I started my flight training in a DA-20 and I loved it. The bucket seat is *way* too deep and gave me a backache, but once I learned to put a folded towel on the seat so I sat up a little higher and the angle between my legs and back wasn't so acute, it was wonderfully comfortable. The best thing about the DA-20 is the ergonomics. It has a proper stick and throttle quadrant which your hands fall naturally and comfortably on, instead of the maddeningly awkward buckhorn yoke (which looks like it should take two hands, but your instructor will slap you if you put more than one on it) and organ-stop-knob throttle (which looks like it should take no hands, but your instructor will slap you if you take your hand off it).
I flew the DA20 at IFS (Initial Flight Screening) for my Air Force Nav training in 2012. My first introduction to formal flight training and it did alright, speed was a premium and made me very nervous when I had strict times to meet which we couldn't because of a headwind or two. It did what it did and I passed by the skin of my teeth. As a trainer its good for the job, but I'll be dead and buried before ever considering a DA20 for personal use.
Last time i flew in one, we turned the engine off and glided around for a bit, turned the engine back on and went home. I like it, if your engine fails you can still fly it like a glider and make it home.
I started my flying career in gliders, flying old Super Blaniks! When I went to get my single engine add-on, I started in a Da20. I LOVED the DA20, it was modern enough to introduce me to cool electronics and avionics, but still grounded enough to feel like an old school plane (especially with old steam gauges.) This plane was a joy to fly, and if you set it just right you could get the fuel burn to below 5 gal an hour. Only major complaint as a plane, these things are a pain to land because of their glider-DNA... they REALLY need airbrakes lol! THAT and the seats are a little uncomfortable for someone who is 6foot or taller. I definitely miss my days in that little diamond, DA-139DA is somewhere out there still flying.
Haha, nice, my Trainer A/C: I learned to like it and just flew one today! We have the very old 80hp A1's; all of them 10k+ airframe hours and 60k+ landings. I think it is a great plane to learn to fly in; the constant speed prop of the A1 keeps you on your toes and and the castering nose wheel make it a harder taxi and to land well than a 172; but it will never drop a wing in slow flight and stick&rudder flying is great.
i did the majority of my training through cfi in a da-20 (the super neato glass panel c-1 variant specifically) and honestly hated it most of the time. it has a billion little quirks that are frankly annoying. i know a lot of guys really like the sleekness of it and it is marginally faster than other two seaters on paper, but it flies like a glider most of the time, i really never noticed it being more responsive than a cessna or cherokee to anything but turbulence. just my two cents tho lol. thanks for the vid as always.
I have done most of my PPL and CPL training on the DA20-C1 Evolution, and was looking forward to hearing your angle on it - pretty spot on, haha. I took my 6'4" father on a sight-seeing flight over the city not long after I got my PPL and suffice to say, he was fairly uncomfortable and quite happy to get out of the plane after only a little over an hour of flight time. Mind you, he was also trying to keep his limbs clear of the controls on his side of the aircraft, which isn't exactly easy to do when you're that big and the plane is that small. I think a 6'4" pilot actually flying the plane would be alright once seated with the rudder pedals adjusted accordingly, but it is certainly a very cozy cockpit, with a pitifully small baggage compartment (and useful load) to boot. All that being said, I have kind of fallen in love with the DA20s. Flying with a stick and throttle quadrant and a glass canopy was really novel after having started out on the 172, and kind of made me feel a bit like a fighter pilot...a really, really slow fighter pilot, but it has still been a great experience nonetheless. It's also oddly a bit of a head-turner at airports where people are used to seeing a lot of 172s around - I was a bit surprised on my CPL long cross-country by how many people wanted a little tour of the airplane when I pulled up to the local flying club. It's a great little trainer that does what it was built to do well!
i actually co-own one, and your numbers roughly check out. wouldn't be sad about a little bit more oomph, but as for now it is one heck of an affordable way to go flying. if you're fine with backpacking for holidays, you can easily put all that stuff in it and go.
The best thing about owning your own airplane is flying. That and telling everyone you own an airplane. Besides those two things , owning your own airplane is mostly a nightmare. It’s one of my favorite regrets in life.
Good luck! 6'2" and a little bit heavier. Couldn't fit the DA-20 or DA-40. Have a picture of the bubble canopy on the -40 coming to my mid-forehead unless I slouched. Started in a TB-10 that was scrapped due to a lack of spare parts during COVID then finished in a C172.
I love the DA20 but honestly I can't fathom buying one when you can get a Jabiru J230 for the same money or less. More payload, faster, equally cheap to operate, and a massive baggage area in back.
I generally liked my time in a DA 20 but I never got comfortable of the temperature sticker part of the check list. It felt like I was flying a plane designed by Icarus.
you.... covered the range... With the airplane's tail... I had to get out my E6B to convert 1020km to Screaming Eagle Super Cowboy Rocketship Freedom Length (Nautical)
Will you ever do an epic e1000? I wonder what the cost parity is on the older experimental versions, compared to the new certified ones. pr6 turboprop experimentals are not common, much less 6 seat variants.
I actually agree with the comparison to the 172. Why would you buy this as a personal plane when the DA40 exists? Why would you get a 172 when there's a 182? Sure, there's cost, but you know you really want the big brother plane
Breakfast and Complete Walkaround, Coffee. What could be better. I almost dropped my coffee cup when he said "White tadpole..." LOL Yeah..lets go with that.
I got my PPL in a DA20. Love it, but def wouldn't buy one. I want my 4 seats! Never actually gotten the chance to fly a DA40, but I would expect it to be an awesome plane. Guess I need to watch that video
The lack of understanding sarcasm is another highly regarded feature of the funny teutonic accent.
Yeah it was clearly a complimet and a joke. That dude must not have a sense of humor
German engineering at best but not humor :)
When will we get Complete Sharkaround??? ;)
still the coolest voiceover dude on the you of tubes... even if there's been a recent drought of saying "oooOOooooo", but I'll get over it.
oooOOooooo
Its a good day when you upload!!
I started my flight training in a DA-20 and I loved it. The bucket seat is *way* too deep and gave me a backache, but once I learned to put a folded towel on the seat so I sat up a little higher and the angle between my legs and back wasn't so acute, it was wonderfully comfortable. The best thing about the DA-20 is the ergonomics. It has a proper stick and throttle quadrant which your hands fall naturally and comfortably on, instead of the maddeningly awkward buckhorn yoke (which looks like it should take two hands, but your instructor will slap you if you put more than one on it) and organ-stop-knob throttle (which looks like it should take no hands, but your instructor will slap you if you take your hand off it).
The DA20 is a great airplane until August when you remember that you have to close the canopy on a baking hot tarmac before you can start the engine.
Why? The engine seriously won’t start if canopy open or the canopy will get slammed down from the prop wash?
@@jonasbaine3538 The other way around. The canopy hinges from the rear so you can't close it once the engine starts.
Here in Tennessee I'd say June through September is a problem. I'd take the Cessna 162 Skycatcher so I can keep the gullwing doors open during taxi!
@@Fang70 that is an odd design indeed. Almost like the designers weren’t pilots who have never sweated on the ramp lol.
"Parts are actually available..."
Understated comment of the video!
Love the videos! Keep up the great work!
I flew the DA20 at IFS (Initial Flight Screening) for my Air Force Nav training in 2012. My first introduction to formal flight training and it did alright, speed was a premium and made me very nervous when I had strict times to meet which we couldn't because of a headwind or two. It did what it did and I passed by the skin of my teeth. As a trainer its good for the job, but I'll be dead and buried before ever considering a DA20 for personal use.
Last time i flew in one, we turned the engine off and glided around for a bit, turned the engine back on and went home.
I like it, if your engine fails you can still fly it like a glider and make it home.
I was thinking about it, the thing looks like a beefier glider. It must have a neat glide ratio.
@@moteroargentino7944 11 to 1 glide ratio
Pipistrel Velis Electro next? Would love to see how this channel handles an electric.
I rode a 172 with COLD AC some weeks ago. I felt like a rich fuck riding his private jet.
Was waiting for your take on this one. You never disappoint.
I started my flying career in gliders, flying old Super Blaniks! When I went to get my single engine add-on, I started in a Da20. I LOVED the DA20, it was modern enough to introduce me to cool electronics and avionics, but still grounded enough to feel like an old school plane (especially with old steam gauges.) This plane was a joy to fly, and if you set it just right you could get the fuel burn to below 5 gal an hour. Only major complaint as a plane, these things are a pain to land because of their glider-DNA... they REALLY need airbrakes lol! THAT and the seats are a little uncomfortable for someone who is 6foot or taller. I definitely miss my days in that little diamond, DA-139DA is somewhere out there still flying.
Also no flight in clouds!
The POH undersells the performance a bit. It flies very nicely in Class A airspace, 7000 feet above its service ceiling.
specifically the c-1 variant, some of the earlier model da-20s did have static wicks
Thank you for another video. You got some great skills.
You win the internet with every one of your videos. Thank you!
Haha, nice, my Trainer A/C: I learned to like it and just flew one today! We have the very old 80hp A1's; all of them 10k+ airframe hours and 60k+ landings. I think it is a great plane to learn to fly in; the constant speed prop of the A1 keeps you on your toes and and the castering nose wheel make it a harder taxi and to land well than a 172; but it will never drop a wing in slow flight and stick&rudder flying is great.
I have a grob 109b that cruise about 95 knots but with a glide ratio of 28 to 1. Better fuel economy too.
Great video as always, glad to see the DA20 has been covered. Would love to see a video on the Lancair Evolution turbine or LX7.
Riley concurs.
i did the majority of my training through cfi in a da-20 (the super neato glass panel c-1 variant specifically) and honestly hated it most of the time. it has a billion little quirks that are frankly annoying. i know a lot of guys really like the sleekness of it and it is marginally faster than other two seaters on paper, but it flies like a glider most of the time, i really never noticed it being more responsive than a cessna or cherokee to anything but turbulence. just my two cents tho lol. thanks for the vid as always.
the push rod vs pulley controlled flight surfaces should have been very noticeable as far as responsiveness goes
Love Complete Walkaround and MickeLang!
2nd best handling airplane I've ever flown (RV-7 is best). Great trainer.
I have done most of my PPL and CPL training on the DA20-C1 Evolution, and was looking forward to hearing your angle on it - pretty spot on, haha. I took my 6'4" father on a sight-seeing flight over the city not long after I got my PPL and suffice to say, he was fairly uncomfortable and quite happy to get out of the plane after only a little over an hour of flight time. Mind you, he was also trying to keep his limbs clear of the controls on his side of the aircraft, which isn't exactly easy to do when you're that big and the plane is that small. I think a 6'4" pilot actually flying the plane would be alright once seated with the rudder pedals adjusted accordingly, but it is certainly a very cozy cockpit, with a pitifully small baggage compartment (and useful load) to boot. All that being said, I have kind of fallen in love with the DA20s. Flying with a stick and throttle quadrant and a glass canopy was really novel after having started out on the 172, and kind of made me feel a bit like a fighter pilot...a really, really slow fighter pilot, but it has still been a great experience nonetheless. It's also oddly a bit of a head-turner at airports where people are used to seeing a lot of 172s around - I was a bit surprised on my CPL long cross-country by how many people wanted a little tour of the airplane when I pulled up to the local flying club. It's a great little trainer that does what it was built to do well!
Goooood as well about good airplane. Thanks for metrics explaining. Love it!
i actually co-own one, and your numbers roughly check out. wouldn't be sad about a little bit more oomph, but as for now it is one heck of an affordable way to go flying. if you're fine with backpacking for holidays, you can easily put all that stuff in it and go.
The best thing about owning your own airplane is flying. That and telling everyone you own an airplane. Besides those two things , owning your own airplane is mostly a nightmare. It’s one of my favorite regrets in life.
You came to our flight college! I hoped you liked bringing your vans to MFC :)
With love -King air pilot from Moncton
Hey! Im taking a checkride in this November 26th. Good little plane, but not built for guys like me 6'4'' and 215lbs.
Good luck! 6'2" and a little bit heavier. Couldn't fit the DA-20 or DA-40. Have a picture of the bubble canopy on the -40 coming to my mid-forehead unless I slouched. Started in a TB-10 that was scrapped due to a lack of spare parts during COVID then finished in a C172.
Amazing video as always, upload more please!
Go Dynon!! DA20 is actually on my shortlist, and I didn’t even train in one. Is RV9 still coming anytime soon?
Wake up, babe, we get to find out how much I still can’t afford a plane!
Jk love these videos - superb drawings!
Didn't know you had your commercial. Congrats!
I thought these were faster, like 120 knots for the 100hp rotax powered ones. Wanted to buy a couple of them some time ago pretty cool little planes
I love the DA20 but honestly I can't fathom buying one when you can get a Jabiru J230 for the same money or less. More payload, faster, equally cheap to operate, and a massive baggage area in back.
I generally liked my time in a DA 20 but I never got comfortable of the temperature sticker part of the check list. It felt like I was flying a plane designed by Icarus.
you.... covered the range... With the airplane's tail... I had to get out my E6B to convert 1020km to Screaming Eagle Super Cowboy Rocketship Freedom Length (Nautical)
Will you ever do an epic e1000? I wonder what the cost parity is on the older experimental versions, compared to the new certified ones. pr6 turboprop experimentals are not common, much less 6 seat variants.
I actually agree with the comparison to the 172. Why would you buy this as a personal plane when the DA40 exists? Why would you get a 172 when there's a 182? Sure, there's cost, but you know you really want the big brother plane
PBY-Catalina or Aero Commander next please!
I need more caffeine. I missed the slide with the initial purchase price on the market today.
Breakfast and Complete Walkaround, Coffee. What could be better. I almost dropped my coffee cup when he said "White tadpole..." LOL Yeah..lets go with that.
Fun fact, the DA-20 is what most airforce pilots will first fly in IFT
2:09 I don't think your plane is dumb….it would be more better in blue, I think we all agree. 😂
I got my PPL in a DA20. Love it, but def wouldn't buy one. I want my 4 seats! Never actually gotten the chance to fly a DA40, but I would expect it to be an awesome plane. Guess I need to watch that video
do you fly out of WDR?
Nope. I'm Canadian 🍁
How do you create the models of the airplanes? I would like to model my plane for a logo that way
I draw them by hand. I take commissions too. Email me at info@completewalkaround.com if you're interested
Whenever you don't post for a while I start you worry you bought a Lancair 360. I know it's not dangerous, just unforgiving.
It IS unforgiving. I don't fit in very well, otherwise I probably would have
I have a feeling its not worth 20 diamonds...
Considering how long ago Studebaker went bust, it might be more like great- or even great-great-grandpa's car 😅
2:07 It's red so that it will go faster
Exactly ,stripes too
Cozy town inside 😂