Diamond Katana

WindyCityPilot

WindyCityPilot

Well-Known Member
Got a question for anyone who has flown or instructed in the Diamond Katana (DA-20-A1). I'm transitioning to the Katana after having trained in the Piper Warrior for the past 20 hours or so. My question is related to performing stalls. Is it just me or does the Katana not really break in a stall? About the only real indications of a stall you get are sloppy controls and the stall horn. There is no real pre-stall buffet, and no nose drop when the stall breaks.

Is that just how the plane is or is there something I'm missing? I'm just curious as this is vastly different from the Warrior I was flying. My other question is how will the examiner judge your stalls? I assume as long as you maintain control of the aircraft, announce the stall horn and that the controls are sloppy then recover that should be good.

Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
 
Yep, you really have to fly by the seat of your pants to project a stall. I transitioned to the Cirrus SR20 and it is the same.
 
Does this mean you're not going to fly the 152?!
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Probably not....I'm already about halfway through my PPL and from what I figured out...it's only going to save me about $200 or so if I fly the 152. I'll probably get checked out in the 152 after I get my license just for some el cheapo flight time.

Sprint100...thanks for the response...thats kind of what I figured....it's just a totally different feel than the old Piper Warriors which let you know exactly what the plane is doing.
 
I flew a Katana once, but I didn't do any stalls. The T-tail creates some different characteristics. The PTS, however, calls for maintaining a heading of +/- 10 degrees for stalls straight flight. The DE will undoubtedly be looking for stall RECOGNITION and recovery. Sounds like you have that down pretty well (i.e., mushy controls, stall warning horn, etc.). Just be sure to keep that ball centered throughout the maneuver. This will reduce how drastically the plane breaks when it finally exceeds the CAOA. Good Luck!!
 
Does anybody else hate the way the Trim is set up in a Katana? It drives me nuts. (Either if it is in the stick or the rocker switch in the center.)
 
I don't mind the trip on the Eclipse all that much (on the top of the stick)...but in the Katana it's kind of akward being a rocker switch on the center console behind the throttle.
 
How's the plane feel in other aspects versus your typical trainer? I've heard that it takes a little getting used to since for example, it doesn't get down as quick as a C172 would. And that if you're used to a C172, you'll float on your landing until you get used to it.
 
I just started yesterday. Had my first flight with Tim. Did about 1.5 hours....most of it was just for him to see me do all the basics and get a feel for where I am with my training. Everything went pretty good. I've just got to finish the A&M pre-solo test and after a few more flights I should be signed off to solo from Clow and also from Lewis. Their pre-solo written is a bear though. It's around 110 questions long...so they do make sure you know your stuff prior to signing you off to solo.

When are you planning to start?
 
Tony...

It will float on you unless you fly the numbers. The plane glides so well and is so slippery that it is sometimes hard to get it below the white are to get that first notch of flaps in. Once you get slow enough to get full flaps in the plane will start coming down if you pull it back to idle and wait for the speed to bleed off.

It is way more responsive than the Warrior's I was flying. It's kind of like driving a suburban then getting into a corvette. The plane is also a little more challenging in crosswinds since the plane is so light.

It's a fun plane to fly...takes some getting used to with the center stick but like everything else you get used to it after time. Personally I think landing in the Katana/Eclipse is easier than a Warrior or 172 because of the visibility you have. I think I still like the warrior more for windy days since it seems a lot more stable both in cruise and landing when the wind is blowing.
 
I teach in the DA20-C1, and like people said it will float if you do not fly the correct airspeeds. The stalls in the DA20 are a nonevent, with it being difficult at times to get the airplane to do a power on stall. All in all it is a fun airplane to fly.
 
SUSPilot,

In your experiences while on the checkride are the examiners aware of the fact that stalls in the Katana/Eclipse are not really that pronounced? If you make your callouts for sloppy controls, stall horn and recover while mainting control is that good? Both the power on and off stalls are not very pronounced. Just curious what you teach your students.
 
I never signed anyone off for a check ride in the eclipse' we had at Air Orlando, but in those aircraft you could do a falling leaf maneuver (ie power out, stall and continue to hold the stick back full) great in those aircraft, but it did get touchy and want to drop a wing, then it would start to isolate in pitch (nose would drop once hard, then come back up into a stall, drop, stall, drop...etc.) Not like the pipers or cessna where it will stall once, then find a happy stalled pitch angle where you could just fall with. I did do some CFI spin training in them, and that was a great time. If you are trying to just get a clean break out of them, go full power and aggrivate it a little (10-15 degrees pitch up or more) and you could usually get a clean break, but remember DO NOT MOVE THE STICK SIDE TO SIDE...very easy to induce a wing drop, which can lead to the spin quickly.

Other than that for the questions about how it flys.....Absolutly GREAT... I think we should replace all C-152s with them. There is something about a little two seater, with a stick, 110 horse, light as a feather, forgiving, easy to land, and cruses about 130, that makes you forget your flying a sperm with wings.
 
I still can't get over the fact that you have the same flight instructor as me! Did you tell him you met someone on the internet who had him or no? My friend who also has him told him and he thought it was hilarious. Small small world. My name is Mark by the way.
 
The previous posts have all been right on so far. Another key point is to use LOTS of rudder for takeoff and landing. And always remember the castering nose wheel. It behaves differently on rollout and during touch and goes than a Cessna or Piper does. Obviously you have to use differential braking during taxi, but be sure to get your heels down to the floor once you start to roll for takeoff or during landings. If you hit the brakes then, you just might depart the runway before you want to
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- Katana's donlt make good baja vehicles
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Other than that, and what the previous posts have stated about it being slippery, it is tons of fun! Oh and if you get to do spin training in it eventually for CFI training, try a power-on spin. It wraps up nice and tight! Cheers!

Nick
 
I didn't mention it to him yesterday. Next time I fly with him I'll have to remember to tell him. When are you going to start up lessons? We'll have to meet up sometime once you start. Are you going to join the club to do your training?
 
I'm starting around mid-May. Yeah definitely we have to grab lunch at that restaraunt next to A & M. Yeah I'm definitely joining the club for flight training this summer, I'm going to be there alot because I only have a few months to get all my training done.
 
I'm 16 hours into my PPL training, all of it in a DA-20 C1 Eclipse...It's a great airplane, and as you said, it can be pretty tough to stall..I dont have anything to compare it to, but I'd imagine it is tougher than other trainers. I dunno about other Katana's/Eclipse's, but did anyone else notice a pretty sensitive stall horn? When doing slow flight, our's wails wayyy early!

As for landings, yeesh, don't know about others, but I can be on or way of. Like said above, if you dont fly the numbers, it tends to float, almost like the thing doesnt want to come down! I just see it as a little pocket you have to let the plane settle in between the descent and flare (roundout I guess, but extended), and let it gradually come down. All in all, great airplane!
 
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