Diamond Aircraft Da42 Vi vs Piper M350
The Diamond Aircraft DA42 VI and the Piper M350 sit in different categories. The DA42 VI is a light twin‑engine piston aircraft typically used for training, touring, and surveillance-style missions, emphasizing efficiency and redundancy through two engines. The Piper M350 is a high‑performance, pressurized, single‑engine piston aircraft aimed at faster personal and business travel with greater high‑altitude capability and cabin comfort. In range, the M350 generally offers longer legs in typical cruise planning, commonly around the 1,300‑nautical‑mile class depending on power settings, payload, and winds, while the DA42 VI is usually closer to roughly 1,000–1,200 nautical miles, also heavily dependent on configuration and reserves. For passenger capacity, both are broadly similar in seating count: the DA42 VI is typically arranged for four seats, while the M350 is commonly configured for six seats, giving the Piper an advantage for carrying more people or accommodating more flexible cabin layouts, although real-world usable seats can be constrained by fuel and baggage requirements.
| Spec | Diamond Aircraft DA42 VI | Piper M350 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| DOC / nm | $ 1.11 | $ 1.34 |
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Diamond Aircraft | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | DA42 VI | M350 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1273 | 1343 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.28 | $ 0.22 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1298 | 1308 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 211 | $ 285 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000 NXi | Garmin G1000 NXi |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 190 | 213 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $869,000 | $1,195,000 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 |
| Cabin | ||
| Total Seats | 4 | 6 |
| Cockpit | — | 2 |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | — | 4 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | No |
| Model | AE300 | TIO-540-AE2A |
| Fuel Type | Diesel / Jet Fuel | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 1800 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 168 | 350 |
| Fuel Delivery | Fuel Injected | Fuel Injected |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | 76.4 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 79.4 | 120 |
| TBO (yrs) | — | 12 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 28.1 | 29 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 44.5 | 43 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 8.2 | 11.4 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 12.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 165 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 13 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 |