DA50 vs The World

[groundsick]

For anyone that has ordered or is flying a DA50, I'm wondering why you selected the aircraft? What were the elements of the plane or the company that factored most in your decision?

[alanhawse]

For anyone that has ordered or is flying a DA50, I'm wondering why you selected the aircraft? What were the elements of the plane or the company that factored most in your decision?

1. I wanted to buy a DA62 but my wife wanted a single
2. My experience with the DA40NG has been great
3. Jet-A (availability, quality of the fuel) - safety
3. Not Avgas - I think that avgas engines are going to be a problem in the SAF transition - safety
4. Long wings - aero behavior/stalls etc - safety
5. FIKI - safety
6. Size of the cabin
7. FADEC!!!! - safety
8. No parachute - safety
9. center stick with pushrods - safety
10. No mixture - safety

For me the things I dont like are
1. The tanks need to be 10 gallons larger
2. 44' wings suck (as well as they are good)
3. Useful load needs to be 50-100 higher... but it is OK
4. A new engine and a new airframe is gonna be a PITA
5. Diamond ownership structure

[mfdutra]

8. No parachute - safety

Why? This airplane would be much more appealing with a parachute option.

[Boatguy]

5. Diamond ownership structure

What does this mean?

[alanhawse]

8. No parachute - safety

Why? This airplane would be much more appealing with a parachute option.

This is a super complicated topic. It is very debated on both sides. I have no data. Which means I don't have a valid opinion.

But given that this is the internet and people blab:

I THINK (but dont know) that the parachute is largely a marketing thing that gives people the illusion of safety and helps you convince a skeptical spouse. I THINK (but dont know) that the parachute fuels bad ADM as a makes people think that it is safe to do x,y,z because a parachute will save them. I THINK (but dont know) that many/some of the situations you might pull the parachute in a Cirrus you would actually be better off flying your way out of.

The data was clear that the Cirrus was less safe.... but that gap has been closed? somewhat closed? by Cirrus aggressively training people to use the CAPS.

The bottom line is that I am an engineer and I believe in data. So everything I said was without data.

To me an airplane that doesnt want to kill you (the DA40NG for sure!) is better than an airplane that wants to kill you but has a parachute.

[alanhawse]

5. Diamond ownership structure

What does this mean?

A dealer (e.g. LifeStyle)->Diamond Canada->Diamond Austria->Wanfeng Aviation Industry Co->???

I think that a lot of our frustration with communication arises from the way they are organized.

[alanhawse]

I was thinking about this more last night.

I believe that the DA40NG is by far the best behaved, safest, useful, awesome GA airplane out there. If it was only a little bit bigger, with a little bit more useful load and FIKI. Oh!!! that is also known as a DA50RG

I think that the DA50RG has everything going for it and it is going to be the best freaking airplane out there.

Alan

[krellis]

I was thinking about this more last night.

I believe that the DA40NG is by far the best behaved, safest, useful, awesome GA airplane out there. If it was only a little bit bigger, with a little bit more useful load and FIKI. Oh!!! that is also known as a DA50RG

I think that the DA50RG has everything going for it and it is going to be the best freaking airplane out there.

Alan

Respectfully disagree. I think that title goes to the DA40-180. Considerably lower stall speed, better handling qualities and (despite what some here have stated) - a much more reliable engine (that can be worked on by almost any decent A&P). I also believe it's a prettier airplane than the NG (NG cowling isn't attractive in my opinion). Downside is higher fuel burn (and it's 100LL) plus it isn't as smooth running or as easy to start. Balance the prop, figure out the hot start technique and it comes close.

[CFIDave]

For anyone that has ordered or is flying a DA50, I'm wondering why you selected the aircraft? What were the elements of the plane or the company that factored most in your decision?

1. I wanted to buy a DA62 but my wife wanted a single

That's unfortunate. If you can afford $1M+ for a new DA50, a DA62 for only slightly more money nicely addresses most of the DA50's shortcomings -- with the same spacious fuselage and similar systems/components/wings. Compared to a DA50, a DA62 has:
- the safety of 2 engines for flying over inhospitable terrain/water, or just a single engine failure
- no need to constantly switch between wing fuel tanks, or manage cowl flaps
- engines with a decade more industry experience (although Austros no longer use Mercedes cores)
- about 300 lbs more payload, including a forward baggage compartment for easier management of CG
- much greater range with 86 gal JetA instead of 50 gal, with nearly the same fuel burn
- about 15-20 knots faster cruise airspeed

I bought my DA62 before the DA50 became available, so I didn't have to decide between them -- but found the DA62 to be a much better performing and useful airplane.

[ememic99]

1. I wanted to buy a DA62 but my wife wanted a single
2. My experience with the DA40NG has been great
3. Jet-A (availability, quality of the fuel) - safety
3. Not Avgas - I think that avgas engines are going to be a problem in the SAF transition - safety
4. Long wings - aero behavior/stalls etc - safety
5. FIKI - safety
6. Size of the cabin
7. FADEC!!!! - safety
8. No parachute - safety
9. center stick with pushrods - safety
10. No mixture - safety

For me the things I dont like are
1. The tanks need to be 10 gallons larger
2. 44' wings suck (as well as they are good)
3. Useful load needs to be 50-100 higher... but it is OK
4. A new engine and a new airframe is gonna be a PITA
5. Diamond ownership structure

Of all the things you listed above, second engine is by far the biggest safety gain and you missed it.

Regarding fuel tanks and range, I won't comment - I don't want to offend anybody.