Buying guide
Diamond DA42 or Piper Seminole: which twin for a flight school
Published November 13, 2026.
The Diamond DA42 and the Piper Seminole are two four-seat twins often used in multi-engine training. They do the same job in very different ways: composite airframe and diesel engines burning jet fuel on one side, metal airframe and petrol engines on the other. The used-market prices are also far apart. Below is what the official EASA data sheets say about each one, what today's listings show and how to choose.
The two aircraft on the official data sheets
| Diamond DA42 NG | Piper Seminole (PA-44-180) | |
|---|---|---|
| Data sheet | EASA.A.005 | EASA.IM.A.232 |
| Engines | 2 × Austro Engine E4 (AE300), 123.5 kW (about 168 hp) each, diesel cycle | 2 × Lycoming O-360 / LO-360, 180 hp each, petrol |
| Fuel | Jet fuel | 100/100LL aviation gasoline |
| Airframe | Composite | All-metal, retractable landing gear |
| Max. takeoff weight | 1,900 kg (1,999 kg with modification) | 1,724 kg (3,800 lb) |
| Seats | Pilot and 3 passengers | Pilot and 3 passengers |
| Flight into known icing | With the fluid ice protection system on the data sheet | Not listed on the data sheet |
Both carry one pilot and are approved for IFR, day and night. The DA42 figures are for the NG version; the first DA42s had Thielert/Technify engines with different ratings.12
What today's listings show
On November 13, 2026, the PlaneFox aggregator, which collects listings from European and American portals and brokers, showed 36 DA42 listings and 7 Seminole listings.3
| PlaneFox, 11/13/2026 | Diamond DA42 | Piper Seminole |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | 36 | 7 |
| Priced in euros, whole aircraft | 8, from €618,800 to 980,000 | 4, from €62,000 to 198,000 (1980 and 1981) |
| Model years | 2005 to 2026 | 1980 to 2018 |
Two 2019 DA42 NGs from the same Norwegian operator ask €620,000 and €700,000; the second has 4,010 hours. Recent Seminoles are almost absent from the European listings, and two of the three listed after 2010 are on our own site. Asking price is not selling price.
How to choose
This part is our reading as brokers.
- Purchase budget. An older Seminole costs a fraction of a used DA42. If the budget is tight and the fleet is small, that difference decides on its own.
- Fuel at the base. The DA42 burns jet fuel and the Seminole burns aviation gasoline. Check what is available, and at what price, at the airfields where the aircraft will fly; we explain the difference in the AVGAS or Jet A-1 guide.
- Engine maintenance logic. The DA42's diesel engines follow their manufacturer's replacement or overhaul limits; the Seminole's Lycomings follow the classic overhaul logic. Get a quote for the next engine event before comparing prices.
- Weather. If the school flies IFR in winter, the DA42's approved ice protection matters.1
- Utilisation. A school that flies a lot should look at the Seminole's wing life limit, 14,663 hours for the wing and associated structure on the data sheet, against the total airframe hours.2
What to check on either one
- Each engine. Hours, cycles and limits of each engine and, on the DA42, of each gearbox.
- Serial number. It tells you which engines and which cockpit the aircraft left the factory with.12 The routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Repairs. Composite repairs on the DA42 and landing gear history on the Seminole, with the approved repair data.
- Airworthiness directives. Check the directives for the airframe, engines and propellers, and compliance in the records.4
The twins we have for sale
The details of each model and our aircraft are in the DA42 or DA62 guide and the Piper Seminole guide. We currently list a DA42 NG with 187 hours, a DA42NG with 4,006 hours and a 2014 Seminole, among others.
Sources
- EASA, type certificate data sheet EASA.A.005, Diamond DA 42 and variants, issue 44, Aug. 30, 2024: easa.europa.eu
- EASA, type certificate data sheet IM.A.232, Piper PA-44, issue 06, Sept. 10, 2025: easa.europa.eu
- PlaneFox, Diamond DA42 and Piper Seminole listings, accessed Nov. 13, 2026: planefox.com
- EASA, Safety Publications Tool (airworthiness directives): ad.easa.europa.eu