What a wild plane; Diamond DA-42

[Lionheart]

Man, what a wild design.

Check out those engine nacelles...

I had the chance to see one fly over once. I was at a tour at the Frank Lloyd Wright institute, and I hear this wierd drone sound.. I look up and see waht I thought was a glider with two engine pods on it. It crosses overhead, heading to Scottsdale airport, when it hits me that its the new diesel powered Diamond.

Radical plane...



Bill

[Toastmaker]

Wow - now that's an odd duck. . .The little ant-waist worrys me for some reason.

[Daveroo]

there is a DA-42 at the auburn airport..last year they did a flyby with it during the airfest'n'car show...sounds funny when it flys over..and i can allways here it coming when im at home too...but it is a cool plane...only draw back..they are for small people..all the diamonds are made for people who are like 5'5"-6" and 150-160 pounds....much bigger and you wont fit...and that comes from several of us trying to get in and out of a DA-20(i think thats what it was called...the small 4 place single from diamond...)

they are using the DA-42 as a "spy" platform now as well..pilot and an operator who sits in the right rear...there is no front seat nor left rear seat and has a couple of pods under the nose and belly..read about it in "air international" magazine...

Bill ya neeed to build one for FS9

[Lionheart]

Bill ya neeed to build one for FS9


I believe Eaglesoft Design Group are doing that plane. Its looking good as well when I had seen screenshots of it a few months ago.



Bill

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Will the Eaglesoft plane ever see the light of day? That is the question.

-Ed-

[Joe P]

Oh Bill! Please say you're going to build one of these for FS9!! :jump:

[Lionheart]

Oh Bill! Please say you're going to build one of these for FS9!! :jump:

Nope. I am trying to cover several other planes. My list is about 2 years long. And besides, ES already has it and thats fine by me. They are an excellent FS design group.

[Wing_Z]

I'd love to see an FS9 model!
Massey School of Aviation (http://avstop.com/news/dimond_massey.htm) in NZ has started taking delivery of its new fleet of Diamonds, both single- and twin-engined.
They do look strange at first, but apparently are state-of-the-art aircraft: glass cockpit etc

[n4gix]

Hey All,

Will the Eaglesoft plane ever see the light of day? That is the question.

-Ed-

Funny you should ask, Ed as I've been nose-down for the past three weeks tidying up a few more interior details, and pruning polys from the exterior model to allow enough space for the final details on that.

Initial release will be for FS9, with the FSX model to follow shortly thereafter. I've just sent the model and basic texture templates to the fit-and-finish hanger this evening. :ernae:

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1281/da42fs9newseats000010.jpg
Shot at 2009-07-12

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/938/da42fs9newseats000009.jpg
Shot at 2009-07-12

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2240/da42fs9newseats000008.jpg
Shot at 2009-07-12

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9228/da42fs9newseats000011.jpg
Shot at 2009-07-12

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9759/da42fs9newseats000007.jpg
Shot at 2009-07-12

[Lionheart]

Goodness!

Some awesome work there Bill! I didnt know it was this close!

I am standing by with my CC.



Bill

[FengZ]

me too!!!! CC ready!

-feng

[n4gix]

Goodness!

Some awesome work there Bill! I didnt know it was this close!

I am standing by with my CC.

The current plans are to offer the DA42 TDi for FS9 and FSX in two versions:

1. Simmer version with XML G1000 system.
2. Prosumer version with Mindstar G1000 system.

I've got to put the finishing touches on the XML G1000 system while the fit-and-finish shop creates and/or details the textures.

The screenshot above shows the Mindstar G1000 system in the VC.

I just noticed that there are some edges that need to be turned on the aluminum plate aft of the cooling vents on both engines. The exterior model's edges have been turned, but obviously I forgot to fix the ones in the interior model! :redface:

[Kiwikat]

That looks great! It will only look better in FSX too. :applause:

Any idea of how much more the mindstar version might cost? :monkies:

[Wombat_VC]

Quick! This is the plane that got me excited about FS again. I had FS 1 or 2 running on Apple ][e looooong time ago.

[Brian_Gladden]

I did a DA-42 for Abacus a while back (4 years!) Nowhere near as nice as Eaglesoft's bird but it'll get you by in the meantime.....

[kilo delta]

Here's another oddball....maybe you could concider one of these,Bill?

http://www.adcompair.com/lambada/lambada1.htm

or mabe it's sibling.. http://www.adcompair.com/samba_xxl/samba_xxl1.htm

I could help with photos/info on either as there's an assembly plant at my local airfield.:)

[Lionheart]

I like how the tail and engines hang down low. Looks slightly like some sort of bio design.


I did a DA-42 for Abacus a while back (4 years!) Nowhere near as nice as Eaglesoft's bird but it'll get you by in the meantime.....

Brian Gladden


I missed that one Brian. arrghh.. Is it at Simviation?




Bill,

I hope you all are able to duplicate this birds awesome drone sound that the diesels make. It is quite different and wild. I'll never forget the sound it made as it flew over me. Not eery, but way different from normal planes. I remember trying to figure out what was making that sound and why it would sound so weird.

Great job on the model. Awesome looking panel.


Bill

[n4gix]

That looks great! It will only look better in FSX too. :applause:
Any idea of how much more the mindstar version might cost? :monkies:

No idea whatsoever. That's not in my job description... :stop:

[azflyboy]

The Twinstar is indeed amazing, and it's too bad the project has had some serious setbacks in the last couple of years.

Shortly after the aircraft went into production, it was discovered that if the aircraft took off with a dead battery (external power was used to start the engines) and the gear was retracted, the electrical load exceeded what the alternator could produce. When that happened, the ECU's for both engines shut off, thus shutting the engines down at a very inopportune time.

Diamond solved that problem by adding a couple of extra batteries and modifying the operating procedures for the aircraft, but the problems were just starting.

In April of 2008, Thielert (the engine manufacturer) filed bankruptcy, and shortly thereafter announced they weren't honoring existing warranties and were raising prices dramatically.

The price rise was so dramatic that each engine cost over $100/hr to operate, (not including fuel) versus about $12/hr for a conventional Lycoming of similar horsepower. Those figures made the DA42 completely uneconomical to operate, so Diamond stopped production in July 2008.

In early 2009, Diamond was able to secure approval to use engines from another (financially solvent) manufacturer, and deliveries to the US are expected to start again around mid-2010.

[n147yt]

I did a DA-42 for Abacus a while back (4 years!) Nowhere near as nice as Eaglesoft's bird but it'll get you by in the meantime.....


<TABLE height=16 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="75%" bgColor=silver border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="28%">Diamond Twin Star </TD><TD width="38%">

<CENTER>By Brian Gladden </CENTER></TD><TD align=right width="34%">from the Premier Collection</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width=695 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
Diamond Twin Star


</TD><TD>

<CENTER>Superior Aircraft from Abacus
for Microsoft FSX, FS2004 & FS2002 </CENTER>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Diamond Aircraft's new DA-42 Twin Star is a 4-place light twin. With two turbo diesel engines and retractable landing gear, the Twin Star can cover 1400 miles at 180 mph.

http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_01s.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_01.jpg)

</TD><TD vAlign=top>Brian Gladden has once again designed this handsome aircraft for FSX, FS2004 and FS2002. Complete with glass instrument panel, you'll enjoy the ease of handling this turbo twin.

http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_02s.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_02.jpg)

</TD></TR><TR><TD>

<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_03s.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_03.jpg) </CENTER></TD><TD>

<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_04s.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_04.jpg) </CENTER></TD></TR><TR><TD>

<CENTER><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=5 width=300 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_06t.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_06.jpg) </CENTER></TD><TD>

<CENTER>Here's a closer look at the interior of the Wildcat </CENTER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER></TD><TD>

<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_05s.jpg (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/twin_05.jpg) </CENTER></TD></TR><TR><TD>

<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/cockpit_01s.jpg
Click to enlarge 2D cockpit view (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/cockpit_01.jpg)</CENTER>
</TD><TD>
<CENTER>http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/cockpit_02s.jpg
Click to enlarge virtual cockpit (http://www.abacuspub.com/fsd/premier/twinstar/cockpit_02.jpg)</CENTER>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Take it for a FREE test flight
Like all of the other planes in our Premier Collection you can take the Twin Star out for a test flight. Download and install it and you'll have 7 Days to "fly before you buy".
We're confident that after you fly it, you'll be soon return here to order a Registration Key to unlock the trial expiration.
NOTE: During installation of any of our "Try Before You Buy" aircraft, we add a small program to your main FSX folder or your FS2004 \modules folder to enable you to use these and future Premier Collection aircraft. If you do not want to add this program to your system, please do not install any of these aircraft.


</TD><TD vAlign=top>Specifications
Manufactured by: Diamond
External Height: 8 ft 6 in
External Length: 27 ft 11 in
Wingspan: 44 ft
Maximum Cruise Speed: 202 kts
Maximum Operating Altitude: 18,000 ft
Maximum Range: 1,442 nm
Empty Weight: 2,400 lbs
Max Gross Weight: 3,637 lbs
Useful Load: 1,237 lbs
Takeoff Distance: 1,542 ft
Landing Distance: 1,640 ft

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[n4gix]

Waiting at the VIP entrance at Portland-Troutdale to take a prospective customer on a test flight... :jump:

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5159/da42fs9newseats000012n.jpg

Wow! What a nice young lady. It's obvious from her "bling" that she can easily afford this plane! I know that she bought her ring, necklace and earrings at Sothebys for $688,000 a few years ago...
http://blog.fjewelrystore.com/2006/12/08/sothebys-new-york-jewelry-sale-results/

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5353/da42test000002.jpg

I'd better make sure she's got her seatbelt on... Man, has she got a nice tan!:ernae:
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9395/da42test000001.jpg

[Lionheart]

The Twinstar is indeed amazing, and it's too bad the project has had some serious setbacks in the last couple of years.

Shortly after the aircraft went into production, it was discovered that if the aircraft took off with a dead battery (external power was used to start the engines) and the gear was retracted, the electrical load exceeded what the alternator could produce. When that happened, the ECU's for both engines shut off, thus shutting the engines down at a very inopportune time.

Diamond solved that problem by adding a couple of extra batteries and modifying the operating procedures for the aircraft, but the problems were just starting.

In April of 2008, Thielert (the engine manufacturer) filed bankruptcy, and shortly thereafter announced they weren't honoring existing warranties and were raising prices dramatically.

The price rise was so dramatic that each engine cost over $100/hr to operate, (not including fuel) versus about $12/hr for a conventional Lycoming of similar horsepower. Those figures made the DA42 completely uneconomical to operate, so Diamond stopped production in July 2008.

In early 2009, Diamond was able to secure approval to use engines from another (financially solvent) manufacturer, and deliveries to the US are expected to start again around mid-2010.


Thanks AzFlyBoy for the history on that. I had heard of engine issues, but didnt know they shut down production.


Great screenshots Bill. Looks like a nice copilot there as well!



Bill

[n4gix]

Great screenshots Bill. Looks like a nice copilot there as well!


That's Ms. Poly Pert. She's certainly well built, and has a very nice set of taxi lights... :jawdrop:

[Naki]

The Massey Twin Stars are Lycoming powered ..is there going to be a Lycoming powered ES model?

[TeaSea]

Not sure,

The single engine DA-40 was Lycoming powered via an IO-360 (180 HP).

I've got a number of hours in the DA-40, and while it had a wonderful view (due to the sitting position forward of the wing) I always found it an uncomfortable airplane for my 6'2", 250 lbs frame. I could not comfortably turn my head to the left wearing a baseball cap because the bill would hit the canopy, and my shins inevitably made contact with the lower panel. (seats don't adjust although the pedals do).

It was a lot of fun to fly on short trips, but a beast on long ones, and creeping around the ramp with that wingspan was always interesting.

Honestly, I was more comfortable in the -172, as long as I wasn't in a hurry.

[Lionheart]

I always found it an uncomfortable airplane for my 6'2", 250 lbs frame. I could not comfortably turn my head to the left wearing a baseball cap because the bill would hit the canopy, and my shins inevitably made contact with the lower panel. (seats don't adjust although the pedals do).



I think they left that element out in the FS version. :d


(Sorry TeaSea, couldnt help it).

They have some very cool looking wings. I havent seen a plane with wings like that, except maybe a glider. Very thing and with that odd chop in the leading edge about half way out, like on the Kodiak. (This is on the single engine Diamond).

Bill

[TeaSea]

[QUOTE=Lionheart;214746]I think they left that element out in the FS version. :d


(Sorry TeaSea, couldnt help it).

What? No one can work that into the model??!! :bump:

Let me tell you about those wings...after you get used to the fact that they hang out there beyond the neutral zone.... The climb on this aircraft is amazing. Once you're off the ground you just shoot straight up, and the electric trim will not keep up. After you figure out you need to make the initial adjustment with the manual wheel, it's just a matter of touching the trim occasionally, but the thing climbs like the space shuttle.

[Lionheart]

A couple of more pictures of Diamonds.

In looking at the photos, could one say that the fuselage assembly is the same on both of those, aside from the nose/cowlings?


Bill

[AckAck]

I was going to say no, but from the windshield back they may very well be, until you get to the tail. The twin has larger vertical surfaces - longer upper fairing, and larger fin under the fuselage. And the area from the wing forward on the bottom is not as filled out in the twin.

Making one?:jump:

Brian

[Lionheart]

Making one?:jump:

Brian


Nope. Just admiring it. (I have so many other planes to make, its scary... arrgh. :isadizzy: ).

[mcjerkyls]

Lol at this plane...Embry Riddle picked a few up, in the hopes of replacing seminoles or some BS. How can you train for a multi when the controls, throttle mix. prop etc, are on one lever? WTF were they thinking...maybe good for Joe Schmo to go cruising, but for training? I think not. They already made the decision to get rid of them after only a few months of using them. No wonder tuition is so friggin high. Boys and their toys....

[Lionheart]

?


EDIT; Nevermind :engel016:

[mcjerkyls]

hey man, i didn't mean anything negative against people here, i must admit myself they are a neat lookin design, i just had to vent my disgust with a flight training schools choice of a training aeroplane...im just sayin why train with something that you would not see 99% of the time:engel016:

[Wing_Z]

SO see post #8 of this thread, follow the link, and give us all the benefit of your experience...