Diamond?

[popaviator]

Has anyone flown in an ATP DA40? What location has them?

[BillH]

I flew in DA40 for a few hours over in JAX with Rich Tillery.
I much prefer my schools 172SP G1000.

[Snuggles]

Only the JAX location has them. It was a big factor in choosing Arlington over JAX, since I wanted to get my PPL on the C172. The DA40 seems to be a sweet ride, but I kept hearing that you'll have a more visceral experience (old school vs. new school) flying the Cessna, and therefore you'll be a better pilot. Makes sense to me, but we'll see when I get to Texas in July.

[BillH]

Originally Posted by Snuggles

Only the JAX location has them. It was a big factor in choosing Arlington over JAX, since I wanted to get my PPL on the C172. The DA40 seems to be a sweet ride, but I kept hearing that you'll have a more visceral experience (old school vs. new school) flying the Cessna, and therefore you'll be a better pilot. Makes sense to me, but we'll see when I get to Texas in July.

The DA40 is nothing like a C-172. DA40 is a lot tighter inside for bigger guys, low wing, flies faster, faster stall speed, and stupid free wheeled nose wheel which means you have to turn it with differential braking and slip stream over the rudder. It does have a cool factor with the G1000 cockpit, a center stick, and a super cool view with the bubble canopy and the main wing behind where the pilot sits. The rudder pedals and brakes absolutely suck, and god forbid you flip the thing over, good luck maneuvering yourself between the front seats to the rear and out the emergency hatch. You'll most certainly burn to death if your not dead already.
C-172 is well a C-172, a well proven design and one of the safest ones as well. Plenty of room inside, and easy to get out in case of an accident. I have an urge to go fly a Cirrus...

[alloyicon]

I just got checked out in the DA-40.

I was supposed to fly out to KSEZ tomorrow morning to build some much needed X-country time before I begin my instrument training later this month.

Unfortunately, there has been a heavy marine layer hanging around here (May grey) so it looks like I won't be getting any flying in around here for at least several days.

I started my VFR training in a DA-20 and finished in a C-152. The DA-20 had some engine trouble and it seems that most A&P mechanics have little experience working on the Rotax engines.

I like the DA-40. Yes the taxiing & ground handling take a little getting used to, but each design has it's advantages as well as disadvantages. With it's nearly 40' wingspan, being able to pivot with differential braking can be advantageous at times. It has excellent visibility, it is relatively fast and I feel it is a safe design. It has aluminum fuel cells placed between dual (fore & aft) wing spars as well as flexible fuel lines which reduces the possibility of a fuel line rupture/fire during an accident.

If you are used to landing in Cessna's, then you may find the Diamonds a bit floaty during the landing flare.