The Pilot in Command and Aircraft Airworthiness
Throughout the course of private pilot training, every student learns the privileges and responsibilities of the Pilot in Command (PIC). One of the most overlooked responsibilities is requirement 91.7, which is the determination of aircraft airworthiness by the PIC. There are several components to aircraft airworthiness, such as required documents, inspections, and equipment. The document… Read more »
Elevator Trim
There are several different ways elevator trim can be installed. Inside the cabin, control for the trim is either an electric switch on the elevator control, a manual trim wheel, or a combination of the two. Most aircraft have an external trim tab on the right elevator, while our DA20s have an electric motor to… Read more »
Challenge Your Instrument Skills
The ability to go flying is a dream come true for every pilot. To climb in an airplane on a rainy day, takeoff and climb up into the clouds quickly followed by bursting out into the clear blue sky above is absolutely awesome! As the pilot in command, we can enjoy this spectacular experience only… Read more »
Brakes – Safety Check
Though performing a thorough preflight inspection is critical to the safety of every flight, there are some items that are especially important to check before settling into the cockpit for engine startup. For example, on the Diamond DA-20, the brake linings (or brake pads) should be thoroughly examined before each flight. Because the DA-20 has… Read more »
Blue Skies and Blue Gas: A Pilot’s Favorite Scenario
A pilot is enticed to fly by clear, blue skies. What else about the color blue is important to a pilot? Before each flight, pilots check to ensure their aircraft contains the correct type as well as quality of fuel. To make it easy, the aircraft has a placard placed at each fueling port that… Read more »
Seatbelts: Safely Connected, Ready to Fly!
Does it get any better than climbing into an aircraft, clicking your seatbelt together, and settling into the cockpit for another extraordinary flying experience? Although the seatbelt portion may seem simple, there are a few important items to keep in mind for you and your passengers. For adjustable buckles, tighten the lapbelt portion(s) in order… Read more »
Carbureted vs Fuel Injected
Starting In carbureted engines, the fuel/air mixture meets in the carburetor. The mixture then goes to each cylinder through the air intakes. In the fuel injected engine, the fuel and air do not mix until they reach the cylinder. Since fuel injection systems shoot fuel directly into the cylinders, they are easier to flood (too… Read more »
A Frosty Situation
Here we are, on the edge of another season change. The air is cooling, the nights are crisp, and the leaves are starting to turn. Now is the time to start thinking ahead to the days of winter. As a pilot, this can mean more days of bad weather and less days for flying. Winter… Read more »
Heating It Up
While the recent drop in temperatures may be a welcome change for some, the cooler weather does present some unique challenges to flying. The most evident of these challenges is the difficulty in starting a cold aircraft engine. Besides hard starting, it is said that one cold start can cause up to 300 hours of… Read more »
Diamond Eclipse Propellers: Wood Prop Nuances
Everyone would agree that the propeller is an extremely important part of the airplane. Wooden propellers are installed on the Diamond DA-20-C1 aircraft, and they are actually subject to some unique operating characteristics. The Diamond Eclipse DA-20 is equipped from the factory with a W69EK7 Series Sensenich propeller. This particular prop is economical to produce… Read more »