Diamond DA20-A1 Katana Specifications

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School Board of Nassau County School Board Meeting Agenda Item Request Please complete this form in order to add any item to the School Board Meeting Agenda. ITEM TYPE: Recognition / Award Presentation Consent Discussion ACTION TYPE: Informational Take Action Recognition Tabled Item If this is a tabled item, on what date was the item tabled? AGENDA STATEMENT: ISSUE: ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDATIONS: RATIONALE: BUDGET IMPACT (SPECIFIC DETAILS): DATA SOURCE: SUBMITTED BY: Spec Sheet: Diamond DA20-A1 “Katana” N859DF (nee N853DF) Design DA20-A1 “Katana” DA20-C1 Instrument Panel The Diamond DA20 Katana is a low-wing cantilever monoplane, commonly operated as a low-cost two-seat trainer aircraft. According to Flight International, it has been considered to be relatively unorthodox amongst trainers, utilizing a design that makes heavy use of the manufacturer's prior glider products. The Katana benefits in the training role from its relative ease of handling and responsive controls. In comparison to traditional trainer aircraft, it has been marketed as substantially reducing the associated fuel and maintenance costs of operation, while providing favorable flight qualities and the necessary range for trainees to gain experience with. For a time, the Katana was the only two-seat composite training aircraft available that offered both low costs and incorporated advanced technologies, giving it an effective niche in the sector. The Katana has several distinctive features, including its all-composite construction, low-mounted wing, T-tail arrangement, and a castering nosewheel. All models make use of a composite airframe which is constructed of glass- and carbon-fiber reinforced plastic. The one-piece fuselage has removable wings, which assists with transportation and servicing activities. The wings themselves have transparent Plexiglas panels present so that key control elements can be readily inspected without disassembly. The airframe is complete with a sleek finish across the entirety of its exterior, which serves to eliminate corrosion and rivets in order to lower maintenance requirements. The maintenance costs of the Katana have been considered to be relatively low. The Katana provides excellent external visibility to its pilots via the use of an one-piece bubble canopy, which its hinged at the rear, enabling easy entry using the built-in steps. The cockpit features a comprehensive six-unit instrumentation panel on the left-hand side, the majority of avionics-related controls and displays in the center of the console, and engine-specific elements are allocated to the right-hand panel. The Katana makes use of individual stick-type flight control, as opposed to yokes, along with key engine controls on a centrally-positioned pedestal. There have been positive reports on the aircraft's comfort, the crew accommodated on fixed-position reclined seats with a small personal stowage area located directly behind; the noise levels are so low that headsets are typically unnecessary for voice communication, although an intercom system is integrated for this purpose. DA20-A1 Katana The nose wheel of the DA20 is not linked to the rudder pedals and turns while taxiing are made with differential braking, with rudder steering becoming more effective as airspeed increases. The Katana possesses a higher glide ratio than many of its competitors; its glide ratio is 11:1 and the DA20-A1 is 14:1. The aircraft does not feature any instances of vortex generators, wing fences or many other aerodynamic devices, aside from the integral winglets, which positively contribute to roll stability, drag-reduction, and enhanced aileron effectiveness. The Katana's T-tail configuration has also been claimed to reduce the negative effects of propeller-generated slipstream on the aircraft's pitch control as well as increase low-speed pitch authority. The wings have an intentional twist in their shape which causes the wing roots to stall in advance of the wingtips, which has the effect of the ailerons being fully effective well after the onset of a primary stall condition.[6] Other unfavorable flight conditions are often guarded against, such as a wing drop, which may only be produced as a consequence of prolonged and excessive elevator application during a steep climbing turn, and can be rectified by the relaxation of back pressure. The control forces across all regimes are well- balanced, which reportedly reduces the frequency to which trimming of the control surfaces may need to be performed. Many of the flight control surfaces, such as the elevators and ailerons, are push-rod actuated, while control of the rudder is achieved via cables. As a measure to protect against instances of over-rotation, a reinforced plastic skid is present underneath the tail unit. The Katana is commonly fitted with a Continental O-240 piston engine, which is both a lightweight and relatively fuel-efficient powerplant. The Rotax 912 is also equipped upon many aircraft. Variants powered by the Rotax engine have been approved for use with standard automotive gasoline, automotive-grade oil Mobil is also recommended for use as a lubricant. In the event of a loss of coolant leak, the Rotax engine is capable of 'dry running' for up to 2 hours without any resulting damage if run at or below 56 per cent power. The aircraft's constant-speed propeller is hydraulically actuated and fitted with composite blades. A unique clutch arrangement automatically disengages the propeller from the engine in the event of an obstacle being struck. This outline is from the “Diamond DA20” Wikipedia entry. Note: N859DF is equipped with the Rotax engine and constant speed propeller. Aircraft Valuation Valuation: DA20-A1 “Katanas” do not come up for sale very often, so there are few currently available. As of 26 April 2018, comparable aircraft prices are as follows: Domestic— 1996 Diamond DA20-A1 “Katana” in Orange County, California--$48,000 (private seller)