206 to a 62

[Jitters79]

Currently I fly a 2016 t206h, it’s a great plane, but it’s not fiki and is a single engine piston. I live in Seattle and spend most weekends going to north central Washington, or central Oregon, with occasional trips to California. These are easy places to go in the 206 in the late spring to early fall, but much after September to late April your rolling the dice flying over the Cascades or flying down the coast. I’ve read quite a bit of the forums on here and it seems that most ow era have transitioned from an sr22 to the da62. Anyone have experience from a 206 to a da62? I know I’ll loose some useful load, however, I’ll gain speed, fiki, and safety of two engines in exchange. Anyone else make this transition from a Cessna to a da62, your thoughts? Regrets?

[Colin]

I have not made that move, although I am friends with a FHR pilot with a 206 and talked with him about my move from a DA40 to a DA42. He can't give up the hauling capacity. In fact, on one of my IKEA runs to BFI I couldn't fit the last box and he was there collecting his sister-in-law from SEA and he said no problem. Even with her luggage to stay a month.

So you have to let that go. Once you do it's amazing. I was in a DA40 for a little over a decade and the climb through the clouds in the PNW made me nervous even in the late spring and early fall. Now I plan it and I'm fine. The DA62 would change my trips a lot because of the additional speed.

[austropilot]

I cannot talk about ownership, but I fly the Cirrus SR22/T and the Diamond 40/42, and between a conventional avgas turbocharged engine and the fadec „starts like your car“ diamond twins, I’d prefer the latter. Just easier to start, easier to fly (jet like - „loud/quiet“) and obviously, flying over mountainous terrain an engine failure in a SEP, as unlikely as it may be, is an un-comfort factor, at least for me it is.

I’m a fan of highwings and the 206 is the best one for useful load, but two engines and fadec is worth a little less of that in my opinion.

[ultraturtle]

... I know I’ll loose some useful load, however, I’ll gain speed, fiki, and safety of two engines in exchange...

You actually probably will not lose useful load, and in fact would probably gain payload for most flights. Out of the gate, the 206 has 29 lb more useful load (1,594 vs 1565). Because of the DA62's incredible efficiency (Max speed at FL180 189kTAS @ 15.7gph = 12.03ANmpg) advantage over the 206 (Max speed at FL180 157kTAS @ 18.2gph = 8.63ANmpg), for any trip beyond about 210nm, the DA62 can actually haul more payload than the 206.

Note that that at FL180, max speed, the DA62 flies 20% faster, while burning 39% less fuel per mile than the 206.

[Jitters79]

Thanks everyone! Is there someone in SoCal that would be willing to show off their da62? I’m down here until 12/16 and would love to see one in person and talk with you about ownership. Thanks!
Bilk

[janders]

I believe there is a DA62 at KLGB with Angel City Flyers. Looks like someone even flew that DA62 all the way from LA to Russia in July 2019.

[NDCDA62]

I carried out my MEP-IRA with Angel City Flyers at KLGB last year exclusively on the DA62. Contact CFI Cary Jones who is fabulous.