Enough Of The Excuses... Here Is Our Final Decision On THE Best Bird 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 selection for ANN's Plane of The Year: The Diamond DA42-L360

It truly is difficult to commit to naming anything the best, overall, in an industry (embattled as it is) that still manages to raise the bar, year after year. This year was the most difficult on record... with birds like the SR22 G3 Turbo FIKI, the Piper Matrix, Cessna's near legendary Turbo 206 (one of my personal favs), HBC's rugged Baron G-58, and a number of other notables, the crop of 2009 GA birds was tough to whittle down to just one plane...

However, an aggressive flight at Oshkosh 2009 ultimately turned the tide for an airframe that has had to fight to stay alive in the last year or so as a result of outside factors that would have left lesser aircraft (and their manufacturers) dying in the dust.

We speak, of course, of Diamond Aircraft's curvy DA42-L360 (curvier, in fact, than the most recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition... and nearly as pretty)... a thoroughly modern twin that (for the moment) has eschewed the allure of diesel tech for the dependability of some Honest-To-God Lycomings. The Thielert debacle and all the associated machinations and fiscal improprieties should have sunk this program, but Diamond did what few other manufacturers could or would have done... they modified the airframe for the Lycoming while also taking on the daunting development of a new Diesel powerplant concept (the Austro) that -- some day -- may prove to be the answer to those who wanted what Thielert failed to deliver. But... in the meantime, the Lycoming does more than give new life to an exceptional airframe, it flies this aircraft as if it was meant to be the ideal powerplant combo all along. Seriously, the bird is sweeeeeet.

We were incredibly impressed with the exceptional single-engine manners, the dependable S/E handling and performance, and the continued maturing of a thoroughly modern twin that offers exceptional visibility, versatility, comfort and a truly enjoyable flying experience. Yes, its a light twin and the normally aspirated Lycomings have their limits in hot and high conditions, but throughout the envelope, we came away impressed with the fact that the aircraft refused to "bite" no matter how aggressive we got in S/E mode... and as always, the slow flight envelope of this otherwise speedy bird is a delight... as we tested quite admirably behind a Tri-Pacer (and not even a "Fast" one) on the way back to Oshkosh's Wittman Field.

A twin is a truly satisfying bird.,.. offering all manners of redundancy, security and panache -- And for the moment, the state of the art in dependable light twin design (in a field that does have some great but elder designs) is indisputably the Diamond DA42-L360. If we had flown this bird prior to our SR22 G3 Turbo purchase, we'd have had a tough time deciding between the two (though one has to ponder... what would a DA42-L360 Turbo version be capable of... the mind boggles... but we hope Diamond is thinking the same thing). 

The DA42 was initially introduced with TAE Centurion turbo-diesel engines and over 500 aircraft were reportedly delivered, in that fashion, since 2005. Since then, 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 (pix of which might be found in the dictionary next to the term "Bullet-Proof") 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.

Best of all, this is uncomplicated airplane. Overall, it sports the nearly industry-standard G1000 and no cowl flaps with box-stock Fuel injection -- making this a nearly 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 at some point in the future, the DA42-L360 has so much to recommend it... and so we will. As we get a start on 2010, the DA42-L360 carries ANN's Highest Recommendation. 

FMI: www.diamondair.com