Diamond presented at AOPA expo two new variants of the DA40: XLS and CS. All details about these new variants can be found on-line. These new DA40’s include several variation, but the most important from my point of view is that the XLS can (finally !) be equipped with the GFC700 ! Huh ? For those of you who are not avionics fans, the GFC700 is the Garmin autopilot which not only integrates with the G1000, but also makes a flight director available !

The lack of integrated autopilot / flight director on G1000 DA40’s was the biggest (I did not said major) problem with this kind of planes. The GFC700 had been around for a while, but until now, the DA40’s were equipped with a KAP140. There is nothing wrong with this autopilot, but it was not fully integrated in the G1000.

As an example, it had its own and separate QNH (altimeter) setting, so each change had to be done three times: G1000, KAP140 and stand-by altimeter. The KAP140 was also not able to drive the G1000 Flight Director, so it was not possible to preview what the autopilot would do.

This improvement is for me the best news about the plane, and I can’t wait until I get opportunity to fly a FADEC DA40 XLS with G1000 / GFC700 !