Diamond DA40 to DA50 RG Upgrade: Two Endorsements, Insurance, Jet-A Costs and Financing
For DA40 owners who want a fifth seat, real payload and roughly 30 more knots while staying with Diamond, and want to know what the DA50 RG asks of them in training, insurance and cash.
The DA50 RG is Diamond's five-seat, retractable-gear single, powered by a 300-hp Continental CD-300 turbocharged V6 diesel that burns Jet-A through a dual-channel FADEC and a single power lever. EASA certified it in September 2020 and the FAA in July 2023 (Skies). Coming from a fixed-gear DA40, you keep the Diamond handling, canopy visibility and, on most DA40s, similar Garmin panel logic. You add retractable gear, close to twice the horsepower, a much larger hull value and a much larger loan. This page covers that transition. For the DA40 itself, see the DA40 buyer's guide.
Who should step from a DA40 to a DA50 RG?
| Make the step if you… | Stay in the DA40 if you… |
|---|---|
| Routinely fly three or four adults with bags and full fuel, which a DA40's roughly 850 lb useful load can't carry | Fly alone or with one passenger most of the time |
| Fly long trips where 168–181 KTAS instead of about 140 knots saves real hours | Fly local or short cross-countries where speed saves minutes |
| Want to stay in Diamond's ecosystem, Jet-A and the same service network | Want the lowest insurance and simplest maintenance: fixed gear, 180 hp or less |
| Have the liquidity for a seven-figure airplane plus reserves | Would stretch to make the payment on a loan near $1 million |
Performance figures are from AOPA's July 2022 flight report: about 168 KTAS on 12.7 gph at 75% power and 11,000 feet, and 181 knots maximum cruise at 16,000 feet. If you want a second engine rather than more speed, look at the DA42 and DA62 path instead.
What training does a DA40 pilot need for the DA50 RG?
| Item | Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Complex endorsement | Yes | 14 CFR 61.31(e). Under 61.1, a complex airplane has retractable gear, flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, including one controlled by a FADEC, which covers the DA50 RG. |
| High-performance endorsement | Yes | 61.31(f), for engines over 200 hp. The DA40-180 has 180 hp and the DA40 NG about 165 hp, so neither required it. |
| Turbocharger or diesel endorsement | None exists | Train on the CD-300's FADEC logic, run-up test and failure modes from the flight manual. |
| Oxygen | At the altitudes the airplane is built for | Crew need oxygen after 30 minutes above 12,500 feet and at all times above 14,000 (14 CFR 91.211). |
| Dual in type | Almost always, for insurance | The underwriter sets the hours before solo or passengers. |
What's different depends on which DA40 you fly:
- From a DA40 NG: you already fly a single-lever FADEC diesel on Jet-A. The new work is the gear, nearly twice the power at takeoff, higher speeds in the pattern and a heavier airplane.
- From a DA40-180: everything above, plus a new engine philosophy. There's no mixture control, the FADEC runs its own checks, and the FADEC depends on the airplane's electrical system, so the electrical and FADEC failure procedures in the flight manual become core knowledge.
- Gear discipline for everyone: gear-up landings happen to pilots new to retractables. Build a fixed pre-landing check and a stabilized-approach rule before your first solo flight.
The FAA sets no minimum hours for either endorsement. An instructor signs each one when you're proficient, and both can be completed during the same DA50 checkout with an instructor experienced in the type. Ask your Diamond dealer what factory or dealer transition training comes with a purchase.
Insurance: a new type, a big hull and new endorsements
Underwriters price three things that all move against a DA40 owner at once: retractable gear, a high-performance engine and a hull value several times higher. The DA50 RG also has a short U.S. service history, so there's little loss data specific to the type. Your Diamond time counts in your favor. There's no verified 2026 benchmark for DA50 premiums; this page's $9,000 a year is a placeholder to show scale, against the $2,800 assumption on our DA40 NG cost page. Expect dual-in-type conditions and possibly passenger restrictions until you log time in type. The broader 2026 piston market has been generally stable for experienced owners. Lenders require hull coverage naming them as loss payee; see aircraft loan insurance requirements.
What does the step from a DA40 to a DA50 RG cost?
Purchase price. Diamond doesn't publish list prices, so there's no verified 2026 figure. AOPA reported a $1.15 million base price and about $1.3 million typically equipped in July 2022; use it only as a dated reference and ask a Diamond dealer for current pricing. Used DA40s, per our buyer's guide's Controller.com survey in September 2026, were asking about $225,000 to $345,000 for 2003–2008 DA40-180s and XLs and about $400,000 to $570,000 for 2018–2024 DA40 NGs. Those are typical asking prices seen in 2025–2026 listings; verify with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook.
| Item | DA40-180 | DA40 NG | DA50 RG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illustrative price | $250,000 | $450,000 | $1,150,000 (AOPA 2022 base, for scale) |
| Engine and fuel | Lycoming IO-360, 180 hp, 100LL | Austro AE300, about 165 hp, Jet-A | Continental CD-300, 300 hp, Jet-A |
| Planning fuel burn | 9.5 gph | 6.5 gph | 12.7 gph (AOPA, 75% power) |
| Fuel per hour | $68.78 at $7.24/gal | $42.25 at $6.50/gal (assumed) | $82.55 at $6.50/gal (assumed) |
| Fuel over 100 hours vs DA50 RG | $1,377 less | $4,030 less | n/a |
| Engine reserve | See DA40 cost page | $36.11/hr ($65,000 ÷ 1,800 hr, our NG page) | Get Continental's current TBO and exchange price for the CD-300 |
| Insurance | See DA40 cost page | $2,800 (assumption) | $9,000 (placeholder), $6,200 more than the NG |
| Gear and prop upkeep | Fixed gear | Fixed gear | Retractable gear and a constant-speed prop add inspection and repair items |
Jet-A isn't in our verified price data, and FBO Jet-A prices vary widely; each $1 per gallon moves the DA50 RG's 100-hour fuel bill by $1,270. The DA40-180 column uses the AirNav national 100LL average of $7.24 (September 2026). Full budgets for the airplane you're leaving are on the DA40-180 and DA40 NG cost pages; we don't have a DA50 RG cost page, so build that budget from dealer, shop and insurance quotes.
Stepping up from a DA40?
Share your DA40's value and payoff and the DA50 RG you're considering. A financing specialist will come back with rate, term and down-payment options from lenders in our network.
How to finance the step from a DA40 to a DA50 RG
The DA50 RG is a piston single, so the published piston guidelines still apply: per AOPA Aviation Finance, at least 15% down on post-1960 singles and up to 20 years on loans of $75,000 or more. As of September 2026, piston loan rates quoted by major aviation lenders generally start around 7% for well-qualified borrowers and run to roughly 10%. A loan near $1 million on a new, well-documented airframe tends to attract the lower end of the range, but expect closer scrutiny of liquidity and income. The examples use an illustrative 7.75%.
| Step | From a DA40 NG | From a DA40-180 |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $450,000 | $250,000 |
| Less 5% selling costs and loan payoff | $22,500 + $250,000 | $12,500 + $120,000 |
| Equity | $177,500 (15.4% of price) | $117,500 (10.2% of price) |
| Cash needed to reach 15% down | None | $55,000 |
| New loan | $972,500 | $977,500 |
| New payment, 20 years | $7,984 | $8,025 |
| Old DA40 payment | $2,209 ($250,000, 17 yr left) | $1,130 ($120,000, 15 yr left) |
| Payment increase | +$5,775/mo | +$6,895/mo |
| Term | 6.99% APR | 7.75% APR | 9.99% APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years (180 mo) | $8,736/mo | $9,154/mo | $10,445/mo |
| 20 years (240 mo) | $7,534/mo | $7,984/mo | $9,378/mo |
Loan amount $972,500. Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Illustrative, not a quote.
On a 15-year term, the NG-owner's loan costs $9,154 a month. Decision rule: if the DA40 equity only just reaches 15%, you'll close with little left for the first annual, insurance deposit and training. Lenders look at post-closing liquidity on loans this size, so bringing extra cash to the table, or a smaller loan, can matter as much as the rate.
What lenders look for on a seven-figure piston
- Credit, income and reserves. Most aviation lenders look for 680+ with the best pricing around 720–730+, but on a loan near $1 million, documented income and liquid reserves carry as much weight; see debt-to-income, reserves and income documentation.
- A clean path for the DA40. Lenders want the down payment as closed-sale cash, or a simultaneous escrow closing that pays off the DA40 lien. If you buy first, both payments count against your income.
- New-aircraft paperwork. For a factory-new airplane, expect a purchase agreement with a deposit schedule; lenders fund at delivery, not at order. Plan sales or use tax as a cash item; see aircraft sales tax by state.
- Insurance. A bound policy that meets the lender's requirements for your pilot profile; the full checklist is on aircraft loan requirements.
Sell, trade or keep the DA40?
A dealer trade is common with new-aircraft orders, because the DA40 can be delivered against the DA50 and the transaction closes once. Compare the trade allowance with Vref, Aircraft Bluebook and current listings; ex-trainer DA40s with high hours are valued on records and engine time. Selling privately first usually nets more but can leave you without an airplane until delivery. If you need to fund the down payment before the DA40 sells, a cash-out refinance is one route (see using your airplane's equity), and down payment strategies covers the others.
Transition checklist, in order
- Get a written insurance quote for the DA50 RG with your real hours and no retractable time.
- Pre-qualify (1–3 business days) and get a payoff letter on the DA40.
- Get current pricing and delivery timing from a Diamond dealer; ask what transition training is included.
- Decide how the DA40 goes: private sale, dealer trade or keep until delivery.
- Complete the complex and high-performance endorsements in the DA50 RG, with the dual the insurer requires.
- Close through escrow and register the DA50: $5 at the FAA, valid for seven years.
How this guide differs from related guides
This page covers the transition. For choosing a DA40 on its own merits, see the DA40 buyer's guide and the DA40-180 model page. Annual budgets are on the DA40-180 and DA40 NG cost pages. We don't have DA50 RG model or cost pages. For Diamond's twin path, see DA42 to DA62; for another high-end single step, SR20 to SR22T.
Frequently asked questions
What endorsements do I need to fly a DA50 RG if I fly a DA40?
Usually two. A high-performance endorsement, because the Continental CD-300 makes 300 hp and 14 CFR 61.31(f) applies above 200 hp. And a complex endorsement, because the DA50 RG has retractable gear, flaps and a FADEC-controlled propeller, which the FAA definition of a complex airplane includes. DA40s have fixed gear and 180 hp or less, so most DA40 pilots hold neither yet.
Does the DA50 RG burn Jet-A like the DA40 NG?
Yes. The DA50 RG uses a Continental CD-300, a 300-hp turbocharged V6 diesel with dual-channel FADEC and single-lever power control, and it burns Jet-A. DA40 NG owners already fly a FADEC Jet-A diesel (the Austro AE300). DA40-180 owners are moving from a 100LL Lycoming with a mixture control, so the engine philosophy is new to them.
How much does a DA50 RG cost?
Diamond doesn't publish list prices. AOPA reported a base price of $1.15 million, with typically equipped airplanes around $1.3 million, in July 2022, and pricing will have moved since. The DA50 RG received FAA certification in July 2023, so few have traded used in the U.S. Ask a Diamond dealer for current pricing and verify any used airplane with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook.
How much more does a DA50 RG cost to fly than a DA40?
Fuel is the clearest line. At AOPA's reported 12.7 gph at 75% power and an assumed $6.50 Jet-A price, the DA50 RG burns about $83 an hour, against $42 for a DA40 NG at our 6.5-gph planning burn. That is about $4,030 more over 100 hours, before the larger jumps in insurance, engine reserve and loan payment.
Can my DA40 cover the down payment on a DA50 RG?
A DA40 NG often can. In our example, a $450,000 NG with a $250,000 payoff nets $177,500 after 5% selling costs, about 15% of an illustrative $1,150,000 DA50 RG, just above AOPA's 15% minimum. A $250,000 DA40-180 with a $120,000 payoff nets $117,500, so it needs about $55,000 more in cash.
Is the DA50 RG hard to insure for a DA40 pilot?
Expect a real step. The underwriter sees a pilot new to retractable gear and high performance in a seven-figure airplane of a type with a short U.S. service history. Diamond time in a similar cockpit helps. Expect conditions such as dual instruction in type before solo or passengers. There is no verified 2026 DA50 premium benchmark, so get a written quote before you sign a purchase agreement.
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Rates and rules change; see our editorial standards.