Diamond DA62

The Diamond DA62 is a twin-engine piston aircraft powered by diesel engines running on Jet-A1 fuel. This is a key factor when choosing an aircraft. Traditional AVGAS 100LL aviation gasoline is gradually disappearing from European and global airports; its availability is declining, and its price remains high. Jet-A1, on the other hand, is available wherever turbine-powered aircraft and business jets operate—in practice, at every regional and international civil airport.

For the owner of a luxury piston-engine aircraft, such as the Diamond DA62, this translates into a tangible operational advantage. The owner can land and refuel without restrictions in places where an aircraft with a gasoline engine would have to plan its route and search for a dedicated airport to ensure the availability of aviation gasoline. The second advantage is cost-effectiveness. The Austro Engine AE330 turbocharged engines have a significantly longer service life than classic gasoline engines in this class, and Jet-A1 remains substantially cheaper on a per-flight-hour basis. They are also highly reliable. A luxury piston-powered aircraft in this configuration turns out to be cheaper to operate than many similar designs powered by conventional aircraft engines.

Two Engines in Private Flights

Choosing a twin-engine aircraft is rarely just a simple economic calculation. The second engine opens up a range of routes and flight conditions for the pilot that simply cannot be planned as freely in a single-engine aircraft. Night IFR flights over the Baltic Sea, long routes over the forests of northern Sweden, and regular flights over the Carpathians or the Alps—each of these operations is a natural fit for a twin-engine aircraft.

In the event of an engine failure, the Diamond DA62 maintains an operating ceiling of up to 13,000 feet—a feat unmatched by traditional twin-engine aircraft in this class. The pilot has the freedom to choose the destination airport and the time to make a calm decision. The MEP (Multi-Engine Piston) rating requires separate training beyond the scope of the PPL license, but it gives the pilot access to private aircraft with an operational profile unavailable to single-engine designs and enhances safety on board.

The Diamond DA62 has a practical range of approximately 2,380 km, allowing it to fly most European routes nonstop. Flights such as Warsaw–Stockholm, Warsaw–Paris, or Warsaw–Milan do not require a stopover. The second engine gives the pilot additional flexibility when planning routes over areas with limited access to alternate airports, because in the event of a single-engine failure, the aircraft does not glide but continues flying. Additionally, a cruising speed of 180 KTAS allows for a quick arrival at the planned destination.

The Diamond DA 62 in the hands of a private owner-pilot

The Diamond DA62 is well-suited for three uses: personal flights by the pilot-owner, regional business travel, and family transportation—hence its nickname, the “airborne SUV.” The interior configuration reflects this purpose and is available in seven-, five-, or four-seat configurations, with an optional bench seat instead of a third row of seats.

This small passenger aircraft, in its five-seat configuration, offers expanded luggage space, which is useful when traveling with more luggage. Regardless of the configuration, the Diamond DA 62 remains a luxurious piston-engine aircraft in which every passenger travels in comfort.