Katana VS Cirrus

abruzzano

abruzzano

New Member
Hi Guys,

I regularly instruct in both the SR20/22, and I have a student who wants to buy a DA20, but I have never flown one. From what I read it sounds like a good airplane and it's ok equipped. He mentioned flying from Nebraska (1000ft) to Idaho, and right away I'm concerned about performance at altitude over the mountains?

Any inputs from DA20 pilots or those who have flown both?

Thanks

Alex
 
There's no comparison. The Cirrus is a lot more airplane in every way.

Still, the DA20-C1s are good primary training airplanes, in my opinion. It's not much more than that though. I've got over 300 hours in the DA20-C1, and my flight school has a fleet of 9 of them. We're good at teaching in them and our mx is good at keeping them in great shape. Your mileage may vary.

About your altitude question: http://forums.jetcareers.com/showthread.php?t=28536
I got one up to 14,000 with no trouble.


Mike
 
I have time in both types and find the ergonomics much more confortable in the Cirrus. The Diamond is smaller inside and much less capable.
 
N422NM said:
I have time in both types and find the ergonomics much more confortable in the Cirrus. The Diamond is smaller inside and much less capable.
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Hence the much heftier price tag. ;)
 
There's not much comparison between a 4-seat SR20 or SR22 and a 2-seat DA20. Are we talking about the Rotax or Continental version. I wouldn't go near the mountains in the Rotax version, but I've been tempted to try a =solo= flight in the Continental version - I know pilots who have and they say it's fun.

The problem is 2-fold. Risk mitigation in mountain flying in any piston single takes some extra knowledge and skill. The less margin for error that the airplane gives you (let's call it "power") the higher degree of skill required of the pilot. You haven't mentioned whether this Nebraska pilot has had any mountain training at all, so I don't know whether he's be safe in an 310 HP SR22, let alone a 125 HP DA20.

Second problem is weight. There's not much baggage capacity and you like to stay light in the mountains.
 
I've heard that Diamonds require some special endorsement from a Diamond training pilot before you can instruct in them. I'm sure this is a rumor, but has anyone else heard this?
 
PanJet said:
I've heard that Diamonds require some special endorsement from a Diamond training pilot before you can instruct in them. I'm sure this is a rumor, but has anyone else heard this?
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Might be recommended, but there is no legal requirement for a Diamond training pilot to give an endorsement. You won't find anything in the FAR/AIM about it.

One of my former flight instructors used to be a Columbia Aircraft sales rep/training pilot. He had to take a special course at the Columbia factory to be considered a specialized "Columbia instructor" for the training they offer to all new Columbia Aircraft buyers. He could instruct in Columbia aircraft all he wanted, but he couldn't give the authentic, official, company-sanctioned training to Columbia owners until he completed the factory's CFI course. Maybe you heard about a similar system for Diamond?
 
jrh said:
Might be recommended, but there is no legal requirement for a Diamond training pilot to give an endorsement. You won't find anything in the FAR/AIM about it.

One of my former flight instructors used to be a Columbia Aircraft sales rep/training pilot. He had to take a special course at the Columbia factory to be considered a specialized "Columbia instructor" for the training they offer to all new Columbia Aircraft buyers. He could instruct in Columbia aircraft all he wanted, but he couldn't give the authentic, official, company-sanctioned training to Columbia owners until he completed the factory's CFI course. Maybe you heard about a similar system for Diamond?
Click to expand...
Cirrus does the same thing. So do other companies. And the limitation for instructors is that the insurance companies sometimes require initial checkouts or biennial or annual flight reviews with a company-certified instructor.

I have not heard anything about this for Diamonds. I've instructed and done FBO checkouts in them. Perhaps Diamond is doing something like this with the G1000 Star. Best place to check is at the Diamond website.
 
PanJet said:
I've heard that Diamonds require some special endorsement from a Diamond training pilot before you can instruct in them. I'm sure this is a rumor, but has anyone else heard this?
Click to expand...

you might be mixing up cirrus for diamond. diamonds have no such factory course, cirrus does. I believe it's called CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Program).

http://www.cirrusdesign.com/CSIP/
 
Hey guys, thanks for the good replies. I sent Diamond an email about a test flight a week ago and still no answer. The buyer has no mountain flying experience, and mine is looking down at the Rockies from FL290 (except for a trip to Bozeman Montana). He can get a used SR20 or older SR22 for the same price and I think that will be my recommendation until we have a chance to test fly both and see how they really perform.

The Cirrus is a bit more limiting in learning how to take off and land (i.e. easier to get a prop/tail strike and the tail is a 4/5K fix, the engine, well, more) so that first solo won't come at the 10 hour point, but maybe at the 20 hour point after a few cross countries and some more experience.

For the Diamond CFI's out there, are there any good web sites for owners? Not being an owner I don't join COPA (Cirrus Owners and Pilot Association).

Thanks

Alex
 
abruzzano said:
. He can get a used SR20 or older SR22 for the same price and I think that will be my recommendation until we have a chance to test fly both and see how they really perform.
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Sounds like you're talking about a DA40 not a DA20. Apples and oranges.

The DA20 is a 2-seat airplane. Most of the answers you received, including mine (except for the part about getting mountain training) were about the 2-seat DA20.

The DA40 is generally competitive with the SR20, although with 20 less HP.

On that mountain thing? The Colorado Pilots Association's 2nd (and last for this year) mountain ground school in Denver is next month. If your student is planning on flights into the mountains, you might suggest he check it out:

http://coloradopilots.org/content_mtnfly_class.asp?menuID=16~16
 
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