Simviation Forums

Hey guys, im currently getting my private pilots liscense at Wings Field. I did plan to fly the 150 but instead decided to go for the DA20. Its a great plane, cruising speed of 110, comfortable tandem seat cockpit, and its built of composite material so its very light weight and dosent hog gas, cough *Cessnas*. Plus for some reason I find flying stick is a whole lot better then flying with a yoke. Anyway I was wondering if any of you are currently flying this great aircraft, and if not any reasons why not? or why you do fly it?

I haven't flown the DA-20, but having flown the best part of 100hrs on another similar (albeit slightly more powerful) European (German) "plastic" training aircraft, the Grob 115, I think that they are the way forward, being light and manoevrable, no yokes, very docile. Having said that, I very nearly did my first 20hrs training on the DA-20, but ended up on the C152...

Is the DA-20 cleared for aerobatics?

its cleared for some minor aerobatics, havent read the manual but I do know its fixed gear and light frame hinders high g aerobatics

Hey Strahl! Guess who else is taking lessons at Wings (the one in Blue Bell).... me!

(small world dude)

Who's your instructor? Chances are I know them.

I fly the 172, just because I was looking for something a bit heavier than the DA.

Lucky little punks.  ::)  I'd love to fly one of those guys.  The company brings up a demo aircraft to our school about three times a year for students to fly for free... full glass cockpit, TCAS, GPWS... all the bells and whistles you could ever dream of.   I think they have a G-1000 and an MX-20 unit in them, but am uncertain.  But every time in the last three years I've had prior commitments that didn't allow for me to try them out.

BTW, you can thank the ladies for having yokes in our airplanes!  haha  the dresses and skirts kept causing problems with control sticks.  

I wouldnt mind trying out a DA20 one of these days.  I have like a payware version of it for my FS, its great, feels kinda like my 172  ;D

Despite my irrational, sentimental attachment to old piles of aluminum, I think the new breed of trainer/sport aircraft is pretty cool. Took a good look at some Diamonds the other day, and was impressed.
 But I especially liked the motorglider. Very impressive specs... and you can legally fly it in the US without a medical, 'cuz it's  "just a self-launchng glider"... sshhhh....  Check this link; note especially the service ceiling and glide ratio.  :o What a great fun-cross-country machine...
http://www.diamondair.com/contentc/xtspec.htm  

DA-20 = Falcon 20

DV-20 = Katana

Or so is my understanding. I've got some time in an Eclipse, I love it. It's a very fun plane, but I'd rather stick with the Cub or Champ when it comes to flying two seat planes.

That's what I'm doing my training out of up here in Alaska.

Off topic for a minute on the subject of the G-1000, how much do they cost IRL and can you get one for FS?

According to this private pilot magazine i read not too long ago, i think the Garmin 1000 costs more than the airplane

Ive flown it, beauty of a plane. Bit cramped around the legs tho, cessnas more spacious.