Garmin also does not support the G2000 in the TTx as well. Meaning no upgrades. Can not get the flight stream 510, etc. Maintenance on a TTx is very expensive. If your looking for a composite single Cirrus is the only option unless you are going to go experimental and not certified. Have a turbo 182 from Van Bortel and have thought/flown the TTx a couple of times and thought long and hard about making the move up. ME in a 42 and absolutely LOVE this plane compared to anything else. Barrons are nice as well but 100 LL and the fuel burn is just wow. If you can afford the acquisition cost the upkeep cost are the best in GA. You want to fly to the fancier FBOs because the jet fuel is usually cheaper.

When not flying my DA40, I've been flying a friend's Columbia 400, the fore runner of the TTx. It's fun, the side stick is easy to get used to and it's higher GW and wing loading makes it a bit more stable than the 40 when doing instrument approaches. You sit a little more upright in the front seats and the back is a bit tight. The 6-cyl is smooth and starts quickly. My passengers think it is much more difficult to get in and out of the passenger seat and definitely harder to get in the back.

My biggest disappointment is the load carrying capacity. With full tanks you are limited to about 450 lbs people + bags + your assorted anvil collection.

While I like the speed, built in O2 and Air Conditioner, the real world hit to your wallet at the gas pump hurts. If you operate at lean of peak, you can get about 155 ktas at 15 gal/hr. My DA40 does 140 ktas at 6-8000 and leans out to about 9.3 gph, while having about 560 of useful load with full tanks. I rarely fly with full tanks, so I can get my anvil collection in the back. :D

But it is fun to fly faster at 175 ktas in the C-400. You just have to be willing to burn 22+ gal/hr. Climb rate is great too.

Thanks, Dave and John! I really appreciate it. All great insights!!

[quote=Soareyes post_id=85274 time=1618952829 user_id=3196]
TTx.JPGDiamond.JPGI believe you are referring to "Ice Lights." They are used in flight at night to see if you have wing icing.
[/quote]

Ah! That makes sense, thank you!

Hi Logan (da50speed) -

I replied to your PM. Check your inbox.

John

I have flown both the TTx and DA62 (which I now own).

Years ago I considered purchasing a TTx as an upgrade from my Lycoming DA40, so I was able to fly Cessna's sales demo plane when the TTx first came out. (I ended up ordering a new DA42-VI instead.)

The TTx is definitely much more of a "pilot's plane" compared to a Cirrus SR22, with nice sporty handling with a real (side) stick. Like Diamonds, the TTx has positive control feel due to the use of rods instead of cables.

What I *didn't* like about the TTx was the Garmin G2000 placement of the touch-screen controller down low on the center console. To do virtually anything with the G2000, you have to look down at the touch-screen controller since there is no tactile feedback via real buttons -- forcing you to stop looking outside the aircraft. I'd probably be happier with a Columbia/Cessna 400, the older version of the same plane with a G1000.

In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get a TTx since Cessna stopped producing the aircraft, and the G2000 seems to be a "dead-end" with no software updates available from Cessna or Garmin, and no other aircraft besides the TTx adopting the G2000.

As far as handling is concerned, a DA62 isn't as sporty as a TTx, because it weighs more. The DA62 is also less responsive in roll because of the much longer wingspan and mass of 2 engines out on the wings. (But IMHO the DA62 is still the most fun to fly twin because of the center stick.)

The TTx needs speed brakes to slow down while the DA62 can use its retractable landing gear as speed brakes (the gear can be deployed all the way up to redline airspeed to slow down in a hurry).

The TTx cabin is tiny and cramped compared to a DA62 -- a huge difference there.

[attachment=0]TTx.JPG[/attachment][attachment=1]Diamond.JPG[/attachment]I believe you are referring to "Ice Lights." They are used in flight at night to see if you have wing icing.

Thanks, Chris and Tim! Really appreciate the insight! (I signed up for an account so I'm no longer anonymous.)

Chris, with respect to the over wing lights, the TTx has lights in the fuselage under the doors that fire light over the tops of the wings. First I've seen those in a GA aircraft. I know all the jetliners have them. Are you aware of any other GA aircraft with them? I just thought it was cool. Not only does it I'm sure look great at night, but it would make getting in or out at night a lot nicer (and safer).

I have over 400 hours in Cirrus, probably about three hours in a DA-42 (two demos and a pre-purchase), and a couple demo flights in a TTx and maybe six in a TTx as a passenger. What follows is completely subjective. I suggest you go fly them, and see which appeals to you.

Cirrus is designed as a travel plane, almost every aspect of the design speaks to that, from the side yoke to spring loaded controls and electronic trim system. Among the three, it is the least oriented toward the pilot. It is designed around the mission to go places.

I recall the TTx wanting to be hand flown (at least that is how I felt), it can go places, but travel is more of an after thought. Everything was much more focused on the pilot, passengers, getting in/out, everything else is secondary to how it flies and feels in the pilots hands.

I found the DA-42 overall the best compromise. It did not feel as crisp to fly as the TTx but was close, and almost as good as Cirrus for travel.

Tim

[quote=diamondexplore post_id=85255 time=1618887902]
Would love to hear more about how the handling feels? As far as side sticks, I hear the TTx feels much more enjoyable to fly than the SR22, but what about in comparison to the Diamond with its center stick? I want a pilot's airplane that I really enjoy flying. I hope that I'll get to fly both the DA50 and TTx later this year and then will have my first hand answer to this question, but in the meantime I'm curious if you can speak to the handling differences?
[/quote]
The TTx flies like it is on rails. I was coming from a DA40 with its light wing loading, so the Cessna was [i]significantly[/i] more stable. Control forces on the side stick felt about right. As a DA40 pilot for 12+ years, I of course feel that the Diamond's center stick feels more comfortable and natural. You probably will too. The only downside I see to the center stick is that it is in the way for passengers in the right seat, but you can get the removable stick option to solve that if it's a big deal. I haven't flown the SR22 so I can't compare to that.


[quote]
Also, any comparative thoughts on the avionics? I love that the TTx has a touchscreen panel in the center and has the bigger G2000 screens. But Diamond seems to do a great job on the G1000 integration.
[/quote]

Other than selecting frequencies, I don't remember doing much with the avionics during my demo flight. Is the G2000 installed on any aircraft other than the TTx? If not, it's again something to consider w.r.t. parts and support.


[quote]I also noticed the TTx has over wing lights. Pretty cool as I haven't seen that on any other GA aircraft -- only jets. Any idea why Cessna added those and no one else does?
[/quote]
Not sure I follow. I thought the TTx has LED lights integrated into the wing.

It's really too bad that Cessna handled the acquisition of Columbia so poorly. With the quality problems induced by moving the manufacturing from Oregon to Mexico and confusing the heck out of the market by rebranding the airframe every two years, they let Cirrus run away with the high performance single engine fixed gear market. Then they killed the product just as the market started to heat back up again.