ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Any DA40 related topics

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Rich
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

BRS wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 10:41 pm
Rich wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 4:56 pm...
As I understand it, the mod adds 18 pounds, mostly hanging on the front of the engine and it would require changing to a 16 lb heavier metal prop. That's a whopping 34 pounds well forward in the airframe. ...
Rich,

I'm not sure I understand how you figure the above. Here is how I understand it.
-If you have a later plane with the ballast bolted to the engine, remove it and install the supercharger. Almost identical weights.
-If you have the plane w/o the ballast, then just bolt on the supercharger and adjust w&b. This is my configuration.

I'm not sure why you would need to change your prop. Which one do you have? I had changed my prop because I wanted the PowerFlow exhaust. The original prop was not approved with the PowerFlow, but they were the same weight. Do you have an MT?
My forward CG is because it is an '02. All the pre-2004 DA40's are like this. No ballast to remove. I have an MT, which is 16 lb. lighter than the Hartzell I believe the F.A.T. STC requires. Hence the additional 34 lb, all in front of the nosewheel.

BTW the non-PF Hartzell is about 3 lb lighter than the one allowed with the PF.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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BRS
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by BRS »

I just double checked with Rod about props weighs etc.

Both the Hartzel metal and composite props are approved. The Metal Hartzel before the Powerflow (which I had at one point) has not been addressed. MT is in the process of do vibration analysis to approve it for use with our STC.

If you have the DA40 with the ballast weights then the STC when done and installed, adds 4 oz to the plane. Yes, four ounces. If you don't have the ballast then it would be around 18 lbs near the front of the engine.

I don't have the W&B numbers here, but as I recall it was not an issue at all on the prototype. Sure makes the back seat usable for all the weight you are legal to carry.
40.649 Sold (Still miss the DA40 from time to time)
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Rich
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

BRS wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 11:22 pm I just double checked with Rod about props weighs etc.

Both the Hartzel metal and composite props are approved. The Metal Hartzel before the Powerflow (which I had at one point) has not been addressed. MT is in the process of do vibration analysis to approve it for use with our STC.

If you have the DA40 with the ballast weights then the STC when done and installed, adds 4 oz to the plane. Yes, four ounces. If you don't have the ballast then it would be around 18 lbs near the front of the engine.

I don't have the W&B numbers here, but as I recall it was not an issue at all on the prototype. Sure makes the back seat usable for all the weight you are legal to carry.
I. do. not. have. the. front. ballast.

It looks like the Hartzell composite now lists north of 16K.

Right now in my plane I can stuff the plane with as much as will fit and never get near aft CG. Adding more weight up front is of negative benefit. Even 18 lb. up front is detrimental. I'm real close to the forward limit for most flights. Empty Weight currently 1705, with empty CG 95.5. The much more common G1000 DA40's are around 97 in. empty CG and beyond.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

Rich wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 11:30 pm
BRS wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 11:22 pm I just double checked with Rod about props weighs etc.

Both the Hartzel metal and composite props are approved. The Metal Hartzel before the Powerflow (which I had at one point) has not been addressed. MT is in the process of do vibration analysis to approve it for use with our STC.

If you have the DA40 with the ballast weights then the STC when done and installed, adds 4 oz to the plane. Yes, four ounces. If you don't have the ballast then it would be around 18 lbs near the front of the engine.

I don't have the W&B numbers here, but as I recall it was not an issue at all on the prototype. Sure makes the back seat usable for all the weight you are legal to carry.
I. do. not. have. the. front. ballast.

It looks like the Hartzell composite now lists north of 16K.

Right now in my plane I can stuff the plane with as much as will fit and never get near aft CG. Adding more weight up front is of negative benefit. Even 18 lb. up front is detrimental. I'm real close to the forward limit for most flights. Empty Weight currently 1705, with empty CG 95.5. The much more common G1000 DA40's are around 97 in. empty CG and beyond.
It's simply a fact that not all DA40's are the same. There is substantial variation in the baseline and a minority of our planes are not good candidates for this mod.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by pietromarx »

Let's focus on incentivizing folks to create useful and innovative modifications for our airplanes. I certainly appreciate having FAT do exactly this and hope to see more interesting modifications in the future.

To this end, my airplane is a 2012. I have the composite Hartzell prop (and replaced it -- it is more than $16K, btw). I have the ballast. I live on the west coast where the mountains are high and density altitude seems to always go up.

For me this mod makes a fair amount of sense.
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

pietromarx wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 1:15 am Let's focus on incentivizing folks to create useful and innovative modifications for our airplanes. I certainly appreciate having FAT do exactly this and hope to see more interesting modifications in the future.

To this end, my airplane is a 2012. I have the composite Hartzell prop (and replaced it -- it is more than $16K, btw). I have the ballast. I live on the west coast where the mountains are high and density altitude seems to always go up.

For me this mod makes a fair amount of sense.
I agree. A most useful mod for many DA40's. But not quite all. (And I did say North of 16K)
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

BTW, I (and many others) have taken advantage of various mods made available to our ancient DA40's from Diamond and 3rd parties. The biggees for me:

WAAS GNS conversions
PowerFlow
MTOW/MLW increase
Extended baggage compartment
HID TO/Landing lights.

Various weight trimming mods.

So when they make sense for me I'm all over it. But this and some others do not. Simple as that.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by BRS »

Rich wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 1:26 am BTW, I (and many others) have taken advantage of various mods ...
WAAS GNS conversions
...
Rub it in. I'm waiting for the mod that removes the G1000 and installs a dynon. There software is always up to date, cutting edge in fact.
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by TimS »

Rich wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 1:26 am Various weight trimming mods.
Any examples?
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Re: ForcedAeroMotive: SuperCharged DA40

Post by Rich »

TimS wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 12:18 pm
Rich wrote: Thu May 02, 2019 1:26 am Various weight trimming mods.
Any examples?
Incremental changes, some of which are already delivered in newer DA40's, and a couple were side-effects:

- Starter failed - replaced with newer design -2 lb
- MLW mod - lighter main gear legs -3 lb
- Replaced A600 nav/strobes with Orion LED units -4 lb

So 9 lb. reduction with these. They mostly offset about +13 lb of mods over the years, bringing it back down to 1705 lb. Planned gyro replacements (AI, HSI) with newer stuff should shave it down further by another 8 lb or so.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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