Diamond manufacturers once required new purchasers of any Diamond aircraft to train at their facilities in Canada before they were able to fly by themselves. Leesburg airport now has factory trained authorized instructors, so people can now conduct their training closer to home, said president and chief flight instructor in Leesburg, Don Robb.

Ron DeCandia, director of training in Leesburg described the aircraft as "newer, better, higher technology." The body is made out of carbon fiber instead of the more prevalent sheet metal.

Pilots have been flying Diamond aircraft at the AV-ED flight schools in Leesburg and Winchester for years. The Winchester fleet has two Diamond series, a 2005, two-seater DA20 and 1999, four seater DA40. Leesburg airport also has a Diamond DA20 and a Diamond DA40 XLS.

Clarke County residents fly out of both Leesburg and Winchester airports, both home to a mixed fleet of Cessna, Piper and Diamond brand aircraft.

Christian Borel of Whitepost learned to fly out of Winchester airport. Borel said he likes to fly out of Winchester, because the area is not a part of the Air Identification Zone that traffics Washington, D.C.

He started on a Cessna which he described as "very forgiving." But, he said, he prefers Diamond aircraft because they are faster.

Flight instructor and manager at Winchester airport, Tom Scott, described several main differences between the Cessna and Piper aircraft and the Diamond series. Cessna and Piper aircraft are driven by yokes, which resemble a car steering wheel. The Diamond is flown using a joystick resembling a gearshift.

Scott said wing placement is also a major difference between the three brands. Cessna and Piper are high wing aircrafts with enclosed canopies, forcing downward visibility. The Diamond series has low wings and a clear canopy for upward visibility. Low wings are more stable due to airflow over the wing during descent and landing. The V-shaped wings of the DA20 and DA40 provide longitude stability.

Aircraft selection is a matter of preference. But for Christian Borel, the Diamond is more contemporary.

All small planes are weight sensitive, said Scott. Decreasing the amount of fuel to compensate for body weight is sometimes necessary to maintain stability and balance. The Diamond DA20 allows for 6 pounds per gallon. Weighing in at 1,200 pounds, it is not even half the weight as an average sized sedan. Cessna and Piper are heavier, he said.