Plane & Pilot 2017 Buyer's Guide: Piston Twins

Looking for a piston multi? You've come to the right place.

Plane & Pilot

Friday, January 20, 2017 at 08:25 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The multi-engine piston plane market is niche but offers a diverse range of aircraft, from dedicated flight trainers like the Piper Seminole to advanced personal and business transportation twins such as the Diamond DA62 and Beechcraft G58 Baron.
Featured aircraft showcase a variety of design philosophies and innovations, including highly fuel-efficient Rotax or diesel engines, modern all-digital avionics suites, and specialized configurations for utility, comfort, or enhanced performance.
These planes fulfill different operational niches, balancing attributes like low operating costs, cruise speed, payload capacity, and advanced safety features, catering to both new pilots and experienced personal/business travelers.

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Diamond DA42

The Diamond DA42, formerly the TwinStar, may not be the headliner in Diamond’s lineup anymore, but it’s better than ever. An all-composite twin with retractable gear, the four-seater is a stalwart in the training market, where it’s popular for its low operating costs. The plane burns around 11 gph in a typical operating environment. When it was launched several years ago, the Austro-powered DA42 was a revelation. With more power than its precursor (170 hp for the Austro vs. 135 hp for the Thielerts), the DA42 finally had the power it needed for much improved single-engine performance. That’s not to say it’s merely a trainer. The DA42 will cruise as fast as 190 knots on around the same fuel burn total with two engines as a Cirrus SR22 or Cessna TTx on one. And with flight into known icing capability and advanced safety features, the DA42 can hold its own in the world of personal transportation.

Niche: Personal/Training

Base Price: $749,800

Competitors: Tecnam P2006T, Piper Seminole

Diamond DA42 Specifications

Learn more at Diamond Aircraft.

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