Diamona DA-20 Katana Review (not for the tall!)

noah wrote in message I really liked the Katana - except for the rudder
pedals, and wish I had fit better!

To give me a better understanding, how about comparing your fit in the
Katana to your fit in a Cessna 150? I can relate to the C-150 because I've
sat in it. What about the effectiveness of air vents for keeping cool?

Thanks,
D.

noah wrote in message I really liked the Katana - except for the rudder
pedals, and wish I had fit better!

To give me a better understanding, how about comparing your fit in the
Katana to your fit in a Cessna 150? I can relate to the C-150 because I've
sat in it. What about the effectiveness of air vents for keeping cool?

Very good questions - I thought about the vents after posting, but
forgot to include them in my original post... We were *Baking* in
there... and this was on a sunny but approx 75 degree day (give or
take 5deg F). Taxiing, the CFI had well practiced keeping most of his
arm outside/thru the pax side air vent - a technique that I quickly
adopted as the rest of the interior was extremely hot.

As for space vs a 150/152 - While a snug fit, I can fit into 152s and
have flown many hours in both normal 152s and a 152 aerobat (doing
acro). I found that in a 152 it is much easier to wear a kneeboard,
and still easy to access all the controls (unlike the Katana, where
you may partially block the throttle area adjacent to your right knee.

-Noah

All of the DA20s at SQL are the Rotax-powered ones. The C1/etc.
Continental models have a redesigned instrument panel which provides a
*little* bit more kneeroom, which was my biggest problem (I'm 6"4").
However, I haven't actually flown the aircraft, I just sat in one of
each type and closed the bubble.

It's the same deal with the Euro- and Canado- DA40s. The Canadian ones
have more room.

Dave Blevins

On 16 Oct 2003 17:53:30 -0700, (noah) wrote:

Hi,
So I didn't find many reviews of the Katana prior to my 'checkout'
flight 'attempt' in one. This afternoon I took a 1.2 hr checkout
flight with a CFI from Diamond Air (www.ksql.com) at San Carlos
airport (KSQL).

Summing up my opinion: If you're over 5'8", or have a long torso,
forget about the Katana. I'm 5'11" and it wasn't too good.