You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

[Steven]

You think 4" of clearance is more than enough to get your plane into the hangar ...

[Rich]

If it weren't for the G1000 debacle (admittedly a major screw-up) we'd have nothing to complain about - save those who would complain about anything and everything.

[Rich]

You think 4" of clearance is more than enough to get your plane into the hangar ...

... Hold my beer

[Thomas]

when you have to admit that your plane looking sexier than you do over the years…..

[ememic99]

You need a flash light to see the runway when landing your DA42 at night.

I asked many times if they have any plans equipping DA42 with appropriate 21st century LED light but without any positive answer.

[Steven]

You own every shade of white touch-up paint they sell at the hardware store ...

[Colin]

I thought I *did* have LED landing and taxi lights. At least I paid for something LED lighting related when it was at the factory. No?

[ememic99]

I thought I *did* have LED landing and taxi lights. At least I paid for something LED lighting related when it was at the factory. No?

Well… sort of. It is LED technology but it's hardly close enough to what this technology can offer in 2019. If I had the opportunity to show you what we used in cave diving to illuminate underwater caves then you would realize where this technology is today and what could be put in our aircrafts.

[CFIDave]

I thought I *did* have LED landing and taxi lights. At least I paid for something LED lighting related when it was at the factory. No?

You probably got replacement LED wingtip strobe and position lights.

As far as I know, nobody makes certified LED landing and taxi lights in the rectangular form factor needed to fit under the fuselage of a DA42 or DA62. Thus Diamond continues to use HID (high intensity discharge) landing and taxi lights on their twins.

Don't assume that LEDs are necessarily better than HIDs. As an example, early Tesla Model S cars shipped with HIDs, which were replaced in 2016+ Model S vehicles by LED headlights as a parts-reduction cost-saving measure. Some Tesla owners who've traded in their older Model S cars for newer complain that the LEDs don't work as well as the original HID headlights.

[Paul]

You have used that cool trick with the wire insulation to replace a flap indicator bulb.