Flew a DA-20 for the first time today...

killbilly

killbilly

Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Some of you may yawn and say whatever...that's cool. But when the only thing you've flown is a 152, it's kinda nice to try something new.

And all I could say was wow!

The visibility is awesome, it's remarkably responsive and easy to fly. Every turn wants to be a steep one. Reminds me a lot of driving a late-model Miata.

Gonna get fully checked out on it for rental purposes. It's only about 15% more to rent one vs. a 172 and just as fast, with a nice avionics stack.

Very, very cool. Lots of fun. And that's why we do this, right?
 
Sounds like fun. Reminds me of the first time i flew a seminole after flying just cessnas. I like low wings alot better than high wings.
 
killbilly said:
The visibility is awesome, it's remarkably responsive and easy to fly. Every turn wants to be a steep one. Reminds me a lot of driving a late-model Miata. ?
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Compare the way the yoke/stick is linked to the ailerons in the two and you'll have some idea why the DA-20 seems so responsive.

The other thing you'll notice is that, one day you'll come in after a flight and everyone will be talking about that awful crosswind and you'll wonder what they are talking about.
 
killbilly said:
Some of you may yawn and say whatever...that's cool. But when the only thing you've flown is a 152, it's kinda nice to try something new.
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I've flown a lot more than a 152 and I sill think the DA-20 is a great airplane. I think the DA-40 is even better. Fun little planes.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
The other thing you'll notice is that, one day you'll come in after a flight and everyone will be talking about that awful crosswind and you'll wonder what they are talking about.
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Max demonstrated Xwind component is like 21 kts.


OTOH, If you are high and you try a forward slip, it just laughs at you. No flap landings are the most challanging manuver in that plane. Realize that it's a motor glider with short wings, and a bigger engine.
 
USMCmech said:
Max demonstrated Xwind component is like 21 kts.


OTOH, If you are high and you try a forward slip, it just laughs at you. No flap landings are the most challanging manuver in that plane. Realize that it's a motor glider with short wings, and a bigger engine.
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So true...that and it took me a little while to learn how to make my spot during a power off landing because it glides TOO well and as you mentioned the slip doesn't do anything. I think it might actually be more aerodynamic sideways :-P
 
Love the Katana! Haven't really flown one in 9 years, but I did my private in it... you never forget your first love!

Do slow flight steep turns in it... you'll be pivoting around the inside wing tip, soooo much fun!
 
The DA20 (Eclipse, and Evolution, not a huge fan of the Katana) are extremely fun airplanes to fly. Really can't speak too much about them to be honest. Back when the dollar meant something, and if I had the financial capability, I would have purchased one and leased it back to the school.

I flew a less than 200 hour DA20 out of Dallas all the way back to Atlanta and had a great time.

In regards to forward slipping, I've never really had any trouble with the manuever. May just be a matter of technique.

The first forward slip I did in the plan was when I was working on my IA about a year ago. Coming from a 172 where you never slip with full flaps (certain exceptions of course), I was extremely hesistant to slip it in when I was fully configured with flaps at LDG. But, it went well.

What I learned after doing them over and over again to get a better feel was that it's really an extremely lower power setting manuever, if not even idle before coming out of it in the round out to soften (if needed) the descent rate. That, combined with initiating it with the rudder first, then turning the ailerons over also seemed to be a much better technique for all the students I taught them to.

YMMV
 
USMCmech said:
Max demonstrated Xwind component is like 21 kts.


OTOH, If you are high and you try a forward slip, it just laughs at you. No flap landings are the most challanging manuver in that plane. Realize that it's a motor glider with short wings, and a bigger engine.
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Max demonstrated crosswind is 20

If your the rudder pedal is not on the floor and the stick shoved forward the 20 is not slipping. Once those control inputs are there, then it slips like a champ.
 
Ah yes, I forgot the forward stick pressure. . . or actually. . .just a little lower than "Normal" trim usually works well with power at 1300RPM - or whatever power output you're getting with the throttle at idle.
 
surreal1221 said:
The DA20 (Eclipse, and Evolution, not a huge fan of the Katana) are extremely fun airplanes to fly. Really can't speak too much about them to be honest. Back when the dollar meant something, and if I had the financial capability, I would have purchased one and leased it back to the school.
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This one was an Eclipse. I really liked it.

Even used, they're kinda spendy. About $120K, is what the CFI who took me up today said.
 
bdhill1979 said:
Max demonstrated crosswind is 20

If your the rudder pedal is not on the floor and the stick shoved forward the 20 is not slipping. Once those control inputs are there, then it slips like a champ.
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Amen to that. Full rudder and you better give it forward pressure unless you want to go into a spin. Worked great every time I've tried it. Surprisingly, I've never flown anything but the DA20 because that's all my school has. So I don't even know what a forward slip in a Cessna entails. It is lousy for grass strip landings, but that is the only negative I've found with it. Also, if you are used to a Cessna you might have a hard time getting it slowed down for final. It is a very clean aircraft so the drag is at a minimum. But again, nothing a slip can't take care of if you know how to do it!
 
The DA-20A1 is where it's at......NOT.

I know the newer ones have the bigger engine but that rotax was a piece...It overheated, it always got carb ice, it never started when the temp was below freezing.

There's no teaching rough power/pitch/performance values in that plane....It's a glider, if you hit an updraft the plane wants to accelerate or climb like crazy.

I had a love/hate relationship with the Kraptana. I'm happy I flew it but if I had a son or daughter learning to fly, they'll be in a 152 with a single Nav/Com. A much more honest plane (the 152).
 
I've got about 6 hours in a DA-20 now. It is privately owned with only 80 hours on it and pretty cherry.

It is definitely the easiest to fly airplane I have flown yet. Still, alot of fun and yeah...great view!
 
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