The Diamond DA20 is the light, sporty two-seat composite single that helped modernize the training fleet. A bubble canopy and center control stick give it fighter-like visibility and crisp, responsive handling, while the bonded composite airframe and efficient engine — a Rotax 912 in the early DA20-A1 Katana, a 125 hp Continental in the DA20-C1 Eclipse — keep it light and economical. Its honest manners and low running costs have made it a flight-school staple, and the C1 has even been used for military ab-initio pilot screening.
For a first airplane or a time-builder, the DA20 is one of the easiest singles to share. Two seats and a small, fuel-sipping engine mean modest fuel and maintenance bills, and a partnership splits the already-low hangar, annual, and insurance across owners — so a group can keep a fun, modern, great-visibility airplane flown often without anyone carrying the whole cost. The trade-off versus a four-seater is just that: two seats and limited baggage, so it is built for training and pure flying rather than family travel.
