Diamond DA42 Twin Star

[Aros]

Man I would LOVE if FlightLine could come out with a 2M Diamond DA42 Twin Star! Such a cool-looking twin gen av model...I think Alpha mentioned there being a problem with licensing but I hope something can be figured out to offer really slick gen av aircraft to the line. I wouldn't go smaller than 1.8M for stuff like this. A 1400 just wouldn't cut it for me. Anyone else have interest in this or similiar models? Post your comments and photos here!

[xviper]

They use that plane around here to seed the clouds to reduce the size of hailstones. Real nice looking plane. I was going to get the VQ Baron from HobbyKing when I bought the Twin Otter but I didn't want to build two balsa planes at the same time. A foamie one of these would be preferable.
As for licencing, didn't they get around that with the AL-37? They just didn't call it a "737". Change just enough subtle stuff on it and you can name it anything you want.

[Aros]

xviper that's my thoughts too but alas, I don't know the ends and outs of licensing in relation to our company's approach and relationships. Alpha would be far more proficent in answering those specifics for us. However, I'm with you...Wouldn't a simple name change suffice? Maybe. But again, not knowing the ends and outs of the licensing world for all I know the model/profile itself is under licensing. Hopefully Alpha is reading this and can take this further.

If it's as easy as a name change holy crap, that opens the flood gates for a TON of gen av planes I want to see in FlightLine format!

[xviper]

I don’t think it’s as simple as a name change. It must be accompanied by some differences in appearance and/or design. I’m pretty sure that the AL37 is not an exact “scaled down” reproduction of the real thing. Boeing can get pretty persnickety about copyright and trademarks, etc.

[Aros]

I agree. A simple name change seems too easy. There has to be much more to it than that. This is where I would love for Alpha and the owners to chime in to enlighten us all.

[xviper]

Hehe, it may be a can of worms they don't want to open up.

[Aros]

Never hurts to ask.

[CM_Aero]

I flew the DA42 for my Commercial Multi Engine rating. If my memory serves correctly, it burned 10.5 gallons per hour, which was amazing. Then, the engine manufacturer went out of business, and it was tough to get parts. So our flight school sold the DA42s and got the DA42L with the lycoming (avgas) engine. I flew that airplane for my MEI. It was a cool airplane, but wasn't that comfortable to sit for long hours.