The Diamond DA42 VI has performed remarkably well since I picked up the aircraft.
Today I flew from LERS – Reus LERS to EGKB – Biggin Hill. Flight time 3:38 hours. Most of the time at 16000 feet and 15000 feet. Spent almost half the de-icing fluid during the last hour and a half due to flying in cloud and entire windscreen was iced over mid-channel at 15000 feet, but fluid worked. Aircon is working great, Anti-icing is working, Oxygen is working perfectly.
Note: when flying over the Pyrenees you can file 12000 feet but they will send you to 16000 so without oxygen you can’t obvious make it on that route.
Crossing the English Channel there was a heavy side wind. Over 50kts made the groundspeed 253 kts at 75%… funny really.. I ran it. 2:30 at 92% and then got some headwind so I decreased to 75% to save some fuel that gave me 30 minutes extra endurance. But this is pretty long range at a good speed.
I can report at 92%:
14000 feet average 185 kts TAS 16 GPH.
16000 feet average 189-192 kts TAS 16 GPH.
Total distance 624nm filed.
I would assume at 18000 feet it would be 195-197 kts or perhaps even the magic 200 TAS…
Also another note to import the flight plans from RocketRoute (or Garmin type plan) you must have a 2GB Sandisk Sdcard. A 32 Gb SD card did not work. I ordered a few so I will try next.
But this is really a must for me as you are sitting there during takeoff and departure filling in pointless waypoints that could have been imported and it takes a good 10 minutes with interruptions from ATC etc.
Also they are hard to find in the G1000. You have to put the cursor inside the LIST of flightplans and then click menu, so that should be made easier.
Note: RocketRoute is adding help around import features.
Some Pictures from the Flight below:
