On March 12th, 2009 Diamond Aircraft received the much anticipated type certificate for its DA42 NG, powered by the 170 hp Austro Engine AE-300.

“We are delighted to be able to resume volume deliveries of the DA42, less than 11 months after the insolvency of TAE”, said Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Industries. “The DA42 NG is better in every respect with much improved performance, increased gross weight, even better fuel efficiency and the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot and is prepared for Garmin Synthetic Vision System. With over 40 airframes already in various stages of production, we will be delivering the first aircraft almost immediately. Most important to the existing customer base, we are focusing our efforts to achieve the certification of the optional upgrade of all delivered DA42s with the Austro Engine, such that all customers can benefit from these improvements along with comprehensive customer support for their engines. We will shortly be announcing the details of an all inclusive maintenance program that will ensure a superior level of support as we work to extend the TBO of the engine from 1000 to 2000 hours. In parallel we are pursuing validation of the certification in all other markets as quickly as possible.”

With over 500 delivered aircraft operating worldwide, the DA42 is the best selling light twin engine piston aircraft, popular with private pilots and commercial flight training organizations. With its all carbon airframe, known ice certification, Garmin G1000 and single lever jetfuel powered turbo-diesel engines, the DA42 is the undisputed technology leader in general aviation.

The DA42 MPP multi purpose special mission sensor platform version of the DA42 is gaining worldwide popularity in search and rescue, law enforcement, border patrol, security, maritime surveillance, high accuracy digital mapping, and ecological monitoring.

For more information call 877-258-8011 or visit http://www.flydominion.com/

February 2009 was a “Red Letter Month” for us all.

See what our friends in the aircraft sales business are saying about the Obama Stimulus Package as it relates to buying an airplane this year.

While average citizens are trying to figure out all the ways they are going to spend their $13 / week benefit from the bill, businessmen and smart fliers that can qualify for the various opportunities for business use may be swimming in cash flow positive heaven while enjoying their dream plane.

Glass Pilot says, if you want an airplane, you need to get with an experienced aircraft representative that knows the ropes on the new tax code and can help you get started with the right resources.  (Email GlassPilot to request a referral)

Click for News on 2009 Stimulus for Aircraft

I am writing this post to ask you to consider joining a Congressional letter writing campaign spearheaded by the NBAA.  The letter writing campaign is about proposed Transportation Security Administration rulemaking that would drive another nail in the coffin of general aviation.  Specifically, by the TSA is proposing rules that would force general aviation to comply with sweeping security measures designed specifically for the nation’s commercial airlines.  These rules would apply to operations for airplanes as small as Read the rest of this entry »

I just stumbled on this I thought all you GlassPilot readers would find it very interesting….GP

Hi, I represent Powerenz.com, they specialize in coming up with custom portable solar power units to meet almost any application. Here is a really cool solar power solution that they came up with for a pilot and his plane and some information to go with the pictures.

A commercial pilot who also owns a personal, single-engine, four-seater aircraft was looking for a better way to power his avionics system. The glass cockpit package in his airplane is a Garmin G1000 avionics, and is a 24-volt system. In order to power up the aircraft’s avionics system, either the battery must be turned on via a switch with the engine off, or the aircraft engine must be started and running. This either wastes battery power, or creates heat, loud noise and smoke, and burns and wastes high-cost aviation gas. On the front right side of the aircraft, there is an electrical DC power port that can be used to jump-start the airplane’s engine in case of battery failure by using a spare battery or to charge the airplane battery using AC power and a transformer. The pilot flies his airplane to several remote locations where there is no AC power. In addition, to carry a spare aircraft battery on flights occupies limited space, is heavy, and is expensive.

The pilot came to Powerenz and asked if they could design a portable power system that would allow him to power up the aircraft’s 24-volt avionics system with the engine off. He needed a unit that would Read the rest of this entry »

With the roller coaster ride of aviation gasoline prices we’ve been on its certainly good news that prices are coming down but will they get to $1.99?

Do you think you’ll ever see $1.99 again to fill up your airplane?

Well Diamond Aircraft recently launched a plan to provide new buyers of their popular DA40 XLS with $1.99 Av Gas for 18 months! It was all part of a Go Green Promotion that highlights the airplanes incredible fuel economy of 170+ miles per hour on about 10 gallons of fuel an hour. That’s better than the car I drive!

For more info and details check out these links:
http://www.flydominion.com/dominion/2008/10/takeyou/

http://www.flydominion.com/dominion/2008/10/gogreen/

If you can get past the headline news about John Edwards we can get to the real news…Airventure 2008 was a huge success and exceeded expectations.

Candidly, the entire industry was holding its breath this year to see what the turn out at Airventure would be and boy were they all surprised. Let’s face it, most industry folks expected the price of gas to cause alot of people in aircraft or in recreational vehicles to choose not to attend. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Read the rest of this entry »

This announcement just out on ANN…Diamond will bring the D-JET to Oshkosh this year along with their new diesel engines. The D-JET represents the first of a new breed of Personal Jets. It has a three panel Garmin G1000 configuration and represents the perfect example of the type of advancements we regularly point out here at GlassPilot.com. The mock up has traveled the country but this will be the first major event where the plane maker will be showing the flying prototype as well. The company says it plans to begin deliveries of the new jet in 2009

. Read the rest of this entry »

Its nice having the weather on your glass cockpit and confidently flying through the clouds with your Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT)…but where do you go for pre-flight info when you are on the go away from your computer?

Just as there have been advancements in the cockpit, we’ve seen equally amazing developments in the supporting technologies for pilots. Specifically, the iPhone has brought an amazing new level of information and capabilities to the fingertips of pilots.

Specifically, the iPhone is unique at the moment in that it has the ability to truly provide a wireless web experience that is useful just short of amazing. Using Foreflight.com with an iPhone you can access weather data, airport information, diagrams and radar displays that even loop just like on your computer.

Our favorite feature of all is the ability to file a flight plan quickly and easily from the iPhone while on the go. I’ve even had the instance where I called from the taxiway for my clearance and my IFR plan had timed out because I was running behind that day. No worries…I simply whipped out my iPhone and tapped a few “keys” and refiled. I gave it 30 seconds and called back on the radio and sure enough the guy said, “Yep, I’ve got it now!”.

We’ve had computer based access for weather from DUAT and DUATS for some time along with great flight planning tools such as www.fltpln.com. The difference is Read the rest of this entry »

The objective of glasspilot.com is to educate and enable pilots into modern technology that makes flying safer, more efficient and more fun. With some of the more advanced smart phones available today, access to weather and flying-related information on the go has never been better. To help pilots see the potential and to make using these new devices we have implemented an iPhone version of our website!

While viewing the site on your desktop or laptop computer, you will notice no difference. However, if you view the website on an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch, you will see that the content has been optimized for your device and is much faster while on the go.

Coming Next: GlassPilot.Mobi… a free mobile phone portal for access to pilot weather services! Stay tuned.

Happy Landings,

GlassPilot.com