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Old 05-19-2020, 05:09 PM   #1
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The Ultimate Long Range Passagemaker for Two?

After years of offshore international passagemaking my wife now wants to do the Great Loop. Fair enough, I'm all in. But my aspirations of international travel in a private vehicle continue. So far, I've made it to 121 countries but there are still many places on my bucketlist and time rolls on with tedious inevitability.

Enter the passagemaking airplane. We have settled on a Diamond DA-42 twin engine aircraft, powered by twin Mercedes diesels that sip fuel, even at 190 knots. How about 13 hours from Seattle to Honolulu? Last time I did it on a boat it took 13 days.

I've been a pilot for many years, but when we decided to fly around the world in our own airplane my wife decided to get her pilot's certificate. She went to an accelerated program in a few weeks of flying every day (both planes and matching sims), she had her licence. We bought a small sport plane to build time together and refine our cockpit management techniques.

Flying long distances is interesting and unique. With the DA-42 and auxiliary fuel carried in the backseat, you can achieve a range of 3000 nm, which will take you just about anywhere in the world. And you can find fuel anywhere because instead of 100 LL Avgas you can burn diesel or Jetfuel (kerosene). We could fly around the world in a week if pressed, but a relaxing pace that involves anywhere between a day and a week at our destination ports results in a comfortable 3 month trip. Our route is Westbound over the Pacific and involves stopping at some of our favorite places to sail, the South Pacific. We intend to go from Coeur d'Alene to Monterey, CA to Hilo, HI and then Majuro, Pohnpei, Truk, Palau, New Guinea followed by a circumnavigation of Australia. Then it's on to Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde Islands, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Vero Beach, FL, Kansas City and then home.

The plane has weather radar, air conditioning, flight into known ice capability and the latest electronics and radios. And the best way to see the world is from the air. Unlike a jet or turbine powered aircraft the DA-42 flies low where the view is best, but you have the power to fly above some weather and most any mountain range.

For various reasons I am done with long distance ocean passages by boat. But I'm not done traveling with my wife internationally with no schedule and the horizon ahead.

Happy to answer any questions if you're intrigued.
Attached Thumbnails
DA-42 gold exterior.jpg   DA-42 cockpit.jpg  
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Old 05-19-2020, 05:32 PM   #2
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On your plane, where’s the bathroom?
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Old 05-19-2020, 05:38 PM   #3
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One of the back seats contains a porta-potti. Admiral's orders.
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Old 05-19-2020, 06:38 PM   #4
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Slick looking rig. This is more my speed:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/j...ntl/index.html
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Old 05-19-2020, 06:45 PM   #5
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Murray, my bugs in the teeth days are over. I have a gyroplane rating and about 600 hours in ultralights. I don't fly the ultralights anymore for the same reson I don't own a sailboat. Too much exposure to the elements. I do fly an enclosed German Autogyro Cavalon on occasion. It's a nice ride for about an hour...

No doubt your protagonist had an amazing adventure...
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Old 05-19-2020, 06:53 PM   #6
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I've read about the DA 42 as written-up by Flying Magazine. Great range and fuel economy, and who would ever suspect it was diesel powered? Truly unique.
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Old 05-19-2020, 07:41 PM   #7
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It is a nice looking plane, no argument.

I doubt if you will get many converts from this forum though. You are comparing apples to oranges.

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Old 05-19-2020, 07:51 PM   #8
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Diesel engines, huh? Well this wouldn't be the TF if we didn't argue about twins vs. singles. Courtesy of T210DRVR:
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Old 05-19-2020, 07:52 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete Meisinger View Post
It is a nice looking plane, no argument.

I doubt if you will get many converts from this forum though. You are comparing apples to oranges.

pete
I'm not really looking for converts, just thought it was an interesting perspective to share. I found a lot of boat enthusiasts are transportation junkies. Airplanes, boats of all types, motorcycles, civil submersibles, hot air balloons, helicopters, ATVs, snow machines, cars and trucks of all types. Some people just like that stuff and I am one of them.

Still, seeing the world from the air is unsurpassed, and owning your own passagemaking airplane is way cool.
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Old 05-19-2020, 07:54 PM   #10
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Which engines does it use?
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Old 05-19-2020, 08:09 PM   #11
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Oxygen? Heat?
I looked at their website and they listed a range of around 1,200nm (60%) with auxiliary fuel tanks. You must be talking something altogether different.
Looks very nice, but hard to get up and stretch...
Cool idea.
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Old 05-19-2020, 08:18 PM   #12
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Which engines does it use?
Austro Engine, a Diamond Aircraft subsidiary, takes a Mercedes diesel and converts it to aero use. The engines are turbo charged and produce 168 HP. They are FADEC, one lever controlled. No more mixture or prop pitch to worry about.
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Old 05-19-2020, 08:23 PM   #13
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Oxygen? Heat?
I looked at their website and they listed a range of around 1,200nm (60%) with auxiliary fuel tanks. You must be talking something altogether different.
Looks very nice, but hard to get up and stretch...
Cool idea.
The additional range comes from soft tanks installed with fuel pumps and manifolds in the back seat. There is an onboard oxygen supply in the nose and you wear the canulas at over 12,500 feet. There is an automated climate control system so you can have heat or A/C as needed.

The seats fold back so one of us can sleep while the other plays pilot. The plane has a very sophisticated autopilot, but both pilot's sleeping at the same time is frowned upon...
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Old 05-19-2020, 09:49 PM   #14
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A friend put a curtained off porti potty on his pontoon boat. He thought he was doing his wife a favor. She flat out refused to even consider using it.

I can't imagine using one on a small plane.

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Old 05-19-2020, 09:57 PM   #15
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A friend put a curtained off porti potty on his pontoon boat. He thought he was doing his wife a favor. She flat out refused to even consider using it.

I can't imagine using one on a small plane.

pete
He married the wrong woman. My wife is happy to have it and not bothered in the least.
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Old 05-19-2020, 11:57 PM   #16
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That sounds like on heck of an adventure. When you take the trip it would be great if you were able to post a leg by leg report.
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Old 05-20-2020, 03:48 AM   #17
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Don’t forget the sandwiches or MREs and lots of water
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Old 05-20-2020, 05:51 AM   #18
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This is a great adventure for a couple that has the drive and currency to do it.


For folks with a smaller budget and fewer skills I still think a boat that could fit in a cargo container could be shipped on a world tour for less than a single engine overhaul.


And you get to tour in your own boat , not shuffle from hotel to hotel.
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Old 05-20-2020, 07:55 AM   #19
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Armedeus, THAT is an understatement. She is a gossip, bossy, demanding, overweight and a braggart.

Sorry for the vent.

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Old 05-20-2020, 08:06 AM   #20
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And you get to tour in your own boat , not shuffle from hotel to hotel.
My dad was considering buying a RV and tour the US. Mom said, “No way. You want an RV so I can continue to cook. That is not a vacation to me!!”

My folks and another couple did do a self piloting canal boat trip in the UK. I’m not sure if they cooked onboard. LOL. Both couples had fun and as dad pointed out, they could not get lost.
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