DA40 Adding the extended luggage compartment

[Chip&Al]

This is a tally I've kept of the prices and approximate effects on empty weight of the various mods, in case anyone's interested.
Screen Shot 2022-02-03 at 11.59.12.png

Rich,

Super useful. Appreciate you posting. Mine weighs in at 1,681 - not quite to Arnaud’s, but close! I’ll try and put something like this together for mine as I make mods to it.

I'm guessing you don't have an autopilot? I recall that option was worth about 25 lb.

Unfortunately I do not! I’m still hoping, probably in vain, that someone comes out with an STC’d solution to put one in other than a KAP-140.

[Chip&Al]

If you want to enter the no-prize "my plane is better than yours" sweepstakes , enter your plane's vitals here:

https://www.diamondaviators.net/wiki/in ... /Main_Page

Added!

[dant]

Maybe we should start another thread but I'm super curious why the weights of the da40s have gone up _so much_ on that wiki. Is the GFC700 that much more heavy than the KAP? AFAIK I don't have the nose ballast. I just have no idea where 80# is. That's a pretty important 80# if you want to move around 3 americans.

[blsewardjr]

Rich- I clicked on your link but could not figure out how to add my vitals. Bernie

[Rich]

Rich- I clicked on your link but could not figure out how to add my vitals. Bernie

Depending on one’s software development experience this can be a primitive process. It’s text editing of the underlying wiki entries. If you’d like PM me your data and I’ll take care of it. Otherwise, there’s an Edit panel at the top. Cutting/pasting is your friend.

[Rich]

Rich- I clicked on your link but could not figure out how to add my vitals. Bernie

Depending on one’s software development experience this can be a primitive process. It’s text editing of the underlying wiki entries. If you’d like PM me your data and I’ll take care of it. Otherwise, there’s an Edit panel at the top. Cutting/pasting is your friend.

I made the addition to the table and made a couple of presentation corrections. Also note that there is a link to the wiki up above the splash picture on the right.

And by the way, I've now lost my top spot at hauling weight

[Rich]

Maybe we should start another thread but I'm super curious why the weights of the da40s have gone up _so much_ on that wiki. Is the GFC700 that much more heavy than the KAP? AFAIK I don't have the nose ballast. I just have no idea where 80# is. That's a pretty important 80# if you want to move around 3 americans.

At a gross level you can see the trend over time in the wiki table. We don't capture all possible options/mod for each airframe (a moving target in any case). The absence/presence of these hidden factors is probably in play. There can also be some variations even between nominally identical airframes. But some trends do show:
- A bump of roughly 12 pounds in '02 as production moved to Canada. There were changes to the panel and avionics options, but likely some changes to manufacturing processes.
- A bump of about 25 lb from the incorporation of the G1000 onward.
- Another increase around the introduction of Amsafe and 50 gal versions. This took the typical plane up around 1800 lb.

Some considerations:
- HA props add 13-16 lb over the MT/HC
- The extended baggage adds 8-9 lb.
- It's unlikely the GFC is heavier than the KAP. It could conceivably be a bit lighter.
- The 50 gal option adds some weight all by itself - additional cells, fuel probes.
- Add in things like XM receivers, electrically adjustable pedals, cupholders, etc. and it adds up. It even looks like more recent planes have plusher seats.

[blsewardjr]

This discussion has inspired me to take a deep dive into my official W&B information. Your empty weight (if done IAW AMM Ch. 8 ) includes everything on your equipment list. For my equipment list this INCLUDES, inter alia

-8qt of oil (if you run 6qt like I do then "Oil not added" is -3.7lb - AFM Section 6.4)
-the AFM itself, which is required to aboard
-four Echelon 100 headsets

Therefore, I've modified my W&B calculator accordingly.

[dant]

I'm definitely going to take a look at the W&B in the logbook next time I'm at the plane. My plane is ~120# heavier than Rich's. AFAICT, even accounting for the things listed it's a bit nuts:

• roughly 12 pounds in '02 as production moved to Canada already accounted for (rich has)
• 25 lb from the incorporation of the G1000 onward.120 - 25 -> 95
• 50 gal versions don't have
• Amsafe unknown! inop due to parts BS would hate to have this be dead weight.
• HA prop have composite
• extended baggage adds 8-9 lb already accounted for (rich has)

So we're down to the XM, pedals, cupholders and such. Hopefully the book sheds some light!

[blsewardjr]

For those interested in another compilation of DA40 improvements (especially earlier models) and their usefulness and prices, here's the list I maintain. Some of the costs are estimated because they were done by the previous owner. Also, some prices have probably changed since the improvements were made. My notes on them are a little cryptic. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. Bernie