LAKELAND, Fla. — Middle Tennessee State University accepted the first of eight new Diamond Aircraft DA40 XLT single-engine planes at a ceremony Wednesday, March 29, at Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, one of the nation’s largest annual aviation gatherings.
Greg Van Patten, dean of MTSU’s College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Chaminda Prelis, chair of the university’s Department of Aerospace, inspected the aircraft as part of Diamond’s display at Sun ’n Fun. Student pilots will fly the aircraft back to Tennessee at the end of the show.
Trevor Mustard, head of sales and marketing for Diamond Aircraft, left, presents Middle Tennessee State University Department of Aerospace Chair Chaminda Prelis with a special token of appreciation for the business relationship between the two entities Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Sun ’n Fun aviation event in Lakeland, Fla., where MTSU faculty and staff picked up the first of eight new Diamond DA40 XLT aircraft, in immediate background, to be added to the university’s fleet to train pilots. Also pictured is Greg Van Patten, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, right, and MTSU aerospace faculty, flight instructor and student representatives, back right. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
One of the Middle Tennessee State University Department of Aerospace’s new Diamond DA40 XLT aircraft sits on display Wednesday, March 29, at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla. A delegation of MTSU representatives visited the event to accept the first of eight new Diamond aircraft to be added to the university’s fleet in the coming weeks. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
MTSU now has 37 Diamond DA40s in its training fleet of 44 aircraft. Known for their large canopies and distinctive tails, as well as durability, the Toronto-made DA40s have been in MTSU’s fleet since 2003. The rest of the eight will arrive in the next few weeks.
“We’ve been incredibly honored to have partnered with MTSU over the past 20 years,” said Trevor Mustard, Diamond’s head of sales and marketing. “The success of MTSU’s program is evident in its continued growth and expansion.
“We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts for many years to come.”
Prelis said the eight new Diamond aircraft will allow MTSU to provide more flight opportunities to students.
“And a newer fleet gives our students training experiences in technologically advanced aircraft, which will enhance their career prospects,” he added.
A short video of the presentation ceremony is available below:
The all-composite-body DA40 XLT, powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming engine, has been the best-selling Diamond Aircraft model by volume over the company’s 40-year history, Mustard said. Sun ’n Fun visitors to the Diamond display got to sit in the cockpit of MTSU aircraft and pose with it for photos.
The Sun ’n Fun visit by Van Patten and Prelis, along with several faculty, flight instructors and students, also included a stop at Piper Aircraft’s display, which featured one of the MTSU aerospace program’s two twin-engine Seminole aircraft. MTSU purchased the pair of Seminoles late last year.
One of the MTSU Department of Aerospace’s two twin-engine Seminole aircraft sits on display Wednesday, March 29, at Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla., where an MTSU aerospace delegation visited to accept the first of eight new Diamond aircraft. The Seminole is part of the Piper Aircraft display at the event and is one of two such aircraft MTSU purchased late last year to add to its training fleet. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
Sun ’n Fun, based at the international airport in Lakeland, Florida, is the first of three major aviation events this summer for MTSU’s aerospace program.
The department is one of the sponsors of the Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna, Tennessee, set for June and hosts an annual alumni event at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture, the world’s largest aviation gathering, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in late July.
— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)
A delegation of MTSU aerospace faculty, flight instructors and students and representatives for Piper Aircraft stand in front of one of the university’s new twin-engine Seminole aircraft on display Wednesday, March 29, at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla. The Seminole is part of the Piper Aircraft display at the event and is one of two such aircraft MTSU purchased late last year to add to its training fleet. The MTSU aerospace delegation visited the event to accept the first of eight new Diamond aircraft. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
A delegation from Middle Tennessee State University’s aerospace program stand next to its new Diamond DA40 XLT aircraft Wednesday, March 29, at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, one of the nation’s largest annual aviation gatherings. The delegation visited the event to accept the first of eight new Diamond aircraft to be added to the university’s fleet. Second from left is Trevor Mustard, Diamond head of sales and marketing, who presented a special token of appreciation of the company’s longstanding business partnership with MTSU. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)
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