How's the DA-20 C1 Eclipse
 

I'll be flying the DA-20 Eclipse this weekend. I've never flown one before. I know it's made of composites, and have the least fuel burn etc. I also have never flown an aircraft without a standard yoke. How is it to flyone?

Flying a stick is no different than a yoke.

The DA-20 is a fun aircraft. Very responsive in the air, and very efficient. It's a little faster than a 172 in cruise. They handle a crosswind landing very well. A coordinated stall is simple. The horn starts about 10kts prior and the buffett starts about 5kts prior. I prefer the DA-20 to a 172 until it's about 80 degrees otuside. After that it gets toasty in that cockpit.

The most difficult thing is taxi. It has a free castoring nosewheel so you have to use differential braking at low speeds.

Ahh yes the "plastic wagon" as we so affectionately call them. I would have to agree, flying in 100 degree or more Texas summer wx is no fun in a DA20. Right now it shouldn't be to bad. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses as there is no sun visor. Like pip said, it's a very responsive aircraft as compared to the 172 or 152. They're not as comfortable as the 172 however. The seats are not adjustable at all. Make sure when you pull the rudder handle to bring the rudders to you that you pull it straight out, not up as those things have been known to break. The DA20 is an excellent stick and rudder airplane but not much more than that. It is not certified for flight into IMC. Given the option between the two, I'd rather fly a 172.

Oh yeah, if you're over 6' the DA-20 gets really uncomfortable. I'm not so I really never had that issue.

If you're going to be in it for more than an hour, take your wallet out of your back pocket. The seats are supportive, but have no padding.

They also have a lot narrower wheel base than what you would be used to in a cessna, so they're a little bit squirly on the ground. Crosswind landings are a little different than a 172/152 as well. Because the airplane is a low wing, you simply cannot sideslip it all the way to the runway like you can in a high wing. Crab into the wind all the way to the runway, and then during your flare just before touchdown use rudder to align the longitudinal axis of the airplane with the centerline and dip the wing into the wind just a little bit. I call this the crab-and-kick method. The school I work for had to patch and replace several ailerons when we first got the DA20s because students who were used to flying 152s used the sideslip technique and would scrape the wings on the runway.

I'm 6' 5" and dont have a problem. It's a great plane to fly; for CFI training it spins fairly well if you load it right. I have more legroom in that than I do the DA40.