Longest distance/duration

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ememic99
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Longest distance/duration

Post by ememic99 »

What's your longest flight with DA42 (assuming long range tanks and no ferry tanks) in terms of distance and duration?

What would you consider "safe" and how long are your usual flights?

How accurate is your fuel totalizer?
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jon1746
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by jon1746 »

I had a client in Erie, PA for a while. I would fly from KFSD to KERI about twice a month. It 734 nautical miles. It was +/- 4.5 hours depending on winds. definitely had a couple of empty gatorade bottles on board.
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ememic99
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by ememic99 »

Do you know what was in tanks after such flight and how it compared with fuel totalizer?
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jon1746
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by jon1746 »

I don't recall but I know that my totalizer is alway very accurate when I re-fuel.
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carym
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by carym »

I've had many flights longer than 4 hours, but my longest was from Providence RI to Indianapolis. That flight took 5.4 hours as I had a few thunderstorms to deviate around. My fuel totalizer was always amazingly precise during the 9 years I flew the DA42.
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robert63
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by robert63 »

My longest flight was LOWL to EFHF. It was 861 NM and took 5:27. Fuel totalizer is always accurate.
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by CFIDave »

Longest DA42 flight was 6 hours and 23 minutes, 979 nautical miles from Diamond Aircraft Wiener Neustadt, Austria LOAN to Wick, Scotland, UK EGPC (ferry flight):

http://www.diamondaviators.net/reports/flights/3935

Had nearly an hour of fuel left when we landed. Totalizer is very accurate.
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Colin
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by Colin »

Just recently KABQ KCPS, 819nm, 5:07. Landed with over 24 gallons remaining.
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by dgger »

I frequently do 6h+ legs. Mostly on between Mönchengladbach/EDLN and Bucharest/LRBS at 881MM. As everyone else pointed out the fuel measurements are quite accurate. It is important to be aware of the fact that the maximum range displayed on the G1000 only factors in the winds and power settings of the very moment you look at the screen - even, if you have onboard weather showing decreasing tailwinds/increasing headwinds.

It is safe? I like to things in term of endurance. You can get a good 8 hours out of a 50% power setting. Unless I am facing strong (50+ knots) headwinds adding power does not increase range in a DA42. More often than not I was able to bridge my 881 NM without a lay-over. Going east I generally have more favourable winds, but fewer alternates and vice versa. On this trip I find it important to recognize that only two airports in Bucharest cater to the area. If the weather sours enroute, diverting into the nearest airport out of Bucharest easily adds another hours to your trip.

Other than that I would usually try to drink just a bit (such as a single cup of coffee in the morning) and bring water and a liberal supply of magazines/ books to maintain sanity enroute.
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Re: Longest distance/duration

Post by ememic99 »

Thanks everybody for valuable inputs. My usual flights are 4+ hours with just few more than 5 hours. On average when comparing tanks and fuel totalizer I notice 3-4 galons of difference.
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