Diamond’s DA40 XLS is getting some well-deserved coverage in the April issue of Plane & Pilot magazine. In writing the cover story, Marc C. Cook got to experience first-hand the outstanding performance, value and capabilities of what’s considered “the best first airplane you can own.”

So what did Mr. Cook think of the new DA40 XLS? We won’t give the whole story away here, but here’s how he wrapped the story up: “Yet, as I walked away from the XLS – its cooling exhaust ticking loudly in the cavernous hangar – I looked back. I couldn’t help but think that a little corner of my heart would always belong to the DA40 XLS – a pilot’s airplane for sure.”

Then enjoy some beautiful air-to-air video of the DA40 XLS that accompanied the story.