Diamond Aircraft founder Christian Dries challenged his team of engineers to create a simple-to-operate, fuel-efficient, twin-engine piston aircraft with the interior of a luxury sport utility passenger vehicle. His goal was to have an aerial SUV.
The DA62 is in fact a luxury seven-passenger carbon-fiber airplane, powered by two 180 hp Austro AE330 diesel engines. The cockpit comes equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics suite. It is said to be among the easiest, most capable airplanes to fly.
The DA62 is available in two weight versions. The European version has five seats and a maximum takeoff gross weight (MTOGW) of 4,407 pounds. The U.S. version has seven seats and a MTOGW of 5,071 pounds. The DA62 was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February, 2016.