Most Hours in a DA-62

Any DA62 related topics

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
TimS
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 553
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:10 am
First Name: Timothy
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N1446C
Airports: 6B6 Stowe MA
Has thanked: 94 times
Been thanked: 97 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by TimS »

I have been in a few demo flights on a DA-42, including one where we did a hamburger run about an hour and half away :)
I current fly an SR22.
By far, in cruise there were three very significant environmental aspects I noticed comparing the two planes:
1. DA-42 was so much quieter
2. DA-42 has significantly less vibration than the SR22
3. The sun is much more "brutal" with that big bubble in the DA-42.

Depending on when/where you fly and your tolerance for the heat/sun this may wash out. But for me, it was eye opening on the "long" hamburger run under overcast skies how much less fatigued I was due to the first two items.

Tim
User avatar
jbrauertn
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 4:03 pm
First Name: Jeff
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N687DA
Airports: M54
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by jbrauertn »

I have right at 180 hours in my 2018 DA62 and have loved every minute!
User avatar
ultraturtle
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 300
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:46 pm
First Name: Rob
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N62KZ
Airports: KAAF
Has thanked: 64 times
Been thanked: 180 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by ultraturtle »

Only 80 hours in my "new to me" DA62 but also 200+ hours in my previous DA42-VI. Absolutely the same plane flying-wise, but the DA62 is vastly more comfortable (width and headroom) and load capable (+266 lb payload, identically equipped).

Amazingly, the two aircraft are pretty much identically efficient. Check it out for yourself in the performance tables, but max wart at FL180 (which is where I live), the DA62 burns 15.7 gph at 189 KTAS for 12.03 ANMpg (Air Nautical Miles per gallon), whereas the DA42-VI burns 15.5 gph doing 188 KTAS for 12.13 ANMpg. That's a difference of 0.8%, which amounts to 13 gallons over the course of 100 hours of flying, ~ $30 more annually in fuel cost for the luxury of awesome roominess and load carrying capacity.

Doing my first (owner assisted) annual right now, and the two highly experienced DA42NG mechanics working on it are super impressed by how Diamond addressed pretty much every issue with the DA42 when designing and building the DA62.
User avatar
TomC
1 Diamond Member
1 Diamond Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:43 am
First Name: Tom
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N62VV
Airports: KMMU
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by TomC »

I have about 475 hours in my DA62, and previously owned an SR22
User avatar
dselder1962
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 91
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 1:23 am
First Name: David
Aircraft Type: DA42-VI
Aircraft Registration: VHYDZ
Airports: YMMB
Has thanked: 26 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by dselder1962 »

Soareyes wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 2:24 am

One member here had a Cirrus with many mechanical issues and switched to a DA42. My experience was more typical with overall good reliability. It was nice to have three service centers within a hundred miles.
I may be that member. I have had a 20 and a 22T and yes the 22T was plagued with issues, needing all 6 cylinders replaced after 400 hours.

So yes I swapped to a 42-VI.

I find the cabin equally comfortable, but the seat more supportive in flight with lumbar support. The sun sure shines over here in Oz, but with a couple of moveable sunshades it isn't a problem and I prefer the visibility of the 42.

Usable load is higher. Love the fuel burn, eg 8.7 G Jet A each side to top of climb compared to 42G Avgas in the 22T.

It is quieter and less vibration I agree.

I don't have AC as I know there are only about 6 days when I may need it for 20 mins on the ground per year, but I found the 22T's AC like an old man with asthma and as useful.

I do love the radar: that is the biggest difference, while the FIKI is the same.

I had about 700 hours in my Cirri, and have about 500 in my 42. I do prefer the Diamond.

I'd love a 62 with a keypad but as 95% of my flying ( all business) is me alone, I really can't justify it nor need it.

David
David
Based in Moorabbin, Australia. 8-)
Past Cirrus 20
Past Cirrus 22T
Present Diamond 42-VI
User avatar
CFIDave
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2678
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:40 pm
First Name: Dave
Aircraft Type: OTHER
Aircraft Registration: N333GX
Airports: KJYO Leesburg VA
Has thanked: 231 times
Been thanked: 1473 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by CFIDave »

dselder1962 wrote: Tue Nov 10, 2020 2:28 amI'd love a 62 with a keypad but as 95% of my flying ( all business) is me alone, I really can't justify it nor need it.

David
You're not missing anything by flying without a keypad. We NEVER use the expensive keypad option of our DA62, especially now that we have a FlightStream 510 SDcard enabled.

It's SO much quicker and easier to enter/change flight plans on the iPad running Foreflight or Garmin Pilot, and then have the change synchronize wirelessly with the plane's G1000. And frequency changes are more quickly made by spinning knobs on the G1000.

As far as flying goes, your DA42-VI performance is the same -- if not better than -- a DA62.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
User avatar
UTMark
3 Diamonds Member
3 Diamonds Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:28 pm
First Name: Mark
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: N100DA
Airports: KSPK
Has thanked: 12 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by UTMark »

ememic99 wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 3:23 pm
CFIDave wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 2:54 pm she always gets left seat when we fly together.
Strange... it’s opposite to old saying “men are always left because women are always right” :)
LOL
User avatar
slowbird
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:48 am
First Name: Chris
Aircraft Type: DA62
Aircraft Registration: FHDMD
Airports: EGTK
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Most Hours in a DA-62

Post by slowbird »

Logged about 500 hours in the DA40 XLS, about 350 hours in the DA42-VI, and most recently 250 hours in the last year in the DA62, and expect to continue around 150-250 hours per year in the DA62.

All are great aircraft, but the DA62 really feels like a step up (literally) and a serious touring machine. I’d take it any day over a Cirrus.
Post Reply