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Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:28 am
by salim
Hello,

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of a GWX68 on a DA42 tdi (some of you might have seen them on an other forum). The GWX 70 cannot be installed on the TDI, so an overhauled GWX68 is the only option.
The upgrade took approx 3 weeks, for a cost of 30.5k€. Service from the Diamond team in LOAN was great.
The result is identical to the nose of a -VI with radar installed from the start.

While I am very satisfied with the result, it takes time to learn to use and interpret the radar. It will be interesting to assess the comfort it brings during the spring / summer when CBs are more frequent (that is if we're no longer under lock-down).

Btw I don't know what other members think but I feel this upgrade while very expensive is reasonably priced vs the GFC700 upgrade. The radar upgrade involves probably more extensive composite works and probably more expensive hardware (the radar unit vs servos and autopilot control panel - the autopilot computer being the GIA63/63W unit).

Best,
Salim
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Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 9:07 pm
by Colin
Very very cool.

The GFC700 upgrade requires some composite work because the servos need to be installed and the mounting is not the same as the KAP140 mountings. Or that was what I was lead to believe.

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:37 am
by austropilot
Great upgrade! Major capability increase for the plane. Where did the upgrade take place (US/EU)?

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:55 pm
by salim
austropilot wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:37 am Where did the upgrade take place (US/EU)?
The upgrade took place at Diamond plant, in Wiener Neustadt Austria

@ Colin, that’s my understanding as well. However I might be wrong but the composite works for the radar upgrade doesn’t seem less extensive than for a servo change...

Best,

Salim

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:26 am
by neema
We're looking to do this, too. Cool to see. Thanks Salim

Bummer that you can't throw a GWX 70 on there. G1000 bondage again...

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:32 am
by salim
Forgot to mention, the weight increase is approx 4.5kg or 10lb.
Storage volume in the nose is unchanged

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:41 pm
by ememic99
salim wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:28 am Btw I don't know what other members think but I feel this upgrade while very expensive is reasonably priced vs the GFC700 upgrade. The radar upgrade involves probably more extensive composite works and probably more expensive hardware (the radar unit vs servos and autopilot control panel - the autopilot computer being the GIA63/63W unit).
Totally agree with you and that's what I've been trying to explain both to DAI and Garmin. Adding huge margins to parts and then charging labor a lot doesn't lead to happy customers. OTOH DAI factory capacities for such upgrades are low and thus they don't seem highly interested in doing them. If we manage to move these upgrades to other shops, I believe we'll come to lower/realistic pricing.

BTW Great upgrade!

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 12:57 pm
by ememic99
salim wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:32 am Forgot to mention, the weight increase is approx 4.5kg or 10lb.
Storage volume in the nose is unchanged
I guess you didn't have on-board oxygen installed.

In general I don't think TDI itself is a problem for GWX70 but legacy G1000. If/when NXi upgrade becomes available for legacy G1000 owners, then I guess GWX70 will also become available for NXi equipped TDI aircrafts.

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:06 pm
by salim
Correct for the first point - how did you guess ?

And I fully agree for the second point

Re: Weather radar upgrade on a DA42

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:08 pm
by ememic99
salim wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:06 pm Correct for the first point - how did you guess ?
:D pictures