DA20 C1, top, is still the one to beat. Liberty XL2, middle, and Symphony 160, bottom, are impressive newcomers.

by Paul Bertorelli

Here’s a number to ponder: A full decade after the first appearance of composite trainers in the U.S., the FAA has about 375 composite two-seaters on the registry. There are five times as many Cessna 150s still flying—and that’s just one model year of the 150, 1966.

There are two ways to look at this dichotomy: Either the idea of new, two-seat trainers has flopped miserably or there’s soon to be a bottomless pit of demand as those old 150s and 152s finally wear out. At least two companies are banking on the bottomless pit theory or at least strong enough demand to support a two-seat line. …