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 914 powered 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 injected Textron
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 takeoff 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 in Shandong Province. Capacity is
available for up to 1,000 aircraft a year to
be produced with certification by the
European 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.
|