The Diamond DA40 is a four-seat, low-wing training and touring airplane with a composite airframe, a center control stick and, in current production, a Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit. It comes in two main versions: the DA40 with a 180 hp Lycoming IO-360 burning avgas (sold today as the DA40 XLT) and the DA40 NG, whose Austro diesel engine burns Jet A and is run with a single power lever. The DA40 flight manual lists a 178 KIAS never-exceed speed and the DA40 NG manual 172 KIAS; the flight manual for your airplane’s serial number always governs.
Part of our Training Aircraft guide. Comparing trainers? See the Cessna 172, the two-seat Cessna 152 and the Piper Cherokee and Warrior.
DA40 variants
All DA40s share FAA type certificate A47CE. Its type certificate data sheet (Revision 17, July 14, 2021) lists three models:
- DA 40, FAA approved August 15, 2001: Lycoming IO-360 M1A, fuel injected, avgas 100LL or 100, normal and utility category. Its flight manual rates the engine at 180 hp. Diamond markets the current avgas airplane as the DA40 XLT.
- DA 40 F, approved July 15, 2005: a carbureted Lycoming O-360-A4M with a Sensenich or MT propeller.
- DA 40 NG, approved November 16, 2011: Austro Engine E4 diesel, Jet A or Jet A-1, normal category only. The data sheet also lets earlier diesel DA 40 D airplanes be converted to the NG under a Diamond service bulletin.
Power ratings for the NG depend on the source: Diamond’s current specifications quote 168 hp for the AE 300, while the 2010 DA40 NG flight manual lists 123.5 kW (165.6 DIN-HP) for takeoff, limited to 5 minutes, and 114 kW continuous.
DA40 specs by variant
Weights, fuel and Vne come from the FAA data sheet, which states airspeeds as calibrated airspeed (KCAS). Cruise, stall and crosswind figures are Diamond’s current published specifications for new airplanes at maximum weight on a standard day.
| Specification | DA40 (IO-360) | DA40 NG |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360 M1A, 180 hp | Austro E4 (AE 300) turbocharged diesel |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL or 100 | Jet A or Jet A-1 |
| Propeller | Constant speed, governor controlled (MT on the data sheet; Diamond lists Hartzell for the current XLT) | MT three-blade constant speed, set by the engine control unit |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 2,535 lb; 2,646 lb with Diamond change MÄM 40-227; 2,161 lb utility | 2,822 lb; 2,888 lb with a listed change |
| Usable fuel | 40.2 gal standard; 50.0 gal long range | 28 gal standard; 39 gal long range |
| Vne | 173 KCAS (178 KIAS in the AFM) | 173 KCAS (172 KIAS in the AFM) |
| Maximum operating altitude | 16,404 ft | 16,404 ft |
| Flaps | Takeoff 20 degrees, landing 42 degrees | Takeoff 20 degrees, landing 42 degrees |
| Maximum cruise (Diamond) | 142 KTAS at sea level (XLT) | 154 KTAS at 16,000 ft |
| Stall, landing configuration (Diamond) | 52 KIAS (XLT) | 58 KCAS |
| Maximum demonstrated crosswind (Diamond) | 20 knots (XLT) | 25 knots |
Diamond lists a maximum useful load of 900 lb for the XLT and 897 lb for the NG. Notice the NG’s smaller tanks: diesel efficiency is part of its appeal, but you still plan every flight around usable fuel, not tank capacity.
DA40 V-speeds
These are indicated airspeeds from two Diamond flight manuals: the DA 40 AFM, Doc. 6.01.01-E, Revision 8 (December 2010), at 2,535 lb, and the DA 40 NG AFM, Doc. 6.01.15-E, Revision 0 (April 2010), at 2,822 lb unless noted. Diamond lists many speeds by weight, and the lighter-weight values are lower. Our V-speeds guide explains each term.
| Speed | DA40 (KIAS) | DA40 NG (KIAS) |
|---|---|---|
| Vne, never exceed | 178 | 172 |
| Vno, maximum structural cruising | 129 | 130 |
| Maneuvering speed | 108 above 2,161 lb; 94 from 1,720 to 2,161 lb | 113 above 2,601 lb; 108 from 2,381 to 2,601 lb; 101 up to 2,381 lb |
| Vfe, takeoff flaps / landing flaps | 108 / 91 | 110 / 98 |
| Rotation (nosewheel lift-off) | 59 | 67 (56 at 2,072 lb) |
| Takeoff climb, best rate of climb (Vy), flaps T/O | 66 | 72 |
| Cruise climb, flaps up | 73 | 88 |
| Best glide, flaps up | 73 (68 at 2,205 lb) | 88 |
| Normal approach, landing flaps | 71 | 76 at 2,681 lb |
On the DA40 with Diamond change MÄM 40-227 (2,646 lb), maneuvering speed is 111 KIAS above 2,284 lb, and the climb and glide speeds at 2,646 lb run 1 to 3 knots higher. Later revisions of either manual can differ, so copy the numbers from the AFM in your airplane.
Composite construction
The DA40 flight manual describes a glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) semi-monocoque fuselage, wings, ailerons and flaps of GFRP and carbon fiber (CFRP) sandwich construction with front and rear spars, an aluminum fuel tank in each wing, and a GFRP T-tail. Two practical consequences:
- Preflight looks different. You inspect the surfaces for cracks, delamination and damage the same way you would check aluminum for dents and loose rivets, following the AFM’s walk-around.
- Repairs need the right shop. The FAA data sheet requires major structural repairs to be done at a repair station rated for composite aircraft structure, using Diamond’s approved methods.
The G1000 cockpit and why flight schools use the DA40
Diamond describes the current DA40 as having a fully integrated G1000 NXi flight deck, and the DA40 NG manual integrates the engine indications into the G1000 displays. Older DA40s may have other avionics, so check what your airplane has. Diamond markets the DA40 for “travel, leaseback, and training alike.” From a student’s point of view, the attractions are:
- Glass cockpit from day one, useful preparation if you later train for an instrument rating in a glass-cockpit airplane.
- A governed propeller without a complex endorsement. The DA40 has fixed landing gear, so it is not a complex airplane under 14 CFR 61.1, and at 180 hp or less it is not high performance (more than 200 hp) under 14 CFR 61.31(f). Our complex and high-performance guide explains those endorsements, and the constant-speed propeller guide explains the governor.
- Jet fuel in the NG, for operators who prefer it to avgas.
DA40 vs Cessna 172
Both are four-seat trainers with roughly comparable maximum weights. The 172 column is the current 172S from FAA data sheet 3A12; the DA40 column is the data sheet A47CE avgas model.
| Diamond DA40 | Cessna 172S | |
|---|---|---|
| Wing and structure | Low wing, composite | High wing, all metal |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360 M1A, 180 hp | Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 hp |
| Propeller | Governor controlled | Fixed pitch |
| Flight controls | Center stick | Control wheel |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 2,535 lb (2,646 lb modified) | 2,550 lb |
| Usable fuel | 40.2 gal (50.0 long range) | 53 gal |
| Vne | 178 KIAS (AFM) | 163 KIAS |
A 172 pilot moving to a DA40 has to learn the stick, propeller control, canopy and ground steering; a DA40 pilot moving to a 172 has to learn the high wing’s blind spot above and gravity-fed fuel. Under 14 CFR 61.87(n), a student’s solo endorsement is for a specific make and model, so a change of trainer before solo means new training and a new endorsement. Read the Cessna 172 specs guide for every 172 model.
Tips for flying the DA40
- Canopy. Pull the front canopy down and lock it with the handle on the left of the frame. The “cooling gap” position is for the ground only: before takeoff the AFM requires the canopy fully closed and locked, but not blocked with the optional key lock.
- Stick. Elevator and ailerons are worked through push rods from a center stick. Use small, smooth inputs until the stick feels natural.
- Castering nosewheel taxi. The DA40 has a free-castering nosewheel and individually operated toe brakes, so you steer on the ground with differential braking and rudder. Taxi slowly, test the brakes as you move off, and avoid riding them. The AFM says brakes can help steering in a strong crosswind takeoff but lengthen the takeoff roll.
- The NG’s power lever. One lever sets engine LOAD in percent. The electronic engine control unit then sets manifold pressure, fuel quantity and propeller speed. There is no mixture or propeller lever, but there is a FADEC test during the run-up and a VOTER switch to select ECU A or B if one fails.
- Electrical power runs the NG engine. The NG AFM warns that the engine control unit needs electrical power to keep the engine running, and it has a backup battery for a severe electrical failure. Treat an electrical problem as urgent and land as soon as possible.
- Weight and balance. The baggage limit behind the rear seats is 66 lb without the extension. Run weight and balance with your airplane’s actual empty weight.
- Spins. Both manuals prohibit aerobatic maneuvers including spinning, and the NG may be flown only in the normal category. The data sheet allows intentional spinning only in a DA 40 F modified under Diamond change OÄM 40-201, so never assume a spin approval without your AFM.
Before your first DA40 lesson, sit in the airplane with the AFM and touch every control: canopy handle, engine controls, fuel tank selector (or the NG’s fuel transfer pump switch), flap switch, trim and parking brake. Five minutes on the ground saves a lot of confusion during the run-up.
What you'll need
A checklist matched to your DA40 version keeps the speeds and procedures above at hand.
Checklists for other trainers are in the PilotMall checklist collection. Our POH guide explains how flight manuals are organized and why the one in your airplane, with its revisions and supplements, is the one that governs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the DA40 and the DA40 NG?
The DA40 has a 180 hp Lycoming IO-360 that burns avgas. The DA40 NG has an Austro Engine diesel that burns Jet A or Jet A-1 and is controlled by a single power lever through an electronic engine control unit. The NG also has a higher maximum takeoff weight and smaller fuel tanks.
What are the V-speeds for a Diamond DA40?
The DA 40 flight manual, Revision 8, lists Vne 178 KIAS, Vno 129 KIAS, rotation at 59 KIAS, a takeoff climb speed of 66 KIAS and best glide of 73 KIAS at 2,535 pounds. The DA 40 NG manual lists Vne 172 KIAS, Vy 72 KIAS and best glide of 88 KIAS. Use the manual in your airplane.
What fuel does a DA40 NG use?
Jet A or Jet A-1, according to the FAA type certificate data sheet. The avgas DA40 uses 100LL or 100 aviation gasoline. Confirm the fuel type on the placards at the filler caps before every fueling.
Do I need a complex endorsement to fly a DA40?
No. A complex airplane under 14 CFR 61.1 has retractable landing gear, and the DA40’s gear is fixed. It also is not a high-performance airplane, which 14 CFR 61.31(f) defines as more than 200 horsepower. Your instructor will still teach you the propeller and engine controls.
Can you spin a DA40?
Not the DA 40 or DA 40 NG: both flight manuals prohibit all aerobatic maneuvers, including spinning. The FAA data sheet allows intentional spinning only in a DA 40 F modified under Diamond change OÄM 40-201. Follow the unintentional spin recovery procedure in Section 3 of your flight manual if one ever develops.