DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Any DA40 related topics

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CFIDave
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by CFIDave »

OK, here's one from a friend of mine located 2 hangars down with a DA40NG N970DA serial 40.NC007. He decided to go skiing in Colorado and flew his then-new DA40NG all the way there and back home to the Washington, DC area in January/February 2018.

On his way back eastbound he went up to 13,000 feet IFR near Chicago to catch some nice tailwinds -- that's when i captured him on FlightAware with 208 knots groundspeed:
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Boatguy
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by Boatguy »

That's going to be tough to beat!
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lorikeet
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by lorikeet »

So 208 knots is the one to beat? I can offer 212 knots, of which I can only proof 211 knots, because that's when I took the photo. 142 knots TAS and 70 knots tailwind on a flight from Frankuft Egelsbach to Berlin Schönhagen.

That was back in April 2012 with the beautiful N447DS.

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Boatguy
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by Boatguy »

I think this will move me into third place. Between Santa Fe, NM (KSAF) and Manhattan, Kansas (KMHK). This was at 85% power, I guess I should have bumped it to 92% to break 200!
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chili4way
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by chili4way »

Here's an updated entry for a DA40NG. 201 kts GS at 15,000 MSL on 7.5 gph. 156 KTAS + 45 kts tailwind. Lasted for most of the flight.

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blsewardjr
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by blsewardjr »

My best in a 2003 DA40 is 201kt GS -- viewtopic.php?p=89007#p89007
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by alanhawse »

I suppose that I needed to turn to the south a bit to have a chance.
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dant
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by dant »

I had a shot at 200 kts a few weeks ago due to some puget sound convergence zone winds but sadly I would have needed to turn directly in to the SEA bravo to pull it off. :(
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Re: DA40 Ground Speed Challenge

Post by Steve »

Owning a 2001 DA40, I'm velocity-challenged anyway, but no matter which direction I fly, I almost always seem to have a headwind. I did get about 185 Kts GS on a flight from KAMA to KSAT once. Center advised me of a flight of F16s ahead of me in one of the numerous MOAs along the route. I was so self-impressed with my GS that I replied to Center that I would try to avoid overtaking them...
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