I flew a DA42 today!

Any DA42 related topics.

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CFIDave
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by CFIDave »

Sadly the older versions of the DA42 G1000 with KAP-140 autopilots (most DA42 TDI models) run only software versions that lack data logging (I've tried it and its missing). The DA42 NG and -VI with GFC700 autopilot run different software that includes logging on the MFD top SDcard.
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carym
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by carym »

You are correct, it is not available on the "older" DA42. It is available in the -VI, and may be available in the NG.

I don't know how you can get such good numbers. I always flew at 75% power at this was a clear 11.2 gal/hr and closer to 158 TAS. Maybe I always flew at higher weights with full TKS and closer to full fuel.
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Colin
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Colin »

I was very close to full fuel, but I was by myself. Since I had one of the slowest DA40s in the fleet I am thrilled to have one of the faster DA42. It is serial number 100, so maybe they put some extra effort into it, right?

I miss my logging. I hope when it gets the GFC-700, ADS-B and reclining this summer it can get logging, too.
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Steve D
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Steve D »

What is the approx. cost of the GFC700/ADS B retrofit?
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ememic99
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by ememic99 »

carym wrote:Maybe I always flew at higher weights with full TKS and closer to full fuel.
In general weight doesn't have much influence to cruising speed.
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Antoine »

Steve D wrote:What is the approx. cost of the GFC700/ADS B retrofit?
As part of an Austro Engine upgrade, Diamond quotes about 45'000 Euro for the GFC700 upgrade.
WAAS is another 20K
ADS-B will be a single digit (maybe 9 K installed with a GTX345R)

Frankly, I have decided to be very radical about avionics.
In my Extra, the most real estate is allocated to an iPad Pro. This is of course not possible in a DA42, so I would do following:
1) Wait for the FAR23 rewrite and hope that non-certified avionics become OK as non-primary (2017?)
2) Re-allocate the room presently occupied by the 3 steam gauges to install some clever EFIS
3) Shift as much of the non-primary functionality as possible to this.
For example, Synthetic Vision may be great, but it is illegal to use it for navigation - it is just "situational awareness help".
So why should we pay 10K to have this run on a certified PFD?

In my Extra, SynVis will (soon, maybe...) display on a 13" iPad :-). Just the savings from not enabling this on the G500 paid for the iPad and the FlightStream 210 device which contains a backup AHRS and GPS. This in turn meant I could do away with GPS number two (GTN650) which saved me $$$ and a placement problem.

I now have 1 primary GPS (GTN750) 1 backup (FS210 on iPad) and a second backup (Garmin D2) See the thread about this :)

Re: performance of DA42.
Steve, would you like me to connect you with the crazy guy I met who tuned his DA42?
He had very neat gap seals on the control surfaces, a superbly made carbon fiber fairing at the wing roots (!) and his plane was very fast (at least that was his claim, I did not fly with him)
Maybe he can let you borrow the molds of the carbon fiber fairings and show you how he did the gap sealing?
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Steve D
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Steve D »

Antoine - yes please! Pm me his contact details. :D
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Keith M
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Keith M »

ememic99 wrote:In general weight doesn't have much influence to cruising speed.
Not convinced about that. More lift is needed to counteract gravity, so the angle of attack must be greater, which increases drag. Also, the weight distribution affects the centre of gravity and hence elevator angle in cruise, and therefor drag. At 75% power, I see an extra 4-5 knots when alone in my DA40 with the tanks half empty, compared with when 2-up with full tanks and luggage.
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Antoine »

Steve D wrote:Antoine - yes please! Pm me his contact details. :D
I will ask him for ok. Unable to PM though, my mailbox is full and... I can't find the delete function!!! :oops:
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Re: I flew a DA42 today!

Post by Antoine »

Steve D wrote:Antoine - yes please! Pm me his contact details. :D
Check PM Steve. I just sent you his details.
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