If you’ve ever driven a classic car from the 1950’s and compare it to a modern car, you might appreciate the difference between most training aircraft and Painted Skies’ Diamond DA-40XLT. While we appreciate the classics, the addition of air-conditioned comfort on reclined leather seats with impressive “bubble canopy” visibility changes the experience of flight. In addition, the modern design and materials provide for more efficient performance, and not to mention, safety. To quote our principal flight instructor, “This baby wants to fly.”

Chosen largely for its unparalleled safety profile, Painted Skies’ Diamond DA-40 XLT hosts a slew of upgraded and impressive safety features, aside from its upgraded informational technology and redundant systems. Its glider inspired wingspan of almost 40 feet allows for an extended and gentle glide ratio of 11-to-1. Cabin occupants are protected with airbag equipped seat belts along with a carbon reinforced composite “safety cell” roll-cage cabin structure. Well protected, crushable fuel cells extending through the wings, away from the cabin, are connected with tough, braided fuel lines to prevent fire risk.

Featuring “glass cockpit” avionics, Painted Skies’ DA-40 XLT includes the G-1000 Suite with a primary flight display, a multifunction display, Digital Air Data, Attitude and Heading Reference System, WAAS-enable GPS/ILS/VHF navigation, Auto-pilot with flight director, GTX-33 Mode S Transponder, Satellite weather, SafeTaxi, FliteCharts, and traffic information.