Diamond Aircraft’s innovative DART-750 has flown, sporting Pratt & Whitney Canada’s certified 750 SHP PT6A-25C turboprop engine.
The engine choice, unveiled in January 2022, not only enhances the aircraft’s engine installation but also features an array of significant system upgrades, Diamond says.
The DART-750’s debut flight, which lasted a half-hour, was conducted by Diamond’s Head of Flight Test, Sören Pedersen, and Senior Test Pilot, Niko Daroussis. They undertook basic manoeuvres, including performance and handling checks. Diamond says that all tested parameters either met or exceeded the expectations set.
Celebrating the DART-750 program’s latest significant milestone, Robert Kremnitzer, Diamond’s Head of Design Organization, commended the entire team’s dedication and exceptional work. He expressed confidence in the positive results propelling the program forward as planned.
DART-750 is to be a civil-certified all-composite aerobatic turboprop trainer. Its unique features include a tandem seat configuration, equipped with advanced Garmin G3000 avionics, and powered by the aforementioned Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turboprop engine. Diamond is also launching a DART Basic Training Solution based on the DART-750. This training solution package includes the aircraft, a proprietary DART FNPT II Simulator, and a DART Computer Based Training (CBT) experience, thereby covering all aspects of basic training, from Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) to Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA).
Diamond Aircraft is set to unveil the DART-750 to the broader public at the Paris Airshow 2023, where it will be showcased at static display #A6. Basic certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is anticipated in 2024.
