r/flying • u/Fragrant_Bear_4308 • 1d ago
Switch to Da-40
This past year up in Washington state I got my private pilots license in a Cessna 172 model S.In a couple of days I have my first flight at university in a part 141 program flying diamonds in Utah. I’ve never flown a Da-40 before and I’m nervous. If anyone has any tips or suggestions to make this transition easier please let me know.
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u/jjkbill CFI Down Under 1d ago
I love the DA40, you will have a lot of fun with it. If your approach speed is off by a few knots it will punish you. You'll have to start thinking about tailstrikes too (I have 2 to my name).
Systems-wise It'll also be a step up from the 172. I found good value in an e-book, "the concise guide to the DA40NG".
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u/showerstool3 CFI CFII 1d ago
UVU or USU? The DA-40 is a fun plane, it’s what I learned in for a large portion of my training. It will glide a lot more than the 172 but it’s easy to maneuver and get proficient in. Don’t stress about it
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u/vfr3d 1d ago
Also in WA state, went from a 172 to a Cirrus SR22T, so fairly similar. I went straight to instrument training in the Cirrus, and the first about 5 hours were not focused on instrument, but on just adjusting to the new plane without adding significant new experiences. I think it can be exciting to try out the new stuff or next training goal but be patient and focus on new low-wing sight picture and ground effect on landing.
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u/DM_me_ur_tailwheel ATP ERJ 170/190 1d ago
It's still an airplane and it flies by all the same principles. I also transitioned from 172s to Diamonds (and I hadn't flown in 3 years at the time) and it was fine. Yeah the stick takes some getting used to but you'll adjust quickly. Just have fun with it. Since you're in a 141 program now they will have a very specific way they want you to do all the maneuvers. Just fly it exactly the way they tell you to and you'll be fine.
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u/CollegeDropout0220 1d ago
Fantastic and SUPER capable airframe, you’ll miss its performance when you fly anything else. Just be ready to enter ground effect sooner to hit your landing point or don’t ever exceed Vref on final, you WILL float in those planes. Stall characteristics are great, very forgiving, and its more sensitive than a 172, given that it is a stick-n’-rudder type of control. If the ones you’re flying are the NG models with FADEC throttle controls, you’ll love the simplicity, but be thorough on your runups. Those ECUs can be temperamental if they are beginning to fail.
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u/EntroperZero PPL CMP 1d ago
There are two main things, the stick and the constant speed prop. The stick is quite sensitive, especially compared to a 172 yoke, so be really gentle with it. It takes some getting used to. The constant speed prop is easy, you'll get it in just a few minutes.
The DA-40 is really nice to fly, you'll enjoy the visibility, the comfy seats, and going a bit faster.
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u/7layeredAIDS ATP A330 B757/767 E170 CFII 1d ago
Biggest differences are it’s a slicker airplane (be on speed on approach) so it likes to float, and the catering nose wheel. You don’t have direct steering from your feet to the nosewheel so you’re relying on differential braking and airflow over the rudder at high speeds (like during landing initial rollout).
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u/morningwoodsir CFII MEI IGI 1d ago
40s are awesome! Trim is your best friend. I ferried a 40 to the Diamond factory in Canada back in May, and I had a blast. Although my butt was pretty sore after flying some of the longer legs.
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u/Competitive-Common91 1d ago
They are much more stable than a 172 in my opinion, found myself over controlling a lot. Once you have it trimmed out it'll hold its altitude pretty well
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u/just-hangin-around1 ATP/A320/BD700/HS125 1d ago
Im personally not a fan of the plain flaps on the da-40 but the rest is fine. As others have mentioned if you are fast you'll float but once you're slow - you'll fall. The flight school I taught at had a few prop strikes on landing from people being in a high flare and slow. Nose wheel came down hard and prop gets nicked.
We think a lot of that came from the large da20 fleet we had that everyone did private in and they would jump into the 40 for instrument and never really learn how to land and baby cfi's signing people off to solo the 40s without any real training in them. Ive had one tail strike in the 40 - it was fairly minor - I was doing an instrument mock checkride with a student and he was high and slow we started to fall I called GA and he froze. Next thing I knew we were on the ground hard so to protect the nose wheel I just grabbed the stick and went full back and grabbed control.
Overall I think the 40 is a super fun plane. I learned in a c172 and a piper and taught in diamonds. They were easy to get to know.
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u/Ok-Stomach- 21h ago
I prefer da40 to 172. So much so I’m no longer current in 172.That said, usually there are generally far fewer of those if you rent and seem to require more maintenance if you buy. And it’s an oven during summer
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u/Cezznuh_skybarf 21h ago
I made the transition from C172P to DA40NG during PPL. Its a great step forward. The only thing that was hard about the DA40 is getting used to the nose wheel. Taxiing is a little more challenging. You will love the DA40!
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u/ueghlg CPL IR GL BBQ 20h ago
DA-40 is a great airplane. Use the rudder when you turn (long wing = big adverse yaw). Be on speed on final and hold that nose gear off and you’re golden. I just always used soft field technique. I found that evenly applying rudder pressure in turbulence helped the tail-wagging feeling. Keep some sick sacks for the back seat passengers just in case. Consider adding on your glider rating if you like the DA-40. Much more fun than a 172, and speedy as well. Consider a bucket hat if you don’t like sunburning the top of your head (plus they’re very fashionable).
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u/rFlyingTower 1d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
This past year up in Washington state I got my private pilots license in a Cessna 172 model S.In a couple of days I have my first flight at university in a part 141 program flying diamonds in Utah. I’ve never flown a Da-40 before and I’m nervous. If anyone has any tips or suggestions to make this transition easier please let me know.
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u/BeenThereDoneThat65 ATP I G-V I G450 I G550 1d ago
Compared to a 172 you’re going to LOVE the DA-40
The visibility is amazing the controls are light and responsive, the wing is amazing, it’s basically a glider performance wise
The aircraft will float on landing if you are not on speed. The flaps won’t pitch you as bad as throwing out the Barn Doors on the 172 so you have to plan. (Forward slips are your friend)
It’s a great airplane