Weather radar upgrade on a DA42
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:28 am
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
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