DA42 Purchase
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- CFIDave
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Re: DA42 Purchase
An extra 10 knots of airspeed gained by running the engines harder only gets you to your destination 12 minutes earlier on a 4-hour flight. But because your miles-per-gallon is worse at higher power settings, it costs you more in fuel and also reduces your range.
Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
Former DA40XLS, DA42-VI, and DA62 owner
ATP, CFI, CFI-I, MEI
- dgger
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Re: DA42 Purchase
Range.neema wrote:The weird thing is that there is no incentive [...] for keeping power lower.
Range takes a big hit when you push those throttles. If your typical flight is short it may not matter, but going a tad slower might make the difference between doing a fuel stop or not. Or even just getting there, if we are talking about some flights over large bodies of water. Hell of an incentive...
- neema
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Re: DA42 Purchase
I disagree. Range doesn't take a big hit with throttles pushed forward. There's a 1 (one) nmpg difference between 75 and 85%. A headwind could make a much more dramatic difference.
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Re: DA42 Purchase
But it costs you more in non-fuel hourly engine expenses to fly slower, so it would seem to be actually more expensive on balance to fly slower, no?CFIDave wrote:An extra 10 knots of airspeed gained by running the engines harder only gets you to your destination 12 minutes earlier on a 4-hour flight. But because your miles-per-gallon is worse at higher power settings, it costs you more in fuel and also reduces your range.
- dgger
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Re: DA42 Purchase
You are right. Depending on your fuel and maintenance cost (and schedule), you might save a few bucks. In my experience it is not a whole lot, though.Johnmyers wrote:But it costs you more in non-fuel hourly engine expenses to fly slower, so it would seem to be actually more expensive on balance to fly slower, no?
- dgger
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Re: DA42 Purchase
I guess everyones definition of „significant“ is different. My aircraft gives me the following air ranges at 10,000ft assuming a 10 USG reserve at destination.neema wrote:I disagree. Range doesn't take a big hit with throttles pushed forward. There's a 1 (one) nmpg difference between 75 and 85%. A headwind could make a much more dramatic difference.
50%: 1,005 NM
60%: 900 NM
70%: 845 NM
80%: 760 NM
92%: 680 NM
So, for me, I think that can make quite a difference - in particular, when you can avoid a fuel stop by going a tad slower.
Yes, a headwind can have a dramatic effect, but you dont usually get to pick your favourite headwind...
- neema
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Re: DA42 Purchase
dgger wrote:I guess everyones definition of „significant“ is different. My aircraft gives me the following air ranges at 10,000ft assuming a 10 USG reserve at destination.neema wrote:I disagree. Range doesn't take a big hit with throttles pushed forward. There's a 1 (one) nmpg difference between 75 and 85%. A headwind could make a much more dramatic difference.
50%: 1,005 NM
60%: 900 NM
70%: 845 NM
80%: 760 NM
92%: 680 NM
So, for me, I think that can make quite a difference - in particular, when you can avoid a fuel stop by going a tad slower.
Yes, a headwind can have a dramatic effect, but you dont usually get to pick your favourite headwind...
Totally agree--avoiding fuel stops is a no brainier.
My observation was that there's no standout penalty for cruising a little faster. Legacy air-cooled mills may punish you with needing a top end OH (if temps not managed correctly). Not so on these engines.
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Re: DA42 Purchase
Here's another (disappointing) data point for folks. This is from our 3rd annual on the plane @ 900 hours. Here are the main items:
Pitot heat failed. Wasn't the relays. No OH possible. Whole pitot tube replaced: $2512
LH prop governor leaking, have to send to MT Germany ($400 shipping) since they don't service FADEC prop governors in the US. They recommend the $400 more for OH rather than a reseal: $2500
4x engine mounts leaking fluid filling: $1370.
Battery failed cap check: $700
4x ECU backup batteries and 2x alternator excitation batteries: $830 (This is painful after I learned we could have spent $200 for the exact same batteries if we purchased ourselves)
RH alternator broke when disassembling for 300 hour check; can't OH. Replacement is $1300
Another $17-18k annual. Hope this is a helpful datapoint. In a couple hundred hours we're looking down the nose of the fuel injector AD ($12k) and the timing chain AD is inevitable
Pitot heat failed. Wasn't the relays. No OH possible. Whole pitot tube replaced: $2512
LH prop governor leaking, have to send to MT Germany ($400 shipping) since they don't service FADEC prop governors in the US. They recommend the $400 more for OH rather than a reseal: $2500
4x engine mounts leaking fluid filling: $1370.
Battery failed cap check: $700
4x ECU backup batteries and 2x alternator excitation batteries: $830 (This is painful after I learned we could have spent $200 for the exact same batteries if we purchased ourselves)
RH alternator broke when disassembling for 300 hour check; can't OH. Replacement is $1300
Another $17-18k annual. Hope this is a helpful datapoint. In a couple hundred hours we're looking down the nose of the fuel injector AD ($12k) and the timing chain AD is inevitable
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Re: DA42 Purchase
Neema -
How many hours did you put on your plane last year?
The listed items are approx $9300 -
What makes up the other $8000+ for the annual? Thanks
How many hours did you put on your plane last year?
The listed items are approx $9300 -
What makes up the other $8000+ for the annual? Thanks
Looking!
1980 414A - N2691Y (sold)
DA62 - N100DA 62.078 (sold)
DA42TDi - N742SA 42.AC112 (sold)
1980 414A - N2691Y (sold)
DA62 - N100DA 62.078 (sold)
DA42TDi - N742SA 42.AC112 (sold)
- neema
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Re: DA42 Purchase
We did 300 hours in the last year. Not an extreme amount of use, but definitely keeps the plane nice and busy. Probably 350 landings if I had to guess.
Other costs:
$4200 for the annual inspection itself
$1400 for the 100/200/300 hour service (oil change and 300 hour inspections)
The remainder is a handful of normal little squawks and findings from leaks, etc.
Other costs:
$4200 for the annual inspection itself
$1400 for the 100/200/300 hour service (oil change and 300 hour inspections)
The remainder is a handful of normal little squawks and findings from leaks, etc.