Just got my DA40! What should I do??
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- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
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- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N972RD
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
I love my Zuluworks mini-z kneeboard. One of the things I enjoy every time I fly is sort of trivial, which are custom pads for my kneeboard.
I use a cheap K-Mart window cleaner (Sprayway!) before I use the Plexus (which is sort of pricey and might be the same formulation as Lemon Pledge).
I use an iPad Mini in the cockpit running Foreflight and you can see it in this post about how it is a backup set of instrumentation.
I use a cheap K-Mart window cleaner (Sprayway!) before I use the Plexus (which is sort of pricey and might be the same formulation as Lemon Pledge).
I use an iPad Mini in the cockpit running Foreflight and you can see it in this post about how it is a backup set of instrumentation.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2006
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Since you are crossing the country you might want to peruse the page on my blog devoted entirely to that sort of journey.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- Roxi5m9
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- First Name: Nick
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N597RA
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Do you have a reference number for the XEVision kit you put in? Is this the only kit out there that everyone uses?Rich wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 1:39 amThe XEvision system I put in many years ago are fabulous. And while MTBF for these lamps is lower than LEDs, still they're at 2,500 hours. However, installation of the LED's is simpler and would draw less power, should that be a factor.pietromarx wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:43 pm One consideration on the landing / taxi lights is to compare HID vs. LED. The HIDs are brighter, but the LEDs will use less power and last longer. Having had all three (old, HID, and LED), I would have the HIDs.
N597RA 40.444
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
- Rich
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
The best reference would be the XeVision STC: SA01782SE. It is specifically for installation in the DA40. In turn it references master drawing for FastCap, LLC, document FC-MDL. The installation instructions are very detailed with pictures and engineering drawings. There is some skill and use of the right tools required in redoing wire terminations.Roxi5m9 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 6:43 pmDo you have a reference number for the XEVision kit you put in? Is this the only kit out there that everyone uses?Rich wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 1:39 amThe XEvision system I put in many years ago are fabulous. And while MTBF for these lamps is lower than LEDs, still they're at 2,500 hours. However, installation of the LED's is simpler and would draw less power, should that be a factor.pietromarx wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:43 pm One consideration on the landing / taxi lights is to compare HID vs. LED. The HIDs are brighter, but the LEDs will use less power and last longer. Having had all three (old, HID, and LED), I would have the HIDs.
Mine have been in place for 10 years, now. They are the 35W (each) versions and did not require changing out breakers. When turned on in broad daylight you can see the glow through the white liner in the top of the lens.
For further details contact the company.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
- Roxi5m9
- 3 Diamonds Member
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- First Name: Nick
- Aircraft Type: DA40
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Awesome info. Thanks! You mentioned having the 35 watt...do you ever wish you would have gotten the 50 watt? Or does that require the breaker change?Rich wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:02 pmThe best reference would be the XeVision STC: SA01782SE. It is specifically for installation in the DA40. In turn it references master drawing for FastCap, LLC, document FC-MDL. The installation instructions are very detailed with pictures and engineering drawings. There is some skill and use of the right tools required in redoing wire terminations.
Mine have been in place for 10 years, now. They are the 35W (each) versions and did not require changing out breakers. When turned on in broad daylight you can see the glow through the white liner in the top of the lens.
For further details contact the company.
N597RA 40.444
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
- ZAV
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Congrats. I’m sure you’ll love the freedom of having your own airplane and hopefully not come to hate the maintenance.
Plexus works well for the canopy. There’s some great info on this forum about cleaning the plane, search “best products for cleaning the plane.” I use Klasse polish after a wash. Seems to work great. Here’s a picture.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0UKNAsZ ... ss_Airport
I mount my iPad with a RAM suction mount on the canopy right above the little window. That puts that iPad pretty close to eye level and doesn’t obstruct any buttons or screens. I like having it there since it keeps my eyes closer to the outside instead of my lap.
Plexus works well for the canopy. There’s some great info on this forum about cleaning the plane, search “best products for cleaning the plane.” I use Klasse polish after a wash. Seems to work great. Here’s a picture.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0UKNAsZ ... ss_Airport
I mount my iPad with a RAM suction mount on the canopy right above the little window. That puts that iPad pretty close to eye level and doesn’t obstruct any buttons or screens. I like having it there since it keeps my eyes closer to the outside instead of my lap.
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
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- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Good plan. Rotating your head up and down those ninety degrees on that axis promotes spatial disorientation. Back when I was first doing my instrument flying I read a nice article about that physiology, along with a commercial pilot's experience with it in smokey conditions which obscured the horizon.my eyes closer to the outside instead of my lap.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- YCCA
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
I just bought my own 2004 DA-40 so I don’t know anything but here’s what I just bought.. New 2 blade Hartzell prop so I could install the Powerflow exhaust.. my opinion only but don’t waste the money on WASS. You can still shoot GPS approaches and of course ILS is gonna be around for a long time.. If you are shooting approaches down to mins on a regular basis, you probably bought the wrong airplane to begin with.
- grantcollard
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
Love it. I’ve been looking into the power flow. What does it run to swap out the prop? I’m going to be working on instrument rating so still kind of clueless on the waas stuff.YCCA wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 2:44 am I just bought my own 2004 DA-40 so I don’t know anything but here’s what I just bought.. New 2 blade Hartzell prop so I could install the Powerflow exhaust.. my opinion only but don’t waste the money on WASS. You can still shoot GPS approaches and of course ILS is gonna be around for a long time.. If you are shooting approaches down to mins on a regular basis, you probably bought the wrong airplane to begin with.
- Rich
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Re: Just got my DA40! What should I do??
I don't know if the 50-watt ones are STC'd for the DA40 or not. In any case the 35's are terrific and I do. Mostly where the brighter light is needed is in taxiing. I doubt the higher wattage would require breaker change, either. Each has a 5A breaker and should only draw about half that when running. There is the question of inrush current to charge the ballast, but that only lasts 1/2 second or so. Breakers do have a time/energy component to trip. In my plane breaker additions/changes are a real pain. In the G1000 units this doesn't look too bad and the breakers aren't terribly expensive.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5