Aircraft overview

The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a four-seat, twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft, developed in Austria and first flown in 2002. Production began in the mid 2000s and the type remains in the Diamond lineup in evolved forms. It is used for private touring, instrument training, multi-engine training and special mission work. The DA42 matters in the used aircraft market because it brought composite construction, FADEC-controlled diesel engines and modern glass avionics into a light twin that was designed from the start around efficiency and training utility, rather than adapting an older airframe concept.

Performance & specifications

Performance depends strongly on variant and engine fit. Earlier DA42 aircraft used Thielert Centurion diesel engines, while later DA42 NG and DA42-VI aircraft use Austro Engine AE300 turbo-diesel engines rated at 168 hp each. Typical cruise speeds range from about 150 knots in earlier or economy settings to around 180 knots or more in later VI models. Published maximum range can exceed 1,000 nautical miles in long-range profiles, subject to fuel, reserve and payload assumptions. The service ceiling is typically listed at 18,000 feet. Useful load varies by equipment and production standard, so buyers should review the actual weight and balance report rather than relying on brochure figures.

Cabin & avionics

The DA42 Twin Star has seating for four in a relatively compact composite cabin, with gullwing doors and good outward visibility. The rear seats are suitable for passengers or training use, while baggage capacity and loading limits should be checked against the aircraft records. Most DA42 aircraft are equipped with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics, often paired with the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot on later examples. Newer aircraft may have Garmin G1000 NXi. The type is not generally associated with Garmin Perspective, which is a different branded avionics implementation used on other aircraft.

Buying & value

Key buying points include engine generation, remaining time and inspection status, FADEC and gearbox history, propeller condition, training utilization, damage history, avionics software level and any known service bulletin compliance. Common variants include the original DA42, the DA42 NG with Austro engines, the refined DA42-VI, the Lycoming-powered DA42 L360, and special mission MPP configurations. On PlaneFox used-market data, current asking prices average about EUR 719,000, with observed listings from EUR 414,000 to EUR 980,000. Lower-priced aircraft are often older, higher-time or equipped with earlier engines, while later Austro-powered and NXi-equipped examples usually sit higher in the market.