Diamond DA-40

On 2006-10-31, Eric Bartsch wrote:
I've got quite a bit of high-perf and complex time in faster aircraft,
but I've never flown any of the Diamond planes.

I flew a DA-40 for an hour or so with one of their demonstrators back in
early 2002. I had by then a fair number of hours in the S-35 Bonanza, as
well as a few in lower performance complex planes like the Arrow.

I found the DA-40 to be entirely conventional and very pleasant to fly.
The one I flew was one of the 'conventional engined' 180hp O-360 types -
the diesel wasn't out then. It performed better than a 200hp Arrow in
every quantitative respect (speed, rate of climb, fuel burn) and in my
opinion, in every qualitative aspect too (nicer handling, better outward
visibility, easier to land, quieter, more comfortable, easier to get in
and out of since you can enter either side and there's also a back door
for rear seat passengers).

Experience in aircraft like the Grumman AA5 helps as it has a castoring
nosewheel, but that really doesn't take long to get used to.

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In article ,
Dylan Smith wrote:

Experience in aircraft like the Grumman AA5 helps as it has a castoring
nosewheel, but that really doesn't take long to get used to.

Owner-speak: expect to spend money on brakes.

Thanks for all the feedback on the DA-40. Sounds like the plane is
pretty straight forward. I've got a glider rating, and I currently fly
a warbird with a center stick and a castoring nosewheel, so it sounds
like the main differences between what is "normal" are covered there.
I'll be interested to see how it flies. I've always thought they looked
like interesting planes.

I got to fly an SR-20 once and I was surprised at how little the side
stick mattered. By the time I had climbed through about 200 feet, it
seemed perfectly normal. It was definitely a plane where you would want
the trim operational at all times though.

Thanks,
Eric Bartsch
1959 Pilatus P-3 A-848
http://www.hometown.aol.com/bartscher/P3A848.html