Diamond DA-40 Katana
The Diamond DA40 Star is an all-composite, four-seat light aircraft built with a low, sleek fuselage and a T-tail, giving it noticeably better aerodynamic efficiency than older metal-airframe rivals of similar size. Its composite construction allows tighter manufacturing tolerances than traditional riveted aluminium, contributing to its efficient cruise performance. A diesel-engine version, running on jet fuel rather than avgas, appeals to flight schools and operators in regions where avgas is expensive or hard to find. It has become one of the most widely used aircraft in modern flight training fleets worldwide.
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Did you know?
The Diamond DA40 Star's sleek composite airframe and T-tail set it apart from older riveted-aluminium trainers in flight-school fleets.
Specifications
| Length | 8 m (26 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 11.9 m (39 ft) |
| Height | 2.1 m (7 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 3 |
| Persons on board | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.1 t |
| Range | 800 NM (1,482 km) |
| Maximum speed | 147 kt (272 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 16,400 ft (4,999 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 350 m (1,148 ft) |
| Landing distance | 700 m (2,297 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 155 l |
| Engines | 1x Lycoming IO-360 or Austro AE300 |
| Units built | 2,200 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Diamond DA-40 Katana starts as a Common catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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