Flying a Diamond DA42 Twin Star into Washington Dulles International Airport
KIAD / IAD Β· Washington D.C., United States
By Renzo, CPL
Field Elevation
313 ft
Aircraft Range
990 NM
Cruise Speed
180 kt
Runway Requirements
The Diamond DA42 Twin Star is a multi engine piston aircraft (MTOW 1,785 kg). At sea level under standard conditions, expect approximately 2,200 ft takeoff distance. Always cross-reference your specific aircraft POH performance charts and current weather for actual TOD/LDR.
- β Number of runways at KIAD: 4
- β Coordinates: 38.9531, -77.4565
- β No type rating required (single pilot)
Approach Considerations
- βApproach plates: Reference current Jeppesen or FAA charts before each flight. ILS, RNAV (GPS), and visual approaches typically available depending on runway. Check NOTAMs for outages.
- βWake turbulence: Stay alert for wake turbulence from preceding heavy aircraft, especially at major airports like KIAD.
Common Considerations
International gateway for the DC metro area. United Airlines hub with long runways for all aircraft types. For the Diamond DA42 Twin Star, the most relevant factors are runway length sufficiency, density altitude impact at field elevation 313 ft, and traffic complexity at this multi-runway airport.
Fuel Availability
100LL avgas is typically available at KIAD via on-field FBOs. The Diamond DA42 Twin Star burns approximately 11 gph at cruise β verify pricing through ForeFlight or AirNav before arrival.
KIAD Airport Guide
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Diamond DA42 Twin Star Specifications
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