Enough Of The Excuses... Here Are Our Final Decisions On The Best Birds Of The Year

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Roving Aeronaut, Jim Campbell

Each year, we put our heads together, look over reader input as well as our own reports and other sources of info and try to recognize the VERY BEST aircraft in a number of pivotal categories. This particular series will cover the aircraft we consider to be the VERY BEST of the whole breed.

The following award categories have been established:

• E-LSA Kit Category
• S-LSA RTF (Ready To Fly) Category
• Amateur-Built/Experimental Kit Category
• GA Piston-Single Engine Category
• GA Piston-Twin Engine Category
• GA Turbine-Single Engine (Turboprop)
• GA Turbine-Multi Engine (Turboprop)
• GA Turbine (Jet)
• Plane Of The Year (The Best Of Them All -- Regardless of Category)

Each year, the choices get tougher. Worse; we tend to also make it more difficult by tightening the reins on the decision making process so that it gets harder and harder to make the cut as the best in any category, much less wind up at the top of the pack as our Overall Plane Of The Year selection.

As this year came to a close, we also made some additional decisions as to what constitutes a "Best of Breed" and how wide we wanted to cast the net and wound up adding some categories to recognize some birds that truly deserved the nod. As noted in past years, it struck us that naming an overall "best" aircraft across the entire spectrum of general (or sport) aviation is probably no longer reasonable. Which isn't to say that we won't make a selection... but that we reserve the right not to do so if no specific aircraft steps to deserve the title. There are simply too many aircraft that have distinguished themselves in too many outstanding ways for one to readily be called better than the other on an overall basis. One man's perfect high-speed Hot-Rod, for instance, becomes the expensive "way too hot to handle" mistake of another pilot whose mission requirements may differ markedly. So... we're going to cop out -- just a bit, mind you. From here on out, we will name the best aircraft in individual categories, and reserve the right in the future to whittle down those categories as necessary which means that MAYBE we WON'T name an overall winner each year... and MAYBE  we will -- we're picky that way. The fact of the matter is that no one airplane is all things to all pilots, and within the spectrum that we have decided on, these are the aircraft selections that truly impressed us in each of the chosen categories -- and that each year, MAYBE there will be an overall winner... and MAYBE not.

Are we absolutely (crystal) clear on this now (grin)?

Let me also note that while aircraft that previously were named Best Of Breed in any category, or overall, are eligible for inclusion in this year's list, we have decided to make it more difficult (in our judging protocols) for a previous winner to take the top spot in our judging criteria, so that a repeat winner truly earns the distinction (and frankly, that hasn't happened in a while). And finally... we totally reserve the right to weasel out a bit and name more than one winner in a category where the margin of victory is simply too close (or subjective) to call.

That said, herewith our selections for ANN's 2009 Plane of The Year -- GA Piston-Multi Engine

Diamond DA42-L360

While the piston single market has gotten a lot right in the last decade, the piston twin market has been a thin one... and not without its share of controversies and difficulties. Diamond's Lycoming-motivated revamp of the lean and curvy DA42 gets everything JUST right and produces an airplane that makes for both an outstanding cross-country machine as well as a spectacular twin trainer.

Kudos to Diamond for seeing this through -- if this bird had been around when we bought our Cirrus, it would have been a really tough choice.

The DA42 was initially introduced with TAE Centurion turbo-diesel engines and over 500 aircraft were delivered, in that fashion, since 2005. In that time the DA42 series has become the best selling piston twin. With the Lycoming powered L360 version joining the recently certified DA42 NG, powered by Diamond's proprietary Austro Engine AE300 170 hp turbo-diesel powerplant, Diamond is offering maximum choices to suit personal preferences or mission requirements.

The DA42L was specifically focused for the North American market, with a specific eye on tending to the fairly conservative needs and habits of flight training organizations or owner /operators looking for an affordable "conventional" light twin. The well proven Lycoming 360s are nearly an iconic product in the GA market... with no lack of available and affordable parts and service. Diamond quotes fuel burns of as low as 16 gph for flight training operations, or approximately 20 gph at 75% cruise.

An aggressively flown flight at Oshkosh 2009 was a truly enjoyable experience despite the fact that we beat the bird up fairly well. EXCELLENT handling was the most impressive aspect of the aircraft, especially during sudden engine cuts that were done aggressively and in a number of regimes and configurations. I was impressed, BTW, with the aircraft's low-speed handling -- especially when stuck in the Oshkosh arrival pattern behind a number of elder Cessnas and a Tri-Pacer or two... At NO time (despite the number of powerplants being utilized), did the DA42 exhibit anything less than easily controllable and solidly capable behavior.

Add to that, the exquisite visibility of that big bubble canopy, the very capable inclusion of the G1000 and the fact that the machine is just plain simple to operate (no cowl flaps, and box-stock Fuel injection), and you have the perfect training twin, first twin, or undemanding but no-less capable twin transporter. With FIKI certification pending and the ability to upgrade to Diamond's own Austro diesel engines, you simply have to conclude that the best value, right now, in GA Multi-Engine piston aircraft is none other than the DA42-L360. Highly Recommended. 

FMI: www.diamondair.com