Attempted theft of a Katana in Utah

[Jafar]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=159902

I flew that airplane last week. Weird. I hope they figure this one out pretty quick.

 

[EagleRJ]

As expected, the article has a reference to 9/11 and crashing planes into buildings.

If there's a plane that 9/11 fear-mongering would be least appropriate for, it is the DA-20 Katana. The press still has to say it, though....

 

[Jafar]

Well the issue isn't terrorism. The press, as usual, is completely full of $hit. They even refer to the Katana as "experimental." As far as I'm concerned this is just another black eye for GA. We can't even secure our danm airplanes. The thing that pisses me off the most is I was planning on flying that thing tomorrow. I guess I'll fork over the extra dough for the Star.

The most interesting part of the story is they left the engine running. You get in and out of that airplane forward of the wing. Without locking up the brakes, the weight shift of getting out could easily cause it to roll backwards a bit, depending on the surface. To bad they didn't get chopped in half. That headline would have made the whole story worth it. "Jackass chopped up by airplane prop."

 

[cezzna]

Who'd wanna steal a Kraptana anyway?

 

[Tim47SIP]

Sorry!

There is always other sides to the story. In a few days we will the "Here's your sign" explanation. There has got to be some silly reason this happened!

 

[moonlight]

Too bad whoever attempted to steal it didn't end up totalling the darn thing. One less DA20=better flying world as far as I'm concerned. Maybe the person thought better of what they were doing when they realized, "Hey, I'm so cool, I'm stealing an airplane....wait a minute, this thing is a POS...nevermind." Least they could have done was drive it into a ditch...

 

[sky37d]

It is a bad thing when people think that they can take someone else's property, and think it is cool. Like the kid who buzzed his girlfriends house. This was probably someone thinking they can make the news too.

I agree, to bad they didn't step into the prop. Also, can't be real good for the engine to be left running, on the ground.

 

[FN FAL]

It is a bad thing when people think that they can take someone else's property, and think it is cool.

That would be two bad things.

Or are you saying, it's o.k. to steal something if you need it, but don't do it with your base ball cap on backwards?

 

[FlyingFisherman]

I hot wired a 172 with my toolbox key.

 

[135fr8r]

I hot wired a 172 with my toolbox key.

Real airplanes don't need to be hot-wired

 

[TrafficInSight]

I hot wired a 172 with my toolbox key.

I have a box of keys that has never failed me ever.

 

[sky37d]

No what I mean is it's bad when someone steals something, it's even worse when they think they were cool to do it.
take them out back, introduce them to mr 2x4.

 

[Flightjock30]

Probably stealing it for the parts market......thats what happened to a Piper and Cessna at my hometown airport several years back...the nerve!!!

 

[NW_Pilot]

Simple Cut the P leads & fly away!

 

[mtrv]

Simple Cut the P leads & fly away!

However,

The typical GA ignition switch has eight terminals. 5-7 are used for connections to P-leads, battery, and starter motor. Then you have additional jumpers for retard/breaker or impulse coupling. You just have to know what is what, if the screwdriver doesn't work!

 

[NW_Pilot]

However,

The typical GA ignition switch has eight terminals. 5-7 are used for connections to P-leads, battery, and starter motor. Then you have additional jumpers for retard/breaker or impulse coupling. You just have to know what is what, if the screwdriver doesn't work!

Forgot about the filed down cabinet key blank.

 

[Huggyu2]

I'm curious: why the hate-fest on the Katana?

 

[Jafar]

I'm curious: why the hate-fest on the Katana?

God, no $hit, huh? I wasn't going to get all into it but now that it's been brought up...

Have the katana haters ever taken a good look at Diamond aircraft vs. everyone else in the same market? Compare the DV20 to the C152. the katana outperforms the 152 in every conceivable way. Faster, climbs better, more range, better safety record, cheaper to operate and maintain. Same deal with the Diamond star vs. the C172. In a few weeks UVSC will have a DA42 Twin Star, and that airplane is downright amazing for it's cost.

Granted, I'm a little biased because most of my time is in Diamond aircraft, and the only high wing I've ever flown is the C210. I like katanas and stars. Especially the star with a G1000.

I've met a few katana bashers who have never even sat in one.

http://www.diamondair.com/mainpage.php

To the haters who haven't, go fly one.

 

[LarryinTN]

I agree. I really like the Katana (C1 Eclipse, actually. Never flew the Rotex-powered Katana). I'm planning to get checked out in the Diamond Star in the near future.

I checked out in the Katana last Spring after more than 15 years of flying only airliners. I previously had a lot of time in various Cessnas, Pipers, etc., as well as a significant amount of time teaching in C-152s. I like the Katana much better than those older designs.

Fun, sharp-looking airplane that is faster than the similar "old school" airplanes. What's not to like?

 

[sky37d]

Aero News reports that they used a screw driver to start it with. Left it beside the runway, with the engine running.