The aircraft mod business isn’t what it used to be. Hell, nothing’s what it used to be in a world where aircraft sales are struggling back from the abyss. In the heyday of mods, dozens of companies offered all sorts of upgrades—fuel tanks, intercoolers, wingtips—were available for new airplanes, but lately not so much.
One new mod that caught our eye recently was Premier Aircraft Sales upgrade to the Diamond DA40, a popular entry level cruiser that also has legs as a trainer and personal transportation aircraft. By the standards of yore, the Premier Edition upgrade is modest, consisting of improved seats and carpet, exterior paint tweaks, a composite prop, an HID flasher system and some additional extra-cost options including an auxiliary alternator and—the biggie—air conditioning. Add all that up and the cost and impact on the airplane’s appeal isn’t necessarily modest anymore, but Premier’s Fred Ahles says it’s enough to get customers to pull the trigger and more opt for the options than not.