The DA42 Twin Star was certified in Europe in 2004 and in the United States in 2005. The airplane is made of carbon composite material. It is equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit. (A proof-of-concept version powered by two 180 hp Lycoming IO-360 engines also exists.) The DA42 Twin Star was the first diesel-powered aircraft to make a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic, in 12.5 hours, with an average fuel consumption of 5.74 gallons per hour (2.87 gallons per hour per engine).

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot

• Capacity: three passengers

• Length: 28 ft 1 in (8.56 m)

• Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)

• Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.48 m)

• Wing area: 175 ft2 (16.3 m2)

• Airfoil: Wortmann FX 63-317 (Smoothed) • Empty weight: 2,761 lb (1,251 kg)

• Useful load: 1,174 lb (532 kg)

• Max takeoff weight: 3,935 lb (1,783 kg)

• Powerplant: 2× Thielert Centurion 1.7 or 2.0 L. turbocharged diesel engines, 135 hp (101 kW) each

• * Fuel : 50 US gallons usable (standard) or 76 US gallons (extended)


Performance

• Never exceed speed: 194 knots (223 mph / 359 km/h)

• Maximum speed: ?knots (indicated) (? mph / ?km/h)

• Cruise speed: 172 knots (indicated) (198 mph / 316 km/h)

• Stall speed: 68 knots (indicated) (78 mph / 126 km/h)

• Range: 917 nautical miles (1,055 miles / 1,475 km)

• Service ceiling 18,000 ft (5,486 m)

• Rate of climb: 1,280 ft/min (390 m/min)

• Rate of climb (one engine inoperative): 170 ft/min (51.8 m/min)