo 1: the popular Diamond Star is one aircraft offered with the factory-installed Centurion, becoming the DA-40TDi. (photo: author)

Photo 2: Centurion 1.7 installation on a DA-40TDi (www.airways.cz)

Identical in power to the Centurion 1.7 is the Centurion 2.0, a 2-liter version that has already replaced the 1.7on the production lines.

Though delivering the same nominal horsepower, the 2.0 has a new engine block, lighter FADEC and a more efficient gearbox, but retains compatibility with Centurion 1.7 conversion kits - meaning it'll fit well on both Centurion and non-CenturionSkyhawk/Warrior-class aircraft.

A bigger machine altogether is the Centurion 4.0, a 4-liter V8 8-cylinder engine aiming for the heavy single and light twin classes, on aircraft such as the Cessna 206,340, 414 and 421 series, as well as

the Beech B.60 Duke. Rated at 350 HP for takeoff and 330 for continuous running, the 4.0 still isn't widespread on the aviation

scene, though with a growing range of conversions,Thielert hopes to steal a significant market share in the lower light aircraft engine

market.

Picture 2: the Centurion 4.0 (www.emair.com.tr)

Photo 3: the actual Centurion 4.0, minus the propeller (www.airwork-images.com)

With many aircraft operators showing increased interest in the Centurion series - which are still the only commercially successful

and significantly widespreadDiesel aviation engines - one would wonder what's the attraction. In a nutshell it's the fuel economy and its collateral effects, such as greater endurance and maximum range (for the hard numbers, you can check the links provided at the end of

the article). However, the declining availability of Avgas is another driving force, as well as - to a lesser extent - its higher impact on the

environment, especially when carbon monoxide emission is concerned.

An additional benefit is found forward of the engine block in the form of the constant speed three-blade propeller, that in itself gives a

noticeable performance boost and increase in efficiency, with better utilization of the available engine power.

Photo 4: as with turboprop engines, a distinctive feature of Diesel-powered aircraft is the slightly staggered propeller, to offset the

effects of the engine's higher torque (photo: author)

The downside however - as marginal as it may be - is the somewhat higher weight of the engine, plus the cost of the conversion. On the

frame, a Centurion 2.0 conversion for a stock Cessna 172 costs around €40.000, which is - according to my own research - between half and three quarters' worth of an early 80s model - a price that may put the conversion out of reach of a fair-sized portion ofSkyhawk operators.

The Warrior faired pretty much the same, with the conversion peaking at €43.000.

However, despite the price, Thielert reports a healthy increase in interest for these engines, sparked by the success of the Centurion

1.7. For those wanting a new-built aircraft with Centurion-economics, Cessna andDiamond were quick to realize the market potential here, offering factory-built Centurion versions of their

popular products, like the Cessna 172 Skyhawk TD and theDiamond DA-40TDi Star. Diamond again went one step further and introduced

the ground-breaking four-seat DA-42 Twin Star tailored specifically to the Centurion series, equipped initially with two 1.7s, now 2.0s.

Photo 5: Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, showing the recognisable Dieselcowling shape (photo: www.diamondair.com)

Photo 6: Twin Star on display at the 2005 Paris Airshow (photo: author)

The success of early Centurion 1.7 conversions - most notably the Skyhawk ones - and the superiority of theDA-42 in the light four-

seat twin class have shown the emerging potential of the Diesel piston engine for light aircraft. Though the costs of

conversions are still running high - like with any new technology - the hard performance numbers, availability of fuel and operating

economics look poised to ensure future success for theCenturion series - and its potential market rivals - as well as possibly setting a new standard in light aircraft powerplants.

BIBLIOGRAFIA

http://general-aviation.bloger.index.hr/post/tech--tdi-it/460341.aspx

http://www.diamondaircraft.com/build/index.php?id=3

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=diamond+da40+engine&num=10&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=641&tbm

=isch&tbnid=mfE5uPkppsX-pM:

GLOSSARY

Horsepower caballo de fuerzaDeveloped desarrolladofixed fijo

factory fábrica

appearedapareció Lycoming   Lycoming IO-360-M1A (modelo)

Streamlining in aerodynamics, the contouring of an object, such as an aircraftbody, to reduce its drag, or resistance to motion through astream of air .en la aerodinámica, el contorno de un objeto, tal como un cuerpo de avión, para reducir su fricción o resistencia al movimiento a través de una corriente de aire.nosewheela wheel located under the nose of an airplane that ispart of the plane's landing gear.una rueda situada debajo de la nariz de un avión que es parte del tren de aterrizaje del aviónlevelsthe horizontal line or plane in which anything is situated,with regard to its elevation.la línea horizontal o plano en el que nada se encuentra, con respecto a su elevaciónLowerto cause to descend; let or put down: to lower a flag.para provocar el descenso, dejar o poner: bajar una bandera.

Ballisticof or pertaining to ballistics./having its motion determined or describable by the laws ofexterior ballistics.

de o perteneciente a balística. / que tiene su movimiento determinado o indescriptible por las leyes de la balística exterior.

de·ployMilitary . to spread out (troops) so as to form an extendedfront or line./to arrange in a position of readiness, or to move strategicallyor appropriately: to deploy a battery of new missiles.

Militar. a hacia fuera (soldados) a fin de formar una línea extendedfront o / a disponer en una posición de preparación, o para mover apropiadamente strategicallyor:. para desplegar una batería de nuevos misiles.

Parachutinga folding, umbrellalike, fabric device with cords supporting aharness or straps for allowing a person, object, package,etc., to float down safely through the air from a greatheight, especially from an aircraft, rendered effective by theresistance of the air that expands it during the descent andreduces the velocity of its fall.un plegable, paraguas como, dispositivo de tela con cuerdas o correas apoyo aharness para permitir a una persona, objeto, paquete, etc, para flotar de forma segura a través del aire de una greatheight, especialmente desde un avión, hizo efectiva por theresistance del aire que expande durante el descenso andreduces la velocidad de su caída.

Howevernevertheless; yet; on the other hand; in spite of that: Wehave not yet won; however, we shall keep trying.sin embargo, sin embargo, por otro lado, a pesar de que: no hemos ganado todavía, pero vamos a seguir intentando.

Altogetherwholly; entirely; completely; quite: altogether fitting.por completo; totalmente, completamente, dejar de fumar: todo accesorio

Heavyof great weight; hard to lift or carry: a heavy load.de gran peso, difícil de levantar o transportar: una carga pesada.

Such

of the kind, character, degree, extent, etc., of that or thoseindicated or implied: Such a man is dangerous.por el estilo, carácter, grado, extensión, etc, de aquel o aquellos indicado o implícito: Un hombre es peligroso.

growing becoming greater in quantity, size, extent, or intensity:growing discontent among industrial workers.cada vez mayor en cantidad, tamaño, extensión o intensidad: un creciente descontento entre los trabajadores industriales.

Rangethe extent to which or the limits between which variation ispossible: the range of steel prices; a wide range of styles.el grado en el que o los límites entre los cuales la variación es posible: el rango de precios del acero, una amplia gama de estilos

Propellera device having a revolving hub with radiating blades, forpropelling  an airplane, ship, etc.

un dispositivo que tiene un cubo giratorio con palas radiales, para la propulsión de un avión, un barco.

Nutshellthe shell of a nutla cáscara de una nuez endurancethe fact or power of enduring  or bearing pain, hardships,etc.el hecho o el poder de soportar el dolor o los cojinetes, dificultades, etc

availabilitysuitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand: I usedwhatever tools were available.adecuado o listos para el consumo; de uso o servicio, a la mano: Yo lo que las herramientas estaban disponibles.

Avgasnoun Aviation ./gasoline  for use in piston-engined aircraft.Aviación sustantivo. / gasolina para su uso en aviones con motor de pistón.

Environmentthe aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, orinfluences; surroundings; milieu.la suma de las cosas circundantes, condiciones o influencias; entorno; medio.

Boostto lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.para levantar o subir empujando por detrás o por debajo de

warriora person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldieruna persona que se dedique o con experiencia en la guerra, soldadofairedfree from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fairjudge.libre de prejuicios, deshonestidad, o la injusticia: una decisión justa, un juez imparcial.