New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
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- 3 Diamonds Member
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- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 12:43 am
- First Name: Sara
- Aircraft Type: DA62
- Aircraft Registration: N687DA
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
I was putting in an order with Lifestyle in July when they got in a used one that met most of my spec. Since they were quoting me a Q3 2022 delivery at that point -- and I could get this one in October -- I cancelled the order and bought the used one. Looking at the ever-extending waits and rising prices, I'm feeling like I seriously lucked out here.
Mine is serial #005 from the London factory. They built it as their first factory demo plane, and flew it for a few months before selling it to the guy I bought it from. (He, in turn, sold it to me because he was graduating to a Cirrus Vision jet.) Because it was a demo, it has every feature -- even a few I wasn't planning to spring for, like the on-board WX radar. It was even the same red-and-silver of the one I'd ordered.
I'm planning to do some interior work next winter. Fifty hours in, I'm very sure now that I won't need the two back seats, so we'll be taking those out and putting in the cargo platform. If the new lounge middle seats are available as an after-market add-on, I'll replace the triple seat, too. And I'm going to switch out the black interior for a custom cashmere beige one (since the all-black interior feels a bit like flying in a coffin to me).
Seconding the folks upthread who talked about the difficulty with the high step. I bought a small, light two-step folding ladder off Amazon that tucks neatly into the back, and should streamline getting my 84-year-old mother into the second seats. But once you're in, it's a sweet ride. I've now crossed both the Rockies and the Sierra in it (the latter three times, including twice yesterday), and the turbocharger just makes it chew up the sky -- no huffing or puffing, even at altitudes in the mid-teens.
Very happy so far with the purchase. While the Cirrus is also attractive (and faster), this has more room and the security of that second engine. It feels like the right trade-off for our missions.
Mine is serial #005 from the London factory. They built it as their first factory demo plane, and flew it for a few months before selling it to the guy I bought it from. (He, in turn, sold it to me because he was graduating to a Cirrus Vision jet.) Because it was a demo, it has every feature -- even a few I wasn't planning to spring for, like the on-board WX radar. It was even the same red-and-silver of the one I'd ordered.
I'm planning to do some interior work next winter. Fifty hours in, I'm very sure now that I won't need the two back seats, so we'll be taking those out and putting in the cargo platform. If the new lounge middle seats are available as an after-market add-on, I'll replace the triple seat, too. And I'm going to switch out the black interior for a custom cashmere beige one (since the all-black interior feels a bit like flying in a coffin to me).
Seconding the folks upthread who talked about the difficulty with the high step. I bought a small, light two-step folding ladder off Amazon that tucks neatly into the back, and should streamline getting my 84-year-old mother into the second seats. But once you're in, it's a sweet ride. I've now crossed both the Rockies and the Sierra in it (the latter three times, including twice yesterday), and the turbocharger just makes it chew up the sky -- no huffing or puffing, even at altitudes in the mid-teens.
Very happy so far with the purchase. While the Cirrus is also attractive (and faster), this has more room and the security of that second engine. It feels like the right trade-off for our missions.
The highest art form of all is a human being in control of himself and his airplane in flight, urging the spirit of a machine to match his own. -- Richard Bach
- Boatguy
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Would somebody who took delivery of a DA62 in the last year or so post their actual W&B page?
- Boatguy
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
A number of people here have a DA62 on order. To facilitate seeing the orders, the backlog, and the slips in schedule, I'd like to invite those with a DA62 on order, or who recently took delivery, to enter their information on this shared Excel sheet. If any problems, please PM me.
Thanks, Russ
https://1drv.ms/x/s!AvDxwIigp7LegYQrde_Y5IPzpbwTsQ
Thanks, Russ
https://1drv.ms/x/s!AvDxwIigp7LegYQrde_Y5IPzpbwTsQ
- bdbogle
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Had a second demo flight (first with the wife) and the sales rep said that the dealers in the US have basically said we'll take anything from either Canada or Austria. So hopefully they'll start fulfilling orders in the US from both Canada and Austria. BTW, whoever owns N80PA...nice plane!
- Kevincejnar
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Form done I hope that its useful... I see I am the first newbie plane owner here )
Looking forward to a new life in the sky.
I will actually be employing some pilots and learning on the plane too So its all a big adventure
Looking forward to a new life in the sky.
I will actually be employing some pilots and learning on the plane too So its all a big adventure
- Boatguy
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Congratulations. I think there was an owner in the DA62 promotional video (no longer on the Diamond website, but still on YouTube) who also learned to fly in his DA62.Kevincejnar wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:53 pm Form done I hope that its useful... I see I am the first newbie plane owner here )
Looking forward to a new life in the sky.
I will actually be employing some pilots and learning on the plane too So its all a big adventure
Did you buy direct from the factory? Does Diamond always sell direct in Europe?
- Jitters79
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
We did a little air to air video shoot upon picking up my plane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbygqqfSsA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbygqqfSsA8
- Kevincejnar
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Hi - I am not sure how it normally works but I live in Czech Republic which is close to Austria , and we were dealing with the head of Central Europe and Russia. I imagine that where they don’t have dealers they operate direct.
Yea I saw that video. Having bought the plane and been on the test fly , I am not as motivated to get in the Cessna 152 any more …
Yea I saw that video. Having bought the plane and been on the test fly , I am not as motivated to get in the Cessna 152 any more …
- Boatguy
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
You are very lucky! Dealing directly with the factory and taking delivery about a year sooner than any US resident ordering a DA62.
Establishing an address near the factory seems to make a big difference in delivery time. A Canadian buyer waited only six months. US buyers are waiting an average of 16 months.
Enjoy your new DA62!
Establishing an address near the factory seems to make a big difference in delivery time. A Canadian buyer waited only six months. US buyers are waiting an average of 16 months.
Enjoy your new DA62!
- Ed McDonald
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Re: New DA62 x words of wisdom from seasoned owners
Here is the weight and balance sheet for C-FPWP. It is a 5 seat version with all of the bells and whistles:
Garmin 70 WX Radar
Air Conditioning
TKS De-icing
Oxygen
Avidyne Traffic Advisory System
SVT
GDL 69A Sirius XM Sat Radio