‘Diamond Aircraft Industries’ twin-engine DA42 Twin Star aircraft should receive JAA approval in the last quarter of 2003, according to the Austrian company.

Based on the DA40, the four-seater aircraft was introduced at this year’s ILA exhibition in Berlin. Said chief executive of Diamond Aircraft Michael Feinig: “It will easily do 203 knots at 12,500 feet and with two diesel engines use only 30 litres of fuel at 60 per cent power. For the first time this new generation aircraft will also be optionally equipped with a glass cockpit – the avionics of the future.”

Diamond says the price of e359,800 for the standard IFR version will make the first step into two-engine flying much easier to afford. Feinig said: “It has always been the vision of Christian Dries, chairman and owner of Diamond Aircraft Industries, to introduce automobile standards to general aviation, such as low fuel consumption engines, low maintenance, easy operation and reliability. This vision is now reality.”