Real Useful Load #s

[Bavarian911]

Quick question regarding the third row: Removing the third row, how much weight can be saved and are there tie downs for luggage ?
Thanks,
Stephan

The third row of seats are listed at 55lbs. From what I understand, when you order the third row of seats, you obviously get the seats, but there are some other changes. They add ducting for the AC/Heat to the third row, along with jacks for headsets, etc. Many people order the third-row option, but don't actually get the third-row installed. This way the plane is configured for the third row to be added. If you don't get the third row, then you can't ever add them.

So I am not 100% sure, when you take out the seats how much weight you save. Obviously, you save the weight from the seats, but you don't take the ducts and wiring out. I would guess 45-50lbs.

When you take out the seats, they put in the cargo tray. There are tie downs for the luggage and lip to hold things secure. As the owner, you can't just take the seats in and out. It's a maintenance action that a shop needs to do. It's not complex, but is not something you can do if you are not an A&P.

Thank you Michael, very useful information. I assume the luggage tray is an accessory which can be ordered from the factory ?

[Ifly]

For my plane, the empty weight is 1650 kg (list options below)

I add 30 kg of TKZ, and 20 kg of tools, caps and papers

Total without gas: 1700 kg

I Usually fill the tanks at 100% for main, and 50% for auxiliary i.e. 68 gal

That mean 200 kg gas to add

The MOTW is 2300 that allows me 400 kg for pilot and passengers (2300-200-1700)

In this configuration the autonomy is about 850 nm without reserve


Options list:

DME
Weather radar
Stormscope
Traffic advisory system
Garmin svt
sunshades
built-in tablet

No oxygen
No back seat

[nworthin]

A question about the third row seats and BasicMed; If the plane is listed on paper as having seven seats does it qualify for BasicMed if the third row seats are removed?

Yes, but check whether your insurance company will insure.

I let my medical lapse during the pandemic and, knowing that DA42 pilots can get insured under BasicMed, I assumed that this would also apply to the DA62. Apparently not... Had to race to get my Class III renewed.

[CFIDave]

My 5-year-old DA62 with NXi built in Austria has a Basic Empty Weight (Mass) of 3736 lbs.

It has most of the available options including:
TKS FIKI
A/C
7-seat (3rd row of seating)
GWX70 weather radar
built-in O2 with 7 outlets and larger tank for 7 passengers
Avidyne TAS 605 active traffic
GDL 69A SXM satellite weather/radio
GCU 476 keypad in armrest
metallic paint
(no DME -- not required in US) or stormscope

So useful load is 5071-3736 = 1335 lbs

Sheepskin seat covers and JetShades not included in BEW.

[Jimhartley]

Can anyone with A/C guide me as to how effective it is? The 40kg would be a big price to pay if it is as poor as it is in the Cirrus I flew. Also, anyone without A/C, do you still get overhead air vents? The two DA62’s I have flown don’t but the AFM suggests that they should. I will soon have to finalise the spec for my build and I am really unsure of the value of the A/C.

Thanks in advance

[Ifly]

I don't have AC. Idem in the cirrus I owned.

In the cirrus I had good fan (2008 model)

In the DA 62 I can let the doors open without problems to close them when the motors are running (That was the problem in the cirrus), or I can open the lateral small windows.

That's not so bad.

[MackAttack]

My understanding is that the 7-seat option is actually an STC and that the original certification was for 5 seats. However, I’m not entirely certain of that. I do believe that the 5-seat version qualifies for BasicMed - that’s why I ordered it; I have a medical now but wanted the insurance of a BasicMed qualified airplane just in case that changes down the road (I am 63 right now). However, I have heard that most insurance companies carry the airplane on their databases as a 7-seat aircraft and therefore won’t insure you under BasicMed. There are some threads on this here, so if you must have a BasicMed airplane out of the gate, you should discuss this with your dealer and insurance broker before purchasing it and don’t just assume you can insure it that way.

I just couldn’t see myself ever needing those two extra seats … and while that may limit things slightly on resale, so be it. I will let my estate worry about it *laughing* I think the cargo tray is much more useful to me. But YMMV…

[CFIDave]

The 7-seat option is actually part of the DA62's Type Certificate (as is the 5-seater); it's not an STC.

Flying a DA62 5-seater under the FAA's Basic Med is legal; if necessary Diamond Canada can provide a letter that states this.

But as we all know, what you're allowed to fly tends to be determined more by insurance underwriters rather than by what's legal.

[NDCDA62]

Jim -

I actually had A/C retrofitted on my DA62 and would certainly recommend it.

[thommy152]

As Delivered:

BEW 3752
MTOW 5,071
UL 1329

Equipped:

5 seats
A/C
TKS
"Metallic" (actually Pearl) paint
Radar
O2

I did not order Keypad (and don't miss it as I use Foreflight and Flightstream).

Mine has the same options list as yours, plus the keypad, too. It weighs one pound more: 3753lb. That’s remarkably good manufacturing repeatability for a wet-composite layup, don’t you think?

Mine is 3753 lbs too! It was delivered “radar ready” waiting on the 75 so I’m sure it will change a little bit once that is added.