What is the difference between the DA40-180 and DA40 NG?

The DA40-180 (2000–2008) and DA40 XLT (2008–2014) use a 180 hp Lycoming IO-360-M1A on 100LL avgas. The DA40 NG (2010–present) uses the 168 hp Austro AE 300 Jet-A piston diesel — same engine architecture as the DA42 NG / DA42-VI. The NG is the current production variant.

Does the DA40 burn 100LL or Jet-A?

Variant-dependent. The DA40-180 and DA40 XLT burn 100LL through the Lycoming IO-360-M1A. The current production DA40 NG burns Jet-A through the Austro AE 300, insulating the type from the US lead-fuel transition.

Is the Diamond DA40 a good IFR trainer?

The DA40 ships with full Garmin G1000 NXi glass and a Garmin GFC 700 autopilot as standard on the NG, matching the cockpit environment of the DA42 multi-engine and most modern single-pilot IFR airframes. Major EASA ATOs and US university aviation programs run integrated DA40 / DA42 fleets specifically so the IFR cockpit experience is identical between the single- and multi-engine syllabus blocks.

How much does it cost to operate a Diamond DA40 NG?

Hourly direct operating cost typically lands between $165 and $240 per hour for a DA40 NG burning Jet-A at 5.5 gph, including fuel and engine reserves against the AE 300's 1,800-hour TBO. Wet rental rates at European and US ATOs generally fall between $245 and $380 per hour.

Diamond Aircraft Industries

DA40 / DA40 NG / DA40 XLT

Single-engine pistonPrimary trainer2000s glass erain production

Power: 168 hp
Cruise: 154 kt
MTOW: 2,888 lb
Range: 940 nm
Fuel: Jet-A (diesel piston)

Reference data only — never for flight planning or operational use.

This entry is a fleet-research reference for flight school operators. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook), the manufacturer's latest service documents, and the relevant FAA / EASA TCDS for any operational decision — flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, regulatory compliance, or maintenance scheduling. Numbers shown here are POH-typical for the family's representative variant under standard conditions and are not a substitute for type- and airframe-specific data.

Editorial confidence: High confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

3 primary sources cited (POH / TCDS / type-club). Spec data and regulatory positioning are well-attributed; narrative synthesis is editorial.

View 3 disclaimers specific to this entry

Performance data
Reference data only — never use this entry for flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, or any operational decision. Numbers shown are POH-typical for the family's representative variant and standard conditions. Real-world numbers vary by airframe age, weight, density altitude, engine condition, and configuration. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH and the manufacturer's latest service documents.
Cost data
Cost ranges are illustrative reference figures for fleet planning. Actual acquisition, rental, and operating costs vary substantially by region, airframe age, engine and avionics generation, and local market conditions. Numbers should be validated against current quotes from local brokers, schools, and maintenance providers before any commercial decision.
Operator list
Operator lists capture schools and programmes we know to fly the type at scale. Lists are not exhaustive, may include operators that have changed fleets since publication, and should be treated as starting points for verification rather than current customer lists.

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)154 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)178 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)49 kt
Climb rate980 fpm
Service ceiling16,400 ft
Range940 nm
Endurance8 h
Takeoff roll1,184 ft
Landing roll935 ft

Weights

MTOW2,888 lb
Empty weight1,929 lb
Useful load959 lb
Baggage capacity99 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan39.2 ft
Length26.5 ft
Height6.5 ft
Cabin width44 in

Powerplant

EngineAustro Engine AE 300 — 168 hp · Jet-A · 5.5 gph
Total horsepower168 hp
Primary fuelJet-A (diesel piston)
Unleaded pathJet-A piston diesel

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeglass
Autopilot commonly availableYes
Typical packages
- Garmin G1000 NXi— modern (current new-build)
- Garmin G1000 (original)— 2005–2017 new-build
- GFC 700 dual-axis autopilot— modern (standard on NG)
Training note
Most ATOs run the DA40 NG with the same G1000 NXi cockpit configuration as their DA42 fleet so single-engine and multi-engine training remain visually identical for the student.

Certification

RegulatoryEASA CS-23 · FAR Part 23
Certified rolesNormal category · Utility category
IFRYes
Spin approvedNo
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelNo
Complex (FAR 61.31)No
High-performance (FAR 61.31)No

Why is the DA40 / DA40 NG / DA40 XLT popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Fuel future-proofing

DA40 NG burns Jet-A through the Austro Engine AE 300 — the type was designed for the post-100LL training market and has been the canonical Jet-A piston single-engine trainer since 2010.

Industry network effects

Standard ab-initio airframe at major EASA ATOs running integrated CPL / IR programmes (CAE, Lufthansa Aviation Training, L3Harris, FTE Jerez) and US university aviation programs (UND, Western Michigan) — typically paired with the DA42 multi-engine for cockpit-continuity across the syllabus.

Operating economics

Fuel burn around 5.5 gph in cruise gives the DA40 NG one of the lowest direct fuel costs of any modern four-seat single-engine trainer; Austro AE 300 has an EASA-approved TBR of 2,000 hours and a TBO of 1,800 hours.

Pedagogy and handling

FADEC single-lever power control simplifies engine handling for ab-initio students; full Garmin G1000 NXi glass and GFC 700 autopilot are standard, matching the cockpit environment of the DA42 multi-engine.

Regulatory fit

Dual-certified under EASA CS-23 (TCDS A.022) and FAR Part 23; composite airframe with T-tail is unusual among four-seat trainers and has factory-supported maintenance scheme through Diamond's Wiener Neustadt facility.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

Schools running the DA40 NG / DA42-VI fleet pairing typically configure both airframes around a shared Jet-A fuel surcharge model and shared Austro AE 300 engine support contract. Engine reserves track against the AE 300 TBR and TBO. Composite-airframe inspection cycles are tracked as separate maintenance items.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebilling

Sources

Provenance for the data on this entry. Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Diamond Aircraft Industries
https://www.diamondaircraft.com/
Diamond Aircraft DA40 product page.
Primary sourceEASA TCDS·Retrieved 2026-05-05
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/type-certificates
EASA TCDS A.022 covers DA40 variants.
Primary sourceFAA TCDS·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/A47CE
FAA Type Certificate for DA40 variants.
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

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