Diamond DA40

The DA40 offers better handling, stability, and control, plus a modern Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck with an optional GFC700 Automatic Flight Control System for better situational awareness. It has a fully integrated glass cockpit, synthetic vision, and traffic advisories. The composite airframe incorporates advanced aerodynamics and the latest passive safety technology for high performance, efficiency, and occupant protection. Due to excellent visibility from its bubble canopy, the DA40 makes cross-country travel comfortable and efficient. It cruises at over 150 knots and delivers up to 940 nautical miles of range. You can choose between the 168 hp turbocharged AE300 jet fuel engine (DA40 NG) or a Lycoming IO360M1A AVGAS engine (DA40 XLT version). The DA40 NG burns as low as 5 gallons per hour in cruise, which is close to half the fuel burn of a conventional gasoline engine, and it burns jet fuel, which is less expensive, available worldwide, and lead-free.

The DA40's industry-leading safety record is the result of Diamond's commitment to protecting occupants with a vast array of both active and passive safety features. Active safety features help avoid accidents in the first place, while passive safety features are designed to minimize injury if the unexpected happens. A roll-cage-inspired composite structure, rupture-resistant stainless steel fuel lines, and aluminum fuel tanks located between protective wing spars all contribute to a high degree of crashworthiness. The spacious 4-seat cabin offers premium leather interiors, adjustable pilot seatbacks, lumbar support, and electrically adjustable rudder pedals.

For backcountry adventures, the DA40 TUNDRA blends versatility with excellent cross-country speed and room for people and gear. Its large forward-opening canopy, folding rear seat backs, and huge rear door offer optimum loading flexibility. It combines a proven composite airframe, modern avionics, and one of the strongest safety records in its class.

What is the Diamond DA40?

The Diamond DA40 aircraft is a four-seater, constructed from lightweight and solid composite material. It has a carbon body and three wheels. The DA40 Tundra has winglets, an extended vertical stabiliser, and a payload of about 2888 pounds (about 1310 kilograms). It has a fully integrated G1000 NXi flight deck, with optional GFC700 Automatic Flight Control System. The DA40 uses jet fuel or an AVGAS engine.

What are the specifications of the Diamond DA40?

The specifications of the Diamond DA40 are given in the table below.

The Diamond DA40 is a four-seat, single-engine piston aircraft with fixed landing gear. You can choose between the Austro Engine AE 300 turbocharged common-rail injected 2.0 liter (122 cubic inches) diesel engine with 168 hp (125 kW) and EECU single lever control system, or a Lycoming IO-360-M1A AVGAS piston engine with 180 hp (134 kW). The diesel engine uses a MT propeller MTV-6-R-/190-69 3-blade constant speed propeller, due to which it burns Jet A-1 fuel and has a fuel consumption of 5.1 US gal/h at 60% power. The Lycoming engine has a Hartzell 2 blade metal constant speed propeller, or an optional MT 3 blade constant speed propeller, and its fuel burn is about 9.2 gph at 75% power.

The DA40 has a max cruise speed of 154 kts TAS (285 km/h) at 16,000 ft (4,877 m), and economy cruise is around 125 kts TAS (232 km/h). Stall speed in landing configuration is 58 kts CAS (52 kts IAS). Rate of climb is 690 fpm for the NG, and 880 fpm for the Lycoming version. The service ceiling is 16,400 ft (5,000 m), so you need oxygen above 12,500 ft (3,810 m). Max range is up to 940 nm (1,741 km). Length is 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in), wingspan 11.63 m (38 ft 2 in), and height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in). Wing area is 145.7 sq ft (13.54 sq m), and cabin height is 3 ft 9 in (1.14 m). The aircraft seats up to 3 passengers plus 1 pilot. Takeoff ground roll is about 1,000 ft (305 m), and landing roll is about 951 ft (290 m).

Empty weight without options for the DA40 NG is 903 kg (1,991 lbs), while for the Lycoming version it is 792 kg (1,746 lbs). Max take off mass for the NG is 1,310 kg (2,888 lbs), and for the Lycoming it is 1,200 kg (2,646 lbs). Max landing weight for the NG is about 2,822 lbs (1,280 kg). The useful load is around 900 lbs (408 kg). Payload with full fuel is 273 lbs (123.8 kg). Fuel capacity is 41 gal (155 L) for the NG, or 50 gal (189 L) for the Lycoming variant, including auxiliary tanks which are standard in the USA.

What is the performance of the Diamond DA40?

The performance of the Diamond DA40 is given in the table below.

The Diamond DA40’s cruise speed at 75% power (6,000 ft) is 137 knots TAS. Max cruise speed is 154 knots TAS (177 mph TAS) at 16,000 ft MCP (4,877 m MCP). Rate of climb at sea level is 210 m/min (690 ft/min), up to 277 m/min (910 ft/min). The service ceiling is 16,400 ft (5,000 m). Stall speed in landing configuration is 58 knots CAS. Takeoff ground roll is 1,000 ft (304.8 m), landing ground roll 951 ft (289.9 m).

Max range is 940 nm (1,741 km) with auxiliary tank at 60% power. Normal range is 675 nm. At 45% power, the range is 830 nm. Best economy cruise at 10,000 ft (3,048 m) and 55% power gives 847 nm (1,569 km) with no climb or reserves. At FL160 and 50% power, range is 934 nm, including climb and no reserves. Fuel consumption at 60% power is 5.1 US gal/h. Endurance with a 45 minute reserve at economy cruise is about 6 hours.

What is the price for the Diamond DA40?

The price for a new 2024-2025 Diamond DA40 is approximately $493,500. Advanced models with premium avionics, air conditioning, and optional equipment reach $550,000-$680,000+. New 2026 DA40 NGs typically land around the low $700Ks depending on model and avionics. Used models range $179,000-$450,000 for older variants (2001-2010), while newer glass-cockpit versions (2015+) command $400,000-$550,000. Early DA40 models from 2000 to 2009 have a price range between 200,000 and 400,000 dollars. DA40 XLS and XL with modern digital cockpit has a price range of $280,000-$380,000. A 2022 DA40 NG with low-usage and newer instruments has a price range $480,000-590,000.

Airframes under 500 hours have a premium of $30,000-60,000. A modern DA40 NG less than 500 flight hours has a price range 500,000 to 590,000 bucks. Early DA40 models under fewer than 500 flight hours had a price range of 300,000-380,000. A DA40 NG with between 500 and 1500 hours of flight time has a price range between $430,000-520,000. Lycoming DA40 with between 500 and 1500 flight hours have a price range of $200,000-330,000. DA40 NG with 1,500 to 3,000 hours of use has a price range of $380,000 to $450,000. A DA40 NG with new engines from Austro under around 200 hours of use has a price range of four hundred eighty thousand to five hundred ninety thousand bucks. Early DA40 models at TBO have a price range of 139,900 to 200,000 dollars. DA40 NG approaching TBO has a price range of three hundred fifty thousand to four hundred thousand dollars.

Better electronics increase sales; modern digital instrument panel update raises sale price by 5 in 100 to 10 in 100. GPS landing adds 20,000 to 50,000 dollars to the sale price. Putting in Gogo ATG gear increases the sale price by one hundred thousand to half a million dollars.

I bought my Diamond DA40 NG last year. Pricing changes based on configuration and timing. My plane costs $570,000. It has advanced electronics and a cooling system. Early 2000s versions have engines made by Lycoming and go from $200,000 to $280,000. However, recent low usage NG versions are from $500,000 to $590,000. How long the engine has run affects price, and airframes under 500 flight hours have a $30,000 to $60,000 premium.

Jim Goodrich

Pilot, Airplane Broker and Founder of Tsunami Air

Expert behind this article

Jim Goodrich

Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.