If you could change one thing in your airplane
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- Tim H
- 4 Diamonds Member
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- First Name: Tim
- Aircraft Type: DA40
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
How about adding some mesh pockets in front of the pilot / co-pilots seats (behind your calves) to hold charts, flashlights, etc...
- waynemcc999
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
DA40: Vernier on the Mixture control... especially when seeking the precise fuel flow desired to run LOP.
Wayne McClelland
PPL/IR, 2008 Diamond Star DA40-XLS 40.922, KSBA
Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
PPL/IR, 2008 Diamond Star DA40-XLS 40.922, KSBA
Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
- Rick
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
+1 - such a pain!!!waynemcc999 wrote:DA40: Vernier on the Mixture control... especially when seeking the precise fuel flow desired to run LOP.
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
- Chris B
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
Try putting a zip-tie around the knob to keep the one-way ratchet disengaged. This is no substitute for a vernier (which I also miss), but helps a lot. I find it much easier to make slight mixture adjustments when not also squeezing the metallic lever.waynemcc999 wrote:DA40: Vernier on the Mixture control... especially when seeking the precise fuel flow desired to run LOP.
Chris
- Chris B
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
DA40: increased useful load.
Even 55 kg would be significant, and only half the gross weight increase of the DA40 NG vs. the DA40-180.
Even 55 kg would be significant, and only half the gross weight increase of the DA40 NG vs. the DA40-180.
- Don
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
I would like to see an increase in payload. When I purchased my 4th new DA40, I special ordered it with 40 gallon tanks so I can carry four adults without fear of being tail heavy. Most of my flights are under three hours so I was willing to give up some range for extended aft weight balance.
Diamond Star XLS, N623DS, SN40.1076
- Rich
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
The payload deal varies considerably in the fleet. And if I may be a cynic, this is a never-satisfied request. No matter how much speed or payload you have, you'll always want more. I'm happy with my 695 lb. full-fuel payload, especially with almost no way to have aft CG problems. I know others, but not all, have considerably less, but it's a consequence of having more stuff than I do bolted onto the plane.Don wrote:I would like to see an increase in payload. When I purchased my 4th new DA40, I special ordered it with 40 gallon tanks so I can carry four adults without fear of being tail heavy. Most of my flights are under three hours so I was willing to give up some range for extended aft weight balance.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
- Rich
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Re: If you could change one thing in your airplane
Since so many DA40's have been modified I realized answering this is pretty complicated. Were mine not modified/upgraded in various ways over the years my answer would possibly be different than today. Between various things that became available after delivery of our 2002 (in 2002) and some required things It's had 11 changes from what was delivered. Most were elective, so I clearly decided to change things - one at a time, as the next (minor or not) irritant that could be dealt with was done. I'm running out of things to whine about
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5