What is the typical fuel burn range for the DA-40 in gallons per hour?

What is the typical fuel burn range for the DA-40 in gallons per hour?

• A. 8.5-10 GPH (65-75%)
• B. 6-8 GPH
• C. 12-14 GPH
• D. 4-6 GPH

Answer: (A)

Piston engines burn fuel in proportion to the power you’re using, and during a normal cruise the DA-40’s 180-horsepower engine is typically run at about 65–75% power. A common rough figure for specific fuel consumption of typical aircraft piston engines is around 0.45–0.50 pounds of fuel per horsepower-hour, and avgas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon. Multiply the horsepower by the fuel burn rate to get pounds per hour, then convert to gallons: - 117–135 hp (65–75% of 180) times 0.46–0.50 lb/hp-hr ≈ 53–67 lb/hr - 53–67 lb/hr ÷ 6 lb/gal ≈ 8.8–11.2 GPH This sits around 9–10 GPH, which is well within the 8.5–10 GPH range. So this range reflects typical cruise fuel burn for the DA-40. If you were flying at lower power in a more economical configuration, burn could drop toward the 6–8 GPH region, but for standard cruise conditions the 8.5–10 GPH range is the best fit. Higher burn, like 12–14 GPH, would require more power or less efficient conditions, and 4–6 GPH would be unusually low for cruise.

Piston engines burn fuel in proportion to the power you’re using, and during a normal cruise the DA-40’s 180-horsepower engine is typically run at about 65–75% power. A common rough figure for specific fuel consumption of typical aircraft piston engines is around 0.45–0.50 pounds of fuel per horsepower-hour, and avgas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon. Multiply the horsepower by the fuel burn rate to get pounds per hour, then convert to gallons:

• 117–135 hp (65–75% of 180) times 0.46–0.50 lb/hp-hr ≈ 53–67 lb/hr

• 53–67 lb/hr ÷ 6 lb/gal ≈ 8.8–11.2 GPH

This sits around 9–10 GPH, which is well within the 8.5–10 GPH range. So this range reflects typical cruise fuel burn for the DA-40.

If you were flying at lower power in a more economical configuration, burn could drop toward the 6–8 GPH region, but for standard cruise conditions the 8.5–10 GPH range is the best fit. Higher burn, like 12–14 GPH, would require more power or less efficient conditions, and 4–6 GPH would be unusually low for cruise.