It’s the Lycoming powered, late model XL DA40s (with Power Flow exhaust) that can easily do 145 knots.
In theory, a diesel powered one should also be able to do that at FL150.
boscomantico wrote:
able
A DA40 equipped with the CD-155 is faster in FL150 (TAS-wise), around 150 knots at 80% power.
Here’s how my CD-135 was flying at 75%.
172driver wrote:
Wait, what? DA40 140-150kts TAS? We have one in our club and it doesn’t get near these numbers.
Does it have Powerflow and fairings? I regularly get 145 kts TAS but have flown DA40s without Powerflow and/or fairings which therefore were 10-15 kts slower.
wbardorf wrote:
Does it have Powerflow and fairings?
Fairings, yes, Powerflow, no. We have created ForeFlight performance profiles for our fleet and for planning purposes the cruise speed of our DA40 is 120kts @ 8000ft. That said, I don’t fly the DA40, as it’s perhaps the most uncomfortable airplane I’ve ever sat in. Talking to other club members though, the 120kts seem a bit on the low side, but they don’t achieve much more. YMMV.
Unfortunately FlySto doesn’t show it directly, you can calculate it and then average but it’s too much manual work.
Main Menu – Insights – Averages – Block Speed
(and I will see about getting GS added, too).
Two recent FlySto data points:
Bristell B23 Turbo
Diamond DA40NG
The B23T cabin and seats are a bit more comfortable in my experience. I heard newer Diamonds have better cushioning, however.
Flyingfish wrote:
And yet I sometimes dream of a fixed gear STOL pressurized turboprop capable of 180 KTAS up high and still land anywhere…
Doesn’t the Kodiak fit the bill? not sure it’s pressurized, though.
If I were millionaire, (well, next life maybe :D), this aircraft would be very high on my dream list!
@etn, or the Cessna Caravan, as used by Dick Smith on more than one of his circumnavigation… Earthrounder Smith
