Aircraft comparison
Diamond DA40 vs Ikarus C42: cost sharing compared
Two popular choices for a shared flight. Here is how their typical UK running costs compare, and what each person pays.
| Measure | Diamond DA40 | Ikarus C42 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 2 |
| Typical wet hire / hour | £255-£330 | £130-£175 |
| Per person / hour, all seats full | ≈ £73 | ≈ £77 |
| Typical cruise | 130 kt | 85 kt |
| Hire cost per nautical mile | £2.25 | £1.80 |
| Fuel burn | 34 L/hr (AVGAS 100LL) | 14 L/hr (UL91 / MOGAS) |
| 100 nm trip: time | 46 min | 71 min |
| 100 nm trip: hire cost | £225.38 | £180.00 |
| 100 nm trip: per person, all seats full | £56.34 | £90.00 |
Which is cheaper to share?
- The Ikarus C42 is usually cheaper to hire by the hour.
- With every seat filled, the Diamond DA40 works out cheaper per person per hour - more seats spread the cost further.
- The Diamond DA40 is faster, so on a 100 nm trip the Ikarus C42 costs less to fly overall.
Rates vary a lot between clubs, so use the cost sharing calculator with your own operator's figures. Whichever you choose, no passenger can pay more than an equal share, so you always pay at least yours - see what counts as a direct cost.
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Figures are indicative UK club wet hire rates and typical cruise performance, not quotes. Trip figures assume still air at cruise speed and exclude airfield charges.