minute-even without maximum power- all the way to a cruising altitude of 9,500 feet. The 914 engine is often chosen for seaplanes and aircraft operating at high elevations or in hot climates. The panel offers a third outstanding feature of this P2008 TC, the Garmin GMC 305 autopilot. The autopilot allows this particular airplane to make coupled instrument approaches and can even control indicated airspeed. Solomon points out that Light Sport aircraft are limited to visual weather conditions. The autopilot also has an emergency "level-recovery" attitude button to literally right a pilot's wrongs. SMOOTH OPERATOR To its credit, the Sebring, Florida, Chamber of Commerce website does not promise a sunny warm day, only that there is a "mild" climate at an unspecified time. The airto-air photography flight was conducted under miserable gray skies in heavy-jacket temperatures, making photographer Chris Rose's job difficult in dull light and chilly weather. The occasion was the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in January. Tecnam gets an "A" for the claim that the engine is smooth. The 100-horsepower Rotax 912 engine is known for starting and stopping with an abrupt shudder. The 914 is more like engines found on four- and six-seat piston-engine aircraft. Photos on the ground required spinning the aircraft through tight turns to aim towards the imaginary sun. The free-castering nosewheel provided the only problem seen during the aircraft test. As the aircraft IN THE PANEL Garmin G3X flight display triple-screen system with angle of attack indicator Garmin GMA 240 audio panel with phone, radio, and music Garmin GNC 255 nav/com linked to the G3X Garmin GMC 305 autopilot controller with emergency level-flight recovery Garmin GTX 23 ES transponder with ADS-B and traffic information www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 69http://www.aopa.org/pilot