I owned a G1000 DA40 for four years before I bought my E55. It's nice to see my old Diamond forum buddy Tod Williams over here.

To each his own, they say. I have some differing views. For one, I thought that the DA40 looked great. And I found the rigid seats to be comfortable, but the headroom was poor. I'm an even 6-feet tall, but could not use a traditional headset---only the Clarity Aloft. (But I have the same problem in my E55 and I love the Clarity headset anyway, so that didn't bother me.)

It's a really fun plane for VFR and light IFR, but the center stick interferes with kneeboards or charts for any serious IFR. And, even worse, It is not very stable and bounced around like a toy in thermals.

I fly out of the DC metro area, which is just downwind of the Shenandoah Mountains and no one was ever happy with all the bouncing and wing-waggling down low. Combine that complex rolling and rocking motion with the heat from the large bubble canopy and a lot of people got sick. My ownership partner aborted a cross-country mission one day for that very reason---within 10 minutes of departure his passenger couldn't take it, so they came back and drove!

I found an interesting paradox in the cross-wind area. First, the bad part is that in light winds it's the squirrliest thing I've ever flown. I never felt totally in contol as it tended to skip all over the runway until down to taxi speed. (They have had a good number of landing accidents in light, variable winds.) On the other hand, it is a champion in a strong crosswind. I never had trouble with the really bad winds and took it up one day for pattern work with a direct 20-knot cross and she had plenty left for more. I never understood that paradox.

It has short legs! With IFR reserves you can't fly more than about 2+30, maybe 2+45. If you're pointed into the wind that can easly be less than 300 miles per hop.

The DA40 was fun for awhile, but I do love my E55! I can carry just about anything, go anywhere and she's as stable as an airliner. My passengers are very happy I upgraded!

Welcome back Ron! We were starting to think you'd bought a Piper!

Ha! No, not a Piper. But I did trade up.

I have been off the forum for quite a while as I went through an expensive and extensive trade-up period. Like all such things, it's not very pleasant while you're going through it and you really hate to spend the money on the upgrade, but then when it's all done, you look back and don't remember the bad stuff---you just savor the new and improved. It has been well worth all the trouble and expense.

No, not my plane. Still have the same E55 Baron.

I'm talking about the women in my life. I traded in a really cranky, nasty wife who hated me and hated flying and hated pretty much everything in life. Got a really sweet one instead. A classic, like me and my older Baron, but she's perfect for the mission profile of the rest of my life.

And now I am savoring being treated well by a classy lady who loves life, loves flying and loves me!

Awesome, congrats to you. Out of curiosity, how's the P&I?

Seriously, welcome back, I've missed your stories.

Nicely expressed! Congratulations.

Ahem, you know, "this post is worthless without pictures" (couldn't find the clever image).

[Admin edit - Click View more smilies - JC]

I was a little worried as well, Ron. Good to see you back. Do I detect a little exercise routine in your pic? Upgrades in that department often require shedding some gross weight!

Looking good.

I usually fly my diamond closer to four hours, and have gone over with vfr reserve.

Partially done!

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Perfect timing. We had a talent show last night at church and she was a Dancing Queen----you know the song, "young and sweet only 17."

She's the blonde on the right. Funny thing is, she didn't even need a costume---just came in her regular Friday-night-at-the-disco duds and hair-do. But the other "girls" needed wigs and had to dress up to look the part.


BTW---
Some of them are available, so if you'd like to be a disco king, well, like the song says, "Anybody could be that guy."

Let me know, and maybe you, too, could be as lucky as ME!

Cheap doors and seats, cant be any worst than Maules.

And then they have all these pop rivets on the wings.