DA40 purchase - issues with XL?

Hi Philip and all
... and thank you for posting such invaluable information. I have
made up my mind on purchasing a DA40 but am getting a little
confused. I heard the XL model (2006-2007) has a weight and balance
issue. Can anyone comment on that? And to what extent is it fixed in
the XLS? Is it true that the non Xl models are better planes?
Also, what happened to the (sexy) winglets in the XL's announcement?

Thanks and blue skies

Antoine (Switzerland)

-- Antoine Edde, April 17, 2009

Answers

Hello

I purchased my diamond da 40xl last october,which was ferried from Alabama. Yes, it has a weight and balance issue, but there is a solution, the tas 600 has to be moved forward under the rear seat and a front balance kit is available from Diamond. The best information on the web about Diamonds, become a member www.diamondaviator.com, its a diamond owners website. The xl has the GFC 700 autopilot, as you know, and the servos are more aft then with KAP, and the mt prop is lighter then the 2 blade prop, but the GFC is a nice piece of equipment. Up to my knowledge, the xls got the same treatment, what I mentioned before. For your consideration, you can fly the xl and xls only on N registration in Europe, the plane is not EASA certified. Best regards Zsolt Szabo

-- zsolt szabo, April 18, 2009

Hello Szabo and thanks for your quick and useful reply. Let me make sure I get this one right: Moving the TAS 600 and attaching ballast to the front of the plane fixes the balance problem.

Did Diamond take this under warranty?

Someone mentionned that the metal two blade prop could also help there... Adding ballast to a plane, what a strange solution!

How much useful load (including fuel) do you have left after these mods?

I am aware the new autopilot is not certifiable in Europe, but this is OK : I must keep the plane N-registered as I am getting an FAA IR.

DO you know anything about the DA42 winglets on the DA40? I saw some early pics of the DA40 XL that had them and then they were gone...

Thank you

-- Antoine Edde, April 18, 2009

HELLO IF YOU ADD THE FRONT BALLAST AND MOVE THE TAS FORWARD IT WILL ADD 20 LB MORE TO THE WEIGHT GROSS , BUT ON THE REAR SEATS YOU GAIN 70 LB. I HAVE NOT DONE THE MOD YET, I DO NOT LOAD THE REAR SEATS THAT MUCH ANYWAY. I DID DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH THE DIAMOND SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN FRIEDRICHSCHAFEN, DIAMOND KNOWS THIS PROBLEM WELL, BUT DO NOT FIX THIS ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY, THEY JUST OFFER A SOLUTION, IF YOU WANT MORE WEIGHT ON THE REAR SEATS, STRANGE POLICY, SO YOU HAVE TO BUY THE MOD. I DO NOT KNOW THE PRICE YET. WINGLETS- NO GO AS WELL, THEY WILL NOT CONTINUE WITH THE CERTIFICATION,HAD SOME SPIN RECOVERY ISSUES WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE LONG RANGE FUEL TANKS. WHAT I WILL DO FIRST, ADD FINE WIRE SPARK PLUGS AND M20A OIL SEPARATOR, I DONT LIKE DIRTY BELLY AND MAY BE LATER I WILL DO FRONT BALLAST AND TAS. WHERE ARE YOU DOING YOUR IFR TRAINING? I WANT TO DO MY INSTRUMENT TRAINING IN THE STATES AS WELL, ANY GOOD RECOMMENDATION ARE WELCOME, BUT I WANT TO AVOID FLORIDA, I PREFER COOLER WEATHER AND I WANT TO DO CROSS COUNTRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND I WOULD PREFER IN A DIAMOND DA 40. IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS I AM HAPPY TO HELP YOU IF I CAN.

BEST REGARDS

ZSOLT

-- zsolt szabo, April 18, 2009

Hello Zsolt

I just realised that maybe I did not successfuly post my answer to you. Sorry about that. Thanks for the information. Meanwhile other people have warmly recommended the 2007 XL too. I would love to have your opinion on the plane. As to your question re IR training, here my answers. I got my training at Glass Cockpit Aviation (GCA) in Cannes/ France and was planning on taking the checkride in Europe. Unfortunately the only FAA-Examiner in Europe is no longer FAA-approved. GCA are waiting for answers from the FAA, and I may have to go to the US for the checkride. This is ok if I also buy the plane there... I can recommend two schools to you: Flying W in New Jersey http://www.flyingwairport.com/ And Sheble Aviation in Arizona. This is probably quite hot but Im told the instructor/examiner Eddie Lane is very good and friendly.

If you would like to do some flying across Europe, please consider coming over to Switzerland. I can offer you hospitality and help in planning some nice flights in the Swiss/French Alps. I suppose you are from Slovenia?

Kind regards

Antoine

-- Antoine Edde, April 23, 2009

For DA-40 training you may want to consider www.empireflightacademy.com/

They are located in Long Island New York very close to New York City.

They have 2 DA-40's and 2 da-20s Great instructors and staff. They bought out the GCA New York group but have the same staff. They can help out with your training all the way from PPL to ATP.

Good luck.

-- Ted L., April 28, 2009

Thank you Ted. I am in th eprocess of sorting this matter out. Kind regards

-- Antoine Edde, May 1, 2009

Dear Antoine,

If you need help ferrying your new DA40XL to Switzerland, I would be glad to help. I have numerous Trans-Atlantic crossings and carry all my own survival gear.

If interested on the price, please let me know....

Thank you,

Dustin Rabe

-- Dustin Rabe, June 4, 2009