AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2015 - 27

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Tecnam debuts new single
P2010 already certified in Italy
B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY
UNDER THE PHILOSOPHY of only showing off products when there's something
important to say, Tecnam used this year's
Sun 'n Fun to both introduce its production
model four-seat P2010 and begin taking
orders. The airplane is already certified in
Europe, where 20 aircraft have been delivered to customers. FAA validation of the
European Aviation Safety Agency certification is expected this September.
Despite having certified a twin-engine
airplane (the P2006T) already for the U.S.
market, Tecnam is still viewed by many as
a Light Sport aircraft company. The single-engine P2010 should change that. It
comes standard with a Garmin G1000, a
Lycoming IO-360 engine, and three doors
(yes, a dedicated one for the back-seaters).
The company's director of sales, Shannon
Yeager, said the airplane will do 140 knots
in high-speed cruise, and 125 knots when
burning 7 gph to 8 gph.
Tecnam is known for building quality airplanes for the LSA market, and its

reputation shows in the P2010. The fuselage
is carbon fiber, the cabin is comfortable, and
the airplane has a modern look.
Orders are being accepted now, and
the company is offering the first 10 for an
introductory price of $345,000. Regular
prices are closer to $369,000.
Yeager said Sun 'n Fun also marked the
one-year anniversary of the company's
U.S. sales presence. Its Sebring, Florida,
facility is owned by the Italian-based
manufacturer, meaning that parts availability has gotten significantly better,
he said.
They've also taken a cue from automakers and display one of each type of
aircraft in Sebring so potential customers
have a chance to compare and contrast in
person before deciding on which model to
purchase. Once the P2010 hits the showroom, no doubt many more pilots will be
coming to do just that.
EMAIL ian.twombly@aopa.org

See more photos
from Sun 'n Fun

Sun 'n Fun
news
NEW AIRCRAFT arriving in the United
States soon include the Italian
$369,000 Tecnam P2010 four-seater
already making deliveries in Europe
(left). The Flight Design C4 fourseater, not seen but talked about at
Sun 'n Fun, has flown in Europe. The
news is that it will be assembled in
the United States. Piper Aircraft
showed a mockup of its M600 single-engine turboprop, while Mooney
International is displayed a mockup
of its 155-horsepower M10J dieselpowered composite aircraft. Short
landing and takeoff aircraft includes
the Just Aircraft SuperSTOL and
the 180-horsepower American
Legend Super Legend, as well as the
180-horsepower CubCrafters Carbon
Cub EX-2 kitplane with new control
surfaces. Rans Designs, originally
intending to certify its S-20 tailwheel
bush plane as a Light Sport aircraft in
2014, will do so by the end of 2015. It is
currently a kitplane. Diesel power got
its fair share of publicity with Piper
Aircraft winning FAA approval for
an European supplemental type certificate to put a Continental CD-155
engine on the Piper DX. Superior
Aviation said it would offer the
Gemini 100-horsepower diesel for
Light Sport aircraft. It will expand
to 550 horsepower for certified Part
23 aircraft in coming years. Avionics
manufacturers were in the news with
Avidyne providing avionics for the Sun
Flyer solar-electric airplane, Aspen
Avionics dropping prices on ADS-B
equipment, and Avilution threatening
to disrupt the industry with avionics
consisting of inexpensive operating
systems on low-cost mini processors.
Under unusual exhibits, include an
Aviat Husky on floats that can back
up using a reversible propeller and a
Yuneec camera-carrying drone that
can go pretty much any direction it
wants.
-AKM

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2015

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