Davis DA-2

__NOTOC__  {{Infobox aircraft | name = DA-2 | logo = | logo_size = | image = N2366Q_Davis_DA-2.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Civil utility aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = [[Homebuilt aircraft|Homebuilt]] | design_group = | designer = [[Leeon D. Davis]] | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = Private pilot owners | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = ca. 45 by 1985 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 21 May 1966 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} [[File:N21TM Davis DA-2.jpg|thumb|Davis DA-2 at [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh|Airventure]] 2008.]] [[File:DavisDA2A.jpg|thumb|Davis DA-2A]] The '''Davis DA-2''' is a light aircraft designed in the United States in the 1960s and was marketed for [[Homebuilt aircraft|homebuilding]].<ref>{{harvnb|Barnett ''Flight International'' 22 August 1977|pp=534–535}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Weeghman |first=Richard B. |title=Rockford '66 |magazine=[[Flying (magazine)|Flying]] |date=October 1966 |volume=79 |issue=4 |pages=52–53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsVehG-3TggC }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress Sport Aircraft|date=Winter 1969|page=41}}</ref>

The prototype made its first flight on May 21, 1966, and was exhibited at that year's [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] annual [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh|fly-in]], where it won awards for "most outstanding design" and "most popular aircraft".<ref name="jawa67p247">{{Harvnb|Taylor|1967|p=247}}</ref>

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.<ref name="SportAv2017-12"/>

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== *[[File:1979 Davis DA-2B.jpg|alt=1979 Davis DA-2B|thumb|1979 Davis DA-2B]]DA-2 -- [[Continental A-65]] powered *DA-2A—[[Continental O-200|Continental O-200A]] powered *DA-2B—3 inch lower roof line<ref name="SportAv2017-12">{{cite magazine|title=cubic Efficiency|first=Budd|last=Davisson|date=December 2017|magazine=Sport Aviation}}</ref> *DA-3 *DA-Bandit-Corvair powered

==Specifications (typical DA-2) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Popular Mechanics August 1973 |prime units? = imp |crew=One pilot |capacity=1 passenger |length m=5.44 |length ft=17 |length in=10 |span m=5.86 |span ft=19 |span in=3 |height m=1.65 |height ft=5 |height in=5 |wing area sqm=7.7 |wing area sqft=83 |empty weight kg=277 |empty weight lb=610 |gross weight kg=510 |gross weight lb=1,125 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Continental A65]] horizontally-opposed four-cylinder piston engine |eng1 kw=49 |eng1 hp=65 |max speed kmh=193 |max speed mph=120 |cruise speed kmh=177 |cruise speed mph=110 |range km=725 |range miles=450 }}  {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== ;Notes {{reflist}} ;Sources * {{cite magazine |last=Barnett |first=Cliff |title=Oshkosh Sport Aircraft Galore |magazine=[[Flight International]] |date=22 August 1977 |volume= 112 |issue= 3571 |pages= 532–541 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%202475.html |ref={{harvid|Barnett ''Flight International'' 22 August 1977}} }} * {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=John W. R. |author-link=John W. R. Taylor |title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1967–68 |year=1967 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company |location=London }} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=305 }} * {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86|publisher=Jane's Yearbooks|location=London |pages=587–88 }} * {{cite journal |last=Davisson |first=Budd |date=May 1973 |title=Flying the Davis DA-2A Homebuilt |journal=Air Progress |url=http://airbum.com/pireps/PirepDavisDA2.html}}

==External links== * http://www.yahoogroups.com/da2a Builder Group * http://www.davisda2.com Current source for plans also a users forum.

[[Category:1960s United States civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Davis aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:V-tail aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1966]]