PPL Training: DA-20 or DA-40

islandboy

islandboy

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islandboy
I know someone who wants to get their PPL. They have the choice of training in a DA-20 or a DA-40. I have no experience in the Diamonds, so I can't advise.

Does anyone have any insight into advantages/disadvantages of one model versus the other for introductory training purposes?

Cost is not a factor, BTW.
 
The 20 will be cheaper and if he/she fits I'd go with that and save some money. I've never flown a 20 but have flown a 40 a little bit and thought it was very nice but overkill for PPL training IMO.

***edit: just saw "cost is not a factor"***

In that case have them fly both and go from there.
 
Smart money is on finding a glider or tailwheel to use for training.

If it were be I had to do my PPL in those planes, I would choose the smaller plane, often they are the most telling of student error and have a wider envelope for spins and whatnot. That said I'm not a diamond guy and have never understood cost not being a factor.
 
islandboy said:
I know someone who wants to get their PPL. They have the choice of training in a DA-20 or a DA-40. I have no experience in the Diamonds, so I can't advise.

Does anyone have any insight into advantages/disadvantages of one model versus the other for introductory training purposes?

Cost is not a factor, BTW.
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If cost is not a factor, I'm selling my DA20C1 with a G500, just saying... :D

Personally, I think the DA20C1 is one of the best trainers for the money. It's more nimble and lively than the DA40. I put 130hrs or so on my DA20 in four months and I loved every second of it. Just getting into aerobatics now and the wife says I'm only allowed one plane.

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The -20 is a better training choice. Simpler, fewer new to him critical systems, and still lots of fun to fly and learn in.

I got my license in one and often wish I had regular access to it again (school doesn't rent to non-students)
 
I taught in a DA-20 a while back. Nice plane. Fun and very forgiving. Not a lot of flaps, so energy management is important. Takes some work to get it to full stall. Students took to it easily. Beyond training, very little useful load.

No experience in a DA-40.

Oh, one thing. The seat is fixed, the pedals move. If the student is tall, it may be a problem. I moved the pedals full forward, but then the brakes bottomed out against the firewall. I had to back them up a notch and deal with less leg room, but with a stick instead of a yoke, it wasn't a huge deal.
 
Maciej said:
If cost is not a factor, I'm selling my DA20C1 with a G500, just saying... :D

Personally, I think the DA20C1 is one of the best trainers for the money. It's more nimble and lively than the DA40. I put 130hrs or so on my DA20 in four months and I loved every second of it. Just getting into aerobatics now and the wife says I'm only allowed one plane.

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DSC_5599.jpg
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Nice!

Heck of a panel too, I thought the DA20s were VFR only though?
 
Well if cost isnt a factor, go with the 40. Only thing he's gonna have to learn is the constant speed prop and that takes all but one lesson.
 
What's the advantage that leads you to favor the 40?

Gucci Pilot said:
Well if cost isnt a factor, go with the 40. Only thing he's gonna have to learn is the constant speed prop and that takes all but one lesson.
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Whichever fits his mission after he gets his license.
Will they be doing just solo stuff? Or just them and their spouse on burger runs? Then stick to the 20.
If more than 2 are expected then train in the 40.
Best to have more experience in the plane you will honestly fly right?
 
I've flown the 20 a bit and enjoy it. If money is no factor though, I'd go for the 40. If money isn't a factor then they'll likely be flying even faster aircraft later and the 40 would help prepare a little better.

The 40 will also give the option for the cfi to file ifr if weather pops up(unlikely with some proper planning)

To be honest it really doesn't matter. There are small benefits to both. The da20 is a fun plane.
 
I trained in a da20 but have also spent a little time in a da40. The da20 is more fun to fly. That said, it both planes are at the same FBO, your friend should get checkout out in both while training in case availability for one of them becomes an issue....plus they aren't terribly different so the learning curve isn't that big a deal.
 
islandboy said:
What's the advantage that leads you to favor the 40?
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faster, experience using a constant speed prop, better avionics, IFR capable(if you want to get the instrument rating afterwards), extra seats if you want to bring people along for a lesson, also I bet the 40 has better availability to rent with people at the flight school probably going the cheaper route with the da20. Thats why at the airport I rent, I rent their Piper Arrow instead of their warriors because really only the commercial students rent the Arrow and it is pretty much available whenever I want it.
 
Maciej said:
If cost is not a factor, I'm selling my DA20C1 with a G500, just saying... :D

Personally, I think the DA20C1 is one of the best trainers for the money. It's more nimble and lively than the DA40. I put 130hrs or so on my DA20 in four months and I loved every second of it. Just getting into aerobatics now and the wife says I'm only allowed one plane.
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Ooh, nice ! How much does something like that go for ?
 
~100 hours in the DA-20 (A-1 and C-1)
~50 hours in the DA40.

Both are great planes. The DA20 is a little bit more nimble, but you can't really go wrong with either as a primary trainer. I really couldn't pick one over the other.
 
I have no experience in a DA20, but I have some time in a DA40, and find it to be a very nimble airplane.
 
I've flown both. Got my PPL in a DA 20. Moving up to the DA 40 was a quick checkout. The only complicating factor for me was the DA20 had steam gauges and the DA40 had a G1000. Took me a while not to chase the altitude "tape" on the display.

I don't remember the stalls in the DA40, but the DA20 stalls were as benign as I've seen.

Just stick with one or the other until you are done. Switching will slow you down a bit.

Kudos to Diamond - I'm a fan.
 
Are the da40 seats any better than the da20 seats?

On long flights I started getting uncomfortable in the 20 (possibly because of little padding and no ability to adjust the back)

I still really enjoy that plane. If I was not planning on going into IMC I'd be looking at buying one.
 
Somedudeintn said:
Are the da40 seats any better than the da20 seats?

On long flights I started getting uncomfortable in the 20 (possibly because of little padding and no ability to adjust the back)
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Not in the DA40 I'm currently flying. It has the exact same problem you describe. I can't imagine going on a XC in that plane. I'm bound up after an hour or so. It's extremely uncomfortable for my frame.

I'm extremely thankful to have something to fly while my 182 is down but...damn...
 
I flew both and both are fine. I'd go with the DA20 or try both and go with the one you are comfortable in. The DA20 was the easiest plane to land Ive ever flown. And it was fun to fly.
 
I find the DA40 a little more comfortable. But I'm betting the difference was the DA20 was an early model and the DA40 had a little more money thrown into "extras". I liked them...

(Still like Bonanza's better, but hey ...)
 
I think one of the flight schools here in FL uses DA-40's or twinstars (DA-42) for flight training. They are space hogs..you could land a Cherokee on the distance between wingtips..lol
 
Older DA-40's don't have as much headroom so if you're tall it may be a problem. I think after 2007 they put a little more bubble in the canopy.
 
timwinters said:
Not in the DA40 I'm currently flying. It has the exact same problem you describe. I can't imagine going on a XC in that plane. I'm bound up after an hour or so. It's extremely uncomfortable for my frame.

I'm extremely thankful to have something to fly while my 182 is down but...damn...
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The DA-40 isn't the most comfortable plane out there, but I felt like it's a bit better than a DA-20 for long flights. I did 1000 miles in one day once, with 3 stops, it wasn't terrible.

Either are better trainers than a 172, IMO.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
The DA-40 isn't the most comfortable plane out there, but I felt like it's a bit better than a DA-20 for long flights. I did 1000 miles in one day once, with 3 stops, it wasn't terrible.

Either are better trainers than a 172, IMO.
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Agreed, I did my ppl in the 172 and then started flying the da-20.

I had a few 4+ hour flights that made me wish I had a different seat.
 
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