Davis DA-11

[Eric Witherspoon]

I would love to find plans for the DA-11, but my research suggests plans were never sold. What similar all-metal, high speed (90+ kt), low operating cost single seaters would be comparable to the DA-11?

The DA-5A. Plans were not available for quite a while, but are now available again see davisda2.com. I have a set. Some of the pages show 100% size parts, but the duplication process makes them slightly off, so would need to check dimensions and rescale the copies. The brake attachment at the landing gear isn't defined, but I asked on the forum on that site, and they provided the equivalent drawing from the DA-2A.

If you read the article that I was asking about, there's a significant issue - Davis couldn't kit it way back then because no lawnmower company wants their engines used in airplanes. Also check max pilot weight - might be lower than you need.

The DA-5A can handle a pilot up to about 205 lb.

Another option with lots of current builders, completed / project airplanes for sale, and an ongoing source of parts & support is the Onex by Sonex.