Diamond DA-40

Chuck wrote:
: Hi, all,

: Does anyone have any experience with the Daimond DA-40-180? We saw one
: at Sun 'n Fun and we're thinking of buying it.

: TIA, Chuck

Do check the range, as the fuel tanks seem to be rather small.
--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)

Aaron Coolidge wrote:

Chuck wrote:
: Hi, all,

: Does anyone have any experience with the Daimond DA-40-180? We saw one
: at Sun 'n Fun and we're thinking of buying it.

: TIA, Chuck

Do check the range, as the fuel tanks seem to be rather small.

All the better to improve the full-fuel payload number! (ducking)

TTA Cherokee Driver wrote:
: Aaron Coolidge wrote:
: Do check the range, as the fuel tanks seem to be rather small.

: All the better to improve the full-fuel payload number! (ducking)

I think that's the reason they limited it to 41 gal. At the claimed 145 knots,
you can go 435 nm with a 1-hour reserve. In my Cherokee 180, at 118 knots,
you can go 4 hours or 472 nm with a 1-hour reserve. Granted, it takes one
more hour in the Cherokee. If the Diamond had 80 gal of fuel capacity, or
even 60 gal, it would really be something nice.
--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)

Uh, no.

If you want to compare it to your cherokee, then you can use the Diamond at
the same speed. At 118 you will only use about 6.5 gph in the Diamond.

That gives you the same 472 NM on only 26 gallons.

OR

You can go 5 hours for 608nm with a 1 hour reserve.

Slicker plane wins.

Still need bigger tanks? The Diamond has an option for an extra 10 gallons.
If you want to make a case for how great the older technology is, you better
go for a bigger engine plane and claim a high tolerance for fuel bills. You
are going to be hard pressed to beat the Diamond without going up to 200 hp.
Mooney's can win, but they are retracts, Tigers are the closest thing, but
they will lose slightly. Diamond has them both whipped pretty hard on
safety.

In my book, its all about how far you can get with 3 hour legs and still
have adequate reserves. I don't want to sit that long, and I would just as
soon not go that much longer anyway. So I don't need bigger tanks.

I know some of you like to fly 5 hour legs, but my butt and bladder aren't
rated for that long.


"Aaron Coolidge" wrote in message
...
TTA Cherokee Driver wrote:
: Aaron Coolidge wrote:
: Do check the range, as the fuel tanks seem to be rather small.

: All the better to improve the full-fuel payload number! (ducking)

I think that's the reason they limited it to 41 gal. At the claimed 145
knots,
you can go 435 nm with a 1-hour reserve. In my Cherokee 180, at 118 knots,
you can go 4 hours or 472 nm with a 1-hour reserve. Granted, it takes one
more hour in the Cherokee. If the Diamond had 80 gal of fuel capacity, or
even 60 gal, it would really be something nice.
--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)

Dude wrote:
: Still need bigger tanks? The Diamond has an option for an extra 10 gallons.
I didn't realize this.

: If you want to make a case for how great the older technology is, you better

I wasn't doing this. I was merely stating that the Diamond only carries 41
gal of fuel, when having more fuel vs. payload tradeoffs can be useful. See
also the above.

I have no problem flying 4, 5, 6, or even 8 hour legs, when I am flying
alone on a trip. I will probably get a Mooney 231/252 with extended range
tanks for my next airplane.

PS, I can't fit in the DA40, anyway, as my knees hit the bottom of the
instrument panel. Too bad, because they're nice flying airplanes.
--
Aaron Coolidge