Diamond Aircraft has begun a partnership with the United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, Arizona, by ordering five new jet-fuel powered DA42-VI twins. The firm order will see the first delivery take place at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun Expo in Lakeland, Florida, with the balance of the new fleet being delivered by the end of Q2 2023.

“We are excited to incorporate the DA42-VI Diamond Aircraft as our multi-engine trainer to our growing fleet. With its advanced aircraft systems and performance, the DA42-VI provides us the unique opportunity to prepare our pilots for the next step in their career while honoring our commitment to using the most sophisticated training aircraft on the market today,” said Dana Donati, CEO United Aviate Academy.

The four-seat DA42-VI is the most recent version of Diamond’s technologically advanced piston twin, the first certified general aviation aircraft to combine a modern airframe, avionics, and power plants, said the company. Well over 1,100 DA42s have been delivered since its introduction. The all-composite DA42-VIs are equipped with 168 hp jet fuel AUSTRO engines AE300, Garmin G1000 NXi with 3-axis Automatic Flight Control System and optional electrically-powered air conditioning. The DA42-VI can be used for Multi-Engine-Piston (MEP) training. With its combination of performance and utility, the jet fuel-powered aircraft is designed to make transitioning from a single engine to a twin much easier. The aircraft generates fuel savings of up to 50% compared to conventional AVGAS powered twins and its panoramic canopy provides excellent visibility during all flight maneuvers, said Diamond.