Diamond DA42 Twin Star
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The Diamond DA-42 Twin Star is a superlative modern light twin, with startling looks and performance to match. Climbout on one engine is at 300 fpm and top speed is over 150 kt. Visibility is excellent, and the original Diesel engines were replaced by newer diesel engines from another manufacturer when the original manufacturer went out of business.
Startup
Starting up is accomplished by switching on the alternator switches and the master switches on the bottom of the panel. Pressing the 's' key starts both engines, and the page up key on the numeric keyboard increases engine power. There are no engine instruments so one has to increase power until the props seem sufficiently blurred to represent max power.
Take-Off
Take-off needs some rudder inputs - in this case by tapping the "enter" and "ins" keys - only one tap is needed per correction, most times, and the aircraft accelerates down the runway. After lift-off climb is rapid, seemingly about 1000 fpm, although there is no VSI anywhere in sight.
Handling
Roll is a bit ponderous, but that may be the case for twin engined aircraft, with large, heavy lumps of metal fixed halfway down each wing. Control was good all round.
3D Model
The 3D model is well-executed all round, with the exception of flaps that move the wrong way on selection. This is seen in the gallery photographs if you look closely. Travel of the flaps should be changed in the model configuration file. There is a pilot, which is a big relief.
Autopilot
The menu driven autopilot works in wing leveller and rate of climb modes. Other modes were not tested.
Improvements needed
- Flaps stick up from top of wing trailing edge
- MFD panels not working - minimal instruments
V-speeds
- Max: 192 kt
- Stall Speed: 67 kt
- Service ceiling: 17,999 ft
- Rate of climb: 1,280 ft/min
Gallery
Version Tested
Flight Gear 3.0
Review By
Openflight (talk) 01:31, 21 October 2015 (EDT)