The Diamond DA40 XLS has been lauded by the aviation magazine writers for years now as many things including: “Safest Aircraft”, “Most Economical”, “Speedster that Sips Fuel” (150kts on 10gph), “A Sleek European Designed Cruiser”, “Best First Airplane”, and the list goes on.

So how do you top the such an award winning plane as the DA40 XLS? That is the question that the folks at Premier Aircraft Sales asked and then answered. They have spent years now marketing and selling these sleek efficient birds and in the process have come up with every possible add-on and option that customers have asked for that is not already included on the XLS. With a lot of development work and perseverance the folks at Premier have created the Ultimate DA40 XLS by offering different levels of these option combinations and referring to it as the PREMIER EDITION.

“Our goal is to make one of the best airplanes you can buy even more attractive,” says Fred Ahles, president of Premier.  “In today’s marketplace, customers are demanding value, but also differentiation and exclusivity,” he explains.  “They may want more customized options in the areas of system functionality, performance, comfort and luxurious good looks than the OEM offers. The Premier Edition offers buyers the opportunity to customize an aircraft that is as uniquely individual as they are,” he notes.

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Premier Edition Features and Options

There are two versions of the Premier Edition offered.  The Premier Edition Package I includes:

• The Premier PowerPlus™ standby alternator system, which provides additional electrical system redundancy
• The Lopresti Boom Beam™ for enhanced nighttime visibility
• The Hartzell composite propeller, a durable, light weight, low vibration alternative, offering distinctive optics and improved cruise performance
• Luxurious custom contoured all-leather, form-fitting memory foam upholstery with new color choices, piping accents and stitching patterns
• Distinctive Premier Edition exterior striping
• Premier Comfort luxury carpet with new color choices
• Diamond logos embossed in the headrests and an exclusive owner plaque on the instrument panel

The Premier Edition Package II includes all the features of Package I plus Premier’s exclusive CabinCool™ vapor cycle air conditioning system, delivering automotive-style cabin comfort with 55º F at the vent.

“There is a long aviation tradition of enhancements being offered by aftermarket suppliers for specific markets and applications,” said Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft. “The DA40 XLS is a best seller and features a long list of factory installed features and options.  We welcome Premier’s initiative in offering even more opportunity for our customers to create a truly exclusive and personal airplane.”

For more information about the Premier Edition call John Armstrong at 406-FLY-1NOW. And don’t miss the DA40 XLS Premier Edition Demo Tour!

DA 40 XLS: The Innovator Keeps Getting Better

Safety is the new buzzword for success in today’s aviation market, and Diamond is raising the bar

The ongoing success of Diamond Aircraft, and the DA40 in particular, is invigorating for aviation. Technically advanced aircraft from several manufacturers are changing the way we fly and what we look for in our airplanes. Today’s airplane buyers are completely different from those of even 15 years ago, and their level of sophistication and knowledge is unprecedented.

“Airplane buyers are extremely well-researched,” says Jeff Owen, regional sales manager for Premier Aircraft Sales (www.premieraircraftsales.com) in Florida and an expert on Diamond aircraft. “They ask extraordinarily intelligent questions.” Owen cites safety as the number-one factor in the airplane buying decision. “It’s absolutely, 100% safety,” he notes.

For potential buyers, the safety component is made of two parts: how the airplane prevents accidents and, if something does happen, how the design of the aircraft adds to the survivability of the occupants. Diamond has made considerable investment in automotive-like crash and drop testing. The company has studied the resulting data and implemented features like 26-G-capable seats, protected fuel cells, unobstructed head-strike zones and a composite fuselage that has no life limit.

The XLS features the newest inflatable aviation restraints from AmSafe—the same as are used aboard Air Force One. The aviation insurance industry has taken notice of Diamond’s focus on safety and the DA40’s exemplary safety record. The result is attractive insurance rates for Diamond buyers.

Safety is the main reason Dennis Benbow and his son, Jordan, purchased the XLS last November. Benbow is a pilot who hasn’t flown for many years but wants his son to earn his certificate and eventually use the DA40 as a business tool. Benbow’s main concern was that the airplane be as safe as possible while still being advanced enough to use for regional travel. The XLS fit the bill perfectly.

The DA40 has been selected by the U.S. Air Force Academy as the primary trainer for its Powered Flight Program. Training academies such as Embry-Riddle and several flight universities have selected Diamonds as their training aircraft, both for their safety and considerable fuel economy. In 2008, a pilot named Marc Aurel Lehman—who had only been flying a couple of years—piloted his DA40 around the world in 150 flying hours, including a 2,250 nm nonstop leg from Japan to Alaska!