TTA Cherokee Driver wrote:

: 4. On the test flight with AOPA pilot, the designer suggested slowing
: down to pattern speed before descending, because the plane is hard to
: slow down.

I would not worry about this. Punch the nose down a few degrees in even a
25 year old M-20J and it'll quickly be nudging redline airspeed. After a
few hours, the technique to slowing from cruise to landing speed in the
pattern is pretty easy (but it still doesn't slow down like my Cherokee!)

: 5. nonadjustable seats. I know the rudder pedals are adjustable, but
: that doesn't help short or tall pilots with headroom or visbility. and
: not everyone likes the same seatback angle.

I tried out a DA-40 which has non-adjustable seats (I'm pretty sure it
did, anyway..) The only disadvantage was that my knees hit the bottom
of the instrument panel. I could adjust the rudder pedals far enough
to use, but the knees in the panel didn't work for me. I can't fit in
a Miata, either, unless I use my right foot on the clutch and left on
the gas; I can fit into a 152, at least for short periods.

: The biggest plus is the pure FADEC engine, all you have to do is move
: the lever and mixture, carb heat, etc are automatically done for you.
: That's a big plus and is probably this plane's best innovation. Also
: gives efficient cruise.

Carb heat? I thought it had fuel injection. I think the FADEC is going
to make a lot of new owners very happy. It should help with minimizing
maintenance for lead deposits by always leaning properly, minimizing
fuel burn, maximizing takeoff performance, etc. If the plane had a CS
prop also controlled by FADEC it would probably be even closer to a
"turbine like" operation.

--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)