Everyone has probably heard of the nesting habits of the cuckoo bird; it lays its single egg in another species's nest, and the unwitting foster parents raise the cukoo in place of their own hatchlings. Every time I see a plane that is a little … different from its hangar mates, I'm reminded of the cuckoo.

Now, look at these aircraft. Does one of these look just a bit different? 

• Space-age technology - check.
• Advanced aerodynamics - check.
• Bubble canopy - check.
• Control stick - check.
• 21st Century panel - check.
• Snazzy paint job - check.
• Constant-speed propeller -wait a minute here!

Constant-speed propeller?

Oh, OK, this one isn't a Thunderbirds F-16... it's a Diamond DA-40 sharing the T-birds' hangar. This picture was snapped by an Aero-News news-spy who must remain nameless ("or they'll all want to know how I got into the hangar"). The 'Birds were at DAB getting ready for Wings and Waves this past weekend; the DA-40 is one of Riddle's CAPT program trainers. To catch either of these hard-working machines at rest is a bit of a photographic coup; to capture both of them in one shot, well, that's exceptional. That's what we aim for around here!

FMI: www.diamondair.com/contentc/da40frame.htm