Davis DA-2 explained

The Davis DA-2 is a light aircraft designed in the United States in the 1960s and was marketed for homebuilding. While it is a low-wing monoplane of largely conventional design with fixed tricycle undercarriage, the DA-2 is given a distinctive appearance by its slab-like fuselage construction and its V-tail.^[1] The pilot and a single passenger sit side-by-side. Construction of the aircraft is sheet aluminum throughout, with the sole compound curves formed a fiberglass cowling and fairings.^[2]

The prototype made its first flight on May 21, 1966, and was exhibited at that year's Experimental Aircraft Association annual fly-in, where it won awards for "most outstanding design" and "most popular aircraft".

A major design consideration was ease of assembly for a first time home aircraft builder. Examples of this include: few curved components, a V-tail is one less control surface to build, and each wing is made from two sheets of aluminum with no trimming involved.

The DA-3 was a single DA-2 enlarged to accommodate four people. Work proceeded through 1973-74, but the aircraft was never completed.

Plans have been intermittently available over the years. They are as of August 2019, available from D2 Aircraft.

Operational history

Examples of the DA-2 have been completed in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and are currently (2015) actively flying in those countries.

Variants

• DA-2 -- Continental A-65 powered
• DA-2A—Continental O-200A powered
• DA-2B—3 inch lower roof line^[3]
• DA-3
• DA-Bandit-Corvair powered

References

Notes

Sources

• Barnett . Cliff . Oshkosh Sport Aircraft Galore . . 22 August 1977 . 112 . 3571 . 532–541 . .
• Book: Taylor, John W. R. . John W. R. Taylor . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1967–68 . 1967 . Sampson Low, Marston & Company . London .
• Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 305 .
• Book: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86. Jane's Yearbooks. London . 587–88 .
• Davisson . Budd . May 1973 . Flying the Davis DA-2A Homebuilt . Air Progress .

External links

• http://www.yahoogroups.com/da2a

Builder Group

• http://www.davisda2.com Current source for plans also a users forum.

Notes and References

1. Weeghman . Richard B. . Rockford '66 . . October 1966 . 79 . 4 . 52–53 .
2. Air Progress Sport Aircraft. Winter 1969. 41.
3. cubic Efficiency. Budd. Davisson. December 2017. Sport Aviation.