AVALON: Australasian aircraft sales, services and product support company, Hawker Pacific, Tuesday signed an agreement at the Avalon airshow with the New Zealand based Massey University to provide 14 Diamond aircraft for its world class flight training faculty.

Under the agreement which is worth close to US$5 million, Hawker Pacific will supply 12 new Diamond DA-40 single engine four seater and two DA42L360 twin engine aircraft to the university over a six month period with deliveries scheduled to commence mid year.

The DA-40s will be powered by the Lycoming IO-360-M1A Av Gas engine and the DA42L360s, by two counter-rotating Lycoming IO-360 (180hp) powerplants.

Tony Jones, Hawker Pacific’s senior VP of aircraft sales & flight services group, said Massey University selected Diamond aircraft for its training fleet because of its design, Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, technology as well as the aircraft's economy, safety and performance.

“The university conducted an extensive evaluation program prior to the aircraft’s selection and the DA-40 and DA42L360 best met the requirements of the university’s demanding aviation training program.”