DA-40

Part one of getting checked out in a new G1000-equipped Diamond DA-40.

Really a dream machine, super easy to fly, what a great aircraft.

This time got to play with the autopilot a lot more, and did a little more flying than with the G1000 Cessna 172 I flew the other day.

Earlier in the day I had gotten an introductory IFR flight from a family friend who just got his CFI and CFII (Ted Cafferel, who also has his ATP with over 1700 hours, and a great guy might I add); he gave me a quick overview of IFR flying and reading approach plates, and then we shot 2 IFR approaches at KBPT before we ran out of time, by then I decided to cut into my 2 hour DA40 time to get a bite to eat. By the time I got back and ran out to the plane and did my first preflight on the aircraft (exterior fast, G1000 interior much slower) and got in the air, I had eaten up an hour of my 2 hour window. So after flying around a bit and doing some steep turns and power-off stalls and such, we ran out of time to do some touch and goes, so I'm currently scheduled to finish checking out in the aircraft on Thursday.

It's a fantastic plane and really flies well; it reminds me very much of the Zephyr 2000 ultralight (light sport); similar body (shape, T-tail, ailerons and flaps, etc), similar controls (stick), similar front seats, but a much more powerful engine and of course incredible avionics. My friend Al Waning would love it I'm sure :-)

If I recall correctly we were cruising at around 130 knots IAS at 24" of manifold.

Looking forward to my next flight and soloing in it.