DA42 "Twin Star"

*cough*!

Kristie's away at a baby shower this afternoon so I can write without having to deal with the "Hey! Whatthehelldidyoumeanbythat?!" :)

Nah, I'm kidding, she's not like that!
 
BobDDuck said:
Baby shower? You know that means all of your friends are going to be after you and Kristie again.
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You get used to it after a while. Two days of stress looking forward to today, but I think she'll be alright. Not having children is a lot harder on women than it is guys by far.
 
Timbuff10 said:
I hope all your pilots/students are midgets... I hear the cockpit on that twinstar is going to be the same as the one on the diamondstar and I can't fit in that thing safely. My legs are too long and the foot pedals are too close, even when I extend them as far as they can go. This pushes my knees up in my chest and into the panel pushinig all sorts of buttons. The seat is fixed for the most part which makes the top of my head rub on the roof. Don't know how I would be able to put on a normal headset?

Before I sat in one, I thought the Diamond was the coolest looking thing around and I was wanting to switch to them from Cessnas but after seeing it up close, it just felt really flimsy compared to a 172. Also when I closed the cockpit, I got a chlostrophobic feeling that I have never had before... I was shocked actually and really disapointed after expecting so much more.
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How tall are you? I just got a job at a school that has DA 40's and DA 42's. I have never sat in one before. I am pretty friggin tall too. I have gotten used to cramming myself into 150's finally. Tell me they are more roomy than a 150.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Not yet. ;)
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If you're starting up a flight school and need CFI's I'd love to interview!
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Interesting a twin that's a stick. Also, I didnt have any problems getting into the DA40. Snug yes, but doable even for a long trip. (6'1"-way too many pounds).
 
I've got 75 hours in the DA20 and 19 in the DA40 now. I like instructing in them a lot, but I'm only 5'9" 165#. The visibility out of the Diamonds is great with the wrap-around canopy. When I occasionally fly the 172 or Archer it requires an adjustment.

Mike
 
Just a honest reminder to everyone, always complete a weight and balance and make sure you are within limits for the flight. Flying overweight is not something to mess with.
 
Toonces said:
How tall are you? I just got a job at a school that has DA 40's and DA 42's. I have never sat in one before. I am pretty friggin tall too. I have gotten used to cramming myself into 150's finally. Tell me they are more roomy than a 150.
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I'm 6'4" barefoot, and about 205 lbs. I don't remember the width of the seat being a problem though. I could probably fly one safely but I would have to be slouching/ducking my head and my knees would be rubbing on the panel up there for sure. The one I sat in had the G1000 setup and my knees kept hitting the FMS button and I think the flaps too. I guess I could fly it with my legs crossed though and just forget about coordination.

If I had to, I suppose I could do it but I would not pick it over a 172 since I fit in those just fine. Then again, if someone is offering a CFI job in the twinstar you bet your ass I would find a way to fit in that thing. In fact when I find one in the area, I do plan on buying an hour or two in it just because I used to have really high hopes for that thing too. Now I am not as hopeful after sitting in the diamondstar, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised?

I wonder what the rates for the twinstar will be compared to the seminole? I would imagine the diamond would cost less but I bet schools will jack up the price becuase it is the new cool gadget?
 
Kingairer said:
Just a honest reminder to everyone, always complete a weight and balance and make sure you are within limits for the flight. Flying overweight is not something to mess with.
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Ditto! I had a lady a while back that showed up with 6 kids and expected to all fit in the plane and then have a birthday party up there in the backseat of a 172. And I first saw her, I was just questioning if I would have enough weight left over so that I could just fit her in the bird.

"Act now and for $50 take advantage of my Discovery flight/birthday party in the sky, bring the whole family, they all fit in the plane... And if not we can let them hang on the side strut... That's what them step deals and that handle on the side is for anyway."
 
I hear that they don't have prop controls. It's all done automatically. Again this is what I hear...I don't know for sure. I guess I'll research it later.
 
CAPT promised that they were going to get the DA42 online but that's one of many promises that CAPT didn't keep. They used it more as a marketing ploy to get people in the door. I admit, I was one of them.

As for the cockpit, it's like the DA40 and personally, I'm 6' tall at 200 lbs and I'm comfortable in it. I don't feel like I'm trapped at all. Given that the canopy gives you so much more visibility than a Cessna can *ever* hope for. Not to talk down on Cessna lovers out there, but I honestly can't understand how anyone can fly Cessnas after they have flow a DA40 or DA42. Hell, after flying the Diamond, I swear I can feel all the parasitic, skin friction, and form drag on a Cessna. The Diamond has a very clean wing vs. Cessna. If I had a choice between a Cessna vs. Diamond, I'd fly a Diamond without hesitation.

The DA42 does have FADEC and therefore, no prop control. It's all computerized. The stick is just dandy. It's a lot more comfortable than the bulky yokes out there. You barely have to touch the stick to get a response and hand positioning is a lot less tiresome than a yoke. As for using the DA42 as a training, well, personally, I think it's just too sweet of an airplane to subject to training. Leave all that abuse to a crapper like the Seminole. DA42 is a top shelf twin.
 
KLB said:
I hear that they don't have prop controls. It's all done automatically. Again this is what I hear...I don't know for sure. I guess I'll research it later.
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I guess it varies because the one I've got time in does have a prop control.
 
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