Diamond Aircraft Industries
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Diamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders.
History
The company was founded in Friesach, Austria, in 1981, under the name Hoffmann Flugzeugbau to produce the H36 all-composite motor glider. Becoming Hoffman Aircraft Limited in 1985, the company moved its headquarters to Vienna, Austria and introduced the MkII model. In 1987, the airport at Wiener Neustadt, Austria (the oldest in Europe[citation needed]), became the new home for the company. In 1991 the parent company was renamed HOAC AG and purchased by the Dries Family. In the same year, Diamond started development of the HK36R and Rotax 912 powered motorglider, which were the precursors to the DV20 Katana (Diamond's first production series GA single-engine aircraft).
In 1992, in order to have more ready access to supply the North American market, the company opened a second manufacturing facility in London, Ontario, Canada. This facility operated under the name Dimona Aircraft until it was changed to Diamond Aircraft in 1996.
The Austrian-built DV20 Katana was certified in 1993, and the first Canadian-built model was delivered in 1995. It received the Flight Magazine Eagle Award, for best light aircraft in the same year. 1997 marked the delivery of the 500th DV20 and the introduction of the DA20-C1, which had improved performance and load capabilities. The DA20-C1 Eclipse (an improved version of the DA20-C1) also entered production.
Type Club
On Friday, November 2nd, 2007, the previous two competing clubs, the Diamond Aircraft Pilots and Owners Organization (DAPO) and the Diamond Aviators Association (DAA) were merged to form a single aircraft type club, The Diamond Aviators Association.
Aircraft and Simulators Produced
Aircraft
- H36 motor glider
- DV20
- DA20-A1 Katana
- DA20-C1 Evolution & Eclipse
- DA40 Diamond Star
- DA42 Twin Star
- DA50 Super Star
- D-Jet
Simulators
- D-SIM-20
- D-SIM-40
- D-SIM-42
- D-SIM-JET
External links
- Diamond Aircraft Industries
- North American subsidiary
- UK distributor
- The Diamond Aviators Association aircraft type club
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