page_title: Diamond DA20 Katana
section_title: Further development
hierarchical_section_title: Diamond DA20 Katana / Development / Further development
caption_attribution_description: English: 1999 Diamond DA20-C1 on the ramp
context_page_description: The Diamond DV20/DA20 Katana is an Austrian-designed two-seat tricycle gear general aviation light aircraft. Developed and manufactured by Austrian aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft, it was originally produced in Austria as the DV20.
  The DV20 shares many features from the earlier Diamond HK36 Super Dimona. It was introduced to service during 1993. During the 1990s, production of the type was commenced at a new facility in Canada in order to meet demand for the type within the North American market. The Canadian-produced aircraft are designated as the DA20. It has been a relative success on the market, having sold in excess of 1,000 aircraft by 2008 and multiple improved variants of the DA20 have been developed. Additionally, it has been further developed into the four-seat Diamond DA40 Diamond Star.
context_section_description: During 1998, production of the Continental IO-240-B3B-powered C1 Evolution and Eclipse models commenced, which was also performed at the firm's Canadian facility. The C1 model featured several advances, including the adoption of a new engine in the form of the Rotax 912, which was more powerful and provided the plane with greater performance as a result; other improvements included increased comfort, the adoption of slotted-flaps, and an improved braking capability. During the late 1990s, Diamond also developed a new four-seat aircraft, designated as the DA40, which had been heavily derived from the DA20.
  Both the DA20-A1 and C1 are certified under CAR 523 in Canada, as well as being under FAR 23 in the USA. The DA20 is certified in the utility category; in particular, it is permissible to intentionally spin it with flaps in the full up position. In 2004, Diamond received Chinese certification for the DA20. Both models also hold Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) certification.
  Although the DA20 is available with instrumentation and avionics suitable for flight under instrument flight rules (IFR), its plastic airframe lacks lightning protection and thus does not qualify for IFR certification. This limitation is not viewed as being relevant to most potential customers; according to aircraft publication Flying Magazine, "even when there were a lot of two-place trainers, there wasn't a lot of instrument training done in them...not too many owners of two-seaters fly them IFR".
  By 2010, production of the original A1 Katana model had come to an end, while the newer DA20-C1 model was still being manufactured. In November 2008, the company announced that it would be offering an Aspen Avionics glass cockpit primary flight display as an option on the DA20. Diamond indicated the Aspen PFD would be easy to incorporate into the existing instrument panel design because it mounts in a standard round instrument hole. In October 2009, the company introduced the Garmin G500 glass cockpit as an option.
caption: 1999 model DA20-C1 Eclipse
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