Sport pilot transition to PPL

[Keldog]

New to DAN. 550 hour Sport Pilot flying a Van's RV12. Looking to upgrade as my mission is changing as I near retirement in 2 years. Flying out of Northern CA and routinely doing X-country trips to San Diego and Chandler, AZ to see family.

Would like a 4 seater with the range and payload to complete those missions with up to 3 real world adults. Was leaning toward DA40NG, but lots of horror stories about engines here along with the premium price has me reconsidering a DA40 Lycoming.

Would appreciate any and all input about which aircraft to seek out, as well as info on training for Sport to PPL. Would also prefer to train in the make/model of aircraft I decide to purchase.

Thanks for reading.

[dant]

3 real world adults is dependent on the adults. I can take my wife, sister in law, and 5 year old with me. I can't take my two closest male friends. One is tall but fit, the other is marginally overweight but not very. This is in a DA40 with 40 gallon tanks.

Pre 2008 DA40s usually have better useful load, but might be harder to find WAAS or crucially the coveted GFC700 a/p.

Also consider G100UL is a bit heavier so you'll lose a few pounds there if/when CA transitions to that as an unleaded fuel source.

[Rich]

50 gallon tanks are a problem with load envelope. Pre-2004 DA40's potentially the greatest useful load and W&B envelope.

I presume you're going to acquire a PPL. The MOSAIC relaxation of Sport Pilots as so far published excludes DA40s by a couple of knots of stall speed.

[moonpie]

The basic empty weight on my NG is 2,044lbs. With a MTOM of 2,888, that’s a useful load of 844lbs. Full fuel is 260lbs with a 6hr range. That leaves 584lbs for 3 people. Obviously you can do with less fuel unless you want to fly 5 hours with a 1 hour reserve.

Totally doable if you don’t have AC (88lbs) or electric rudder pedals like me.

Love my plane to bits but how could I recommend it with the current engine woes. I now have a 600k ramp queen for at least the next 6-12 months if not longer…

[Keldog]

Yes to upgrade from Sport to PPL.

Mission to AZ from CA is 570 NM, so probably won't need full tanks all the time. Flight to San Diego is only 400NM.

Id the NG currently the only single engine DA40 with the all-in-one FADEC type throttle?

[geekmug]

There is a post on this board with the BEW and CG of different configurations, but I think it always works out that the DA40 is weight limited with 3 adults, so you'll only be able to carry about 3 hours of fuel. So, the trips you are talking about would almost certainly involve fuel stops.

[dmloftus]

I travel with three adults all the time. My 2008 XLS with 50gal tanks is 1800 lbs empty, so 846 lbs useful load. With 40 gallons 100LL, I still have 606 for 3 good size adults and possibly some light luggage. Running LOP, I get 135kts @ 8 gal/hour, so a bit over 500nm range with reserves. The Lycoming versions don't have FADEC and burn a bit more fuel per hour, but you can avoid the current Austro challenges on the NG's.

[Karl]

Yes to upgrade from Sport to PPL.

Mission to AZ from CA is 570 NM, so probably won't need full tanks all the time. Flight to San Diego is only 400NM.

Id the NG currently the only single engine DA40 with the all-in-one FADEC type throttle?

DA40D has FADEC, a better W&B envelope and doesn't have the current NG engine issues.

Finding one might be difficult though.

[dant]

My 2008 XLS with 50gal tanks is 1800 lbs empty, so 846 lbs useful load

As an illustration on how sensitive the Da40 useful load is to the 3 adult requirement, I'm a 2008 XLS that's 1817 empty, so 829. Less 240# for gas = 589. All of a sudden a bit harder to fit 3 good sized U.S. adults (196# avg). With flight bag/misc equipment/waters/whatever this gets down to something like ~190# per person.

Every pound matters when you're right on the edge - I'm really looking forward to lithium main batteries!

[RookieFlyer]

DA40D has FADEC, a better W&B envelope and doesn't have the current NG engine issues.

It appears there are also significant piston cracking issues with Theilert/Continental CD-135/155 Diesels in DA40D and DA42,

NZ CAA Continuing Airworthiness Notice:

https://tinyurl.com/yc5m7ftz