The two-seat Diamond eDA40 is powered by Safran's EngineUs 100 electric motor and should complete type certification by early 2024, offering flight training schools up to 90 minutes flight times between battery recharging, which will take less than 20 minutes.
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Diamond Aircraft’s electric single-engine eDA40 recently made its first flight, marking the start of a flight-test program leading to certification under EASA and FAA Part 23 rules by early 2024. On Wednesday, the aircraft manufacturer announced the first takeoff was achieved on July 20 from its headquarters at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, near Vienna.
The eDA40 is powered by the EngineUs 100 electric motor developed by Safran Electrical & Power. The propulsion system also consists of a battery module provided by Electric Power Systems that features a direct current fast-charging system.
Piloting the aircraft on its inaugural jaunt was Diamond head of flight test Sören Pedersen. He covered system checks, basic maneuvers, and an initial performance evaluation during the flight which Diamond said went as planned.
The electric version of the two-seat DA40 trainer is expected to be able to fly for up to 90 minutes. It should take under 20 minutes to recharge the batteries, with Diamond predicting that operating costs will be 40 percent less than a comparable piston aircraft. The flight deck features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics.
“We are very much looking forward to offering an exceptional sustainable aircraft for the flight training market of tomorrow,” said Diamond Aircraft Austria CEO Liqun "Frank" Zhang.
According to France-based Safran, it recently obtained EASA’s design organization approval for the EngineUs 100 motor. Bruno Bellanger, executive v-p and general manager of the power division at Safran Electrical & Power, said the company is in “the home stretch in obtaining final certification.”
Diamond's Electric DA40 Trainer Makes First Flight
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Diamond Aircraft’s all-electric eDA40 light aircraft has made its first flight, marking the start of a flight test program leading to certification under EASA and FAA Part 23 rules by early 2024. On Wednesday, the Austrian manufacturer announced the first takeoff was achieved on July 20 from its headquarters at Wiener Neustadt near Vienna.
The eDA40 is powered by the EngineUs 100 electric motor developed by Safran Electrical & Power. The propulsion system also consists of a battery module provided by Electric Power Systems that features a direct current fast-charging system.
The first flight was piloted by Diamond head of flight test Sören Pedersen and covered system checks, basic maneuvers, and an initial performance evaluation. According to Diamond, the flight went as planned and delivered all the results planned for the mission.
The electric version of the two-seat DA40 training aircraft is expected to be able to fly for up to 90 minutes. It should take under 20 minutes to recharge the batteries, with Diamond predicting that operating costs will be 40 percent less than a comparable piston aircraft. The flight deck features a Garmin NXi glass cockpit.