Night flight in a Diamond DA20

[wgargan]

da20's are not very well lit.

[tubeyou443]

Does that DA20 not have instrument lighting???

[custom14]

atv is correct to an extent, the cockpit does need to have very dim illumination so that the eye can adapt to the darkness, obviously you don't want the cockpit completely black.. however this is obviously an instructional flight so enough with the flak about no cockpit lighting..

[Earssss]

use the lights dude

[atvmaster281]

All possible lights were on

[Earssss]

even the dash lights???

[atvmaster281]

You mean panel lights? if i can remember correctly there were two lights that point to the front from the back but they are very bright and shouldn't be used while flying in a dark area.

[dottervideos]

I am sorry, but I can´t believe what I am seeing here...flying VFR in a single engine piston plane with no sufficient instrument light cannot be safe! You are still "fresh" in your flying career, but think of sudden difficulty appearing with the engine, etc...

The DA20 is a very good plane, but you can always come into troubles...with any type of aircraft, please remember that!

[atvmaster281]

There was instrument lights my intructor who was in the other seat turned them off to try and make things a little harder, but if anything happened they were only a button click away.

[dottervideos]

In Austria the DA20 is not approved for Night-VFR Flights (not due to the limitations of the instrument light, which is really poor, but due to the limitations of instruments build in normally) You have to carry a headlight or some other type of flashlight with you to conduct a NVFR flight. Anyhow, be careful with such flights! Take care!

[atvmaster281]

That's really weird, we did have flashlights too trust me

[Earssss]

he should lose his job for that one,, lights =life

[atvmaster281]

The idea is to keep the panel as dark as possible to get your eyes adjusted to the darkness outside, how many hours do you even have? without lying

[Earssss]

i have had my license since 96 and flying the da20 since then.. so lotssssssss.. how long have you been flying?

[br1ancrowell]

Did you complete your training and get your SEL/PPL?  Hope so! I love the DA20, extremely nimble & fun!

[thefsxflyer]

You said you were 16, right? You look older and don't you work at a pet shop? How much is it for these lessons to get your licences. What do you even have to do.

[bananasfoster2]

It is about 10,000 ish or more for private pilot license and you have to study. fly. pay attention. and have a blast.