Photograph:
Australias first Tecnam P-2010 Mk II VH-ARQ (c/n 050) at an aviation event at Parkes, NSW in September 2019
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Four seat high-wing touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming IO-360-M1A four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.30 m (33 ft 8 in)
- Length: 7.76 m (25 ft)
- Height: 2.70 m (8 ft)
- Wing area: 13.90 m² (150 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 267 km/h (166 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 1,981 m (6,500 ft): 252 km/h (157 mph)
- Stalling speed: 102 km/h (63 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 320 m/min (1,050 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Max range: 1,223 km (760 miles)
- Take-off distance at sea level: 245 m (804 ft)
- Take off distance to 15 m (50 ft): 384 m (1,260 ft)
- Landing distance ground roll: 200 m (656 ft)
- Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft): 313 m (1,027 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 240 litres (53 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 710 kg (1,565 kg)
- Max useful load: 450 kg (992 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,160 kg (2,557 lb)
History:
For years the four-seat, single-engine fixed-pitch propeller aircraft market was dominated by Cessna and Piper but in later years new designs have been placed on the market and one of these designs has come from Italian manufacturer, Tecnam. The company, Tecnam Costruzioni Aeronautiche Sri of Capua, Italy, has had some experience in the Light Sport Aircraft market and has moved up to a competitor for the American aircraft. The design was initially fitted with the Lycoming IO-360M1A engine and later the IO-390 unit. Construction is of composites for the fuselage providing benefits in weight saving and fuel efficiency.
The prototype (I-PTFD) flew for the first time on 12 April 2012 and the type was aimed at the cross-country market and flight training organisations. The type was first shown to the public at Aero 2011 in Friedrichshafen in Germany. The wing and stabilator were based on those installed on the P-2006T twin engine aircraft. The wing and stabilator are of metal with a NACA63A aerofoil. The all-moving tailplane was claimed to give excellent controllability and ’hands-off’’ longitudinal stability.
In 2016 EASA approved the use of mogas in the Lycoming IO-360M1A engine. In December 2015 Tecnam set up a North American headquarters where assembly and customer delivery takes place at Sebring Regional Airport in Florida.
Tecnam at the time of the design of the aircraft proposed that customers for the P-2010 would be able to use non-100LL fuel alternatives, the Lycoming engine installed having the ability to burn alternative fuels. A Mk II variant of the P-2010 was developed, installing a 160 kw (215 hp) Lycoming IO-390 engine equipped with a variable pitch propeller, a turned induction system, roller tappets and a “Slick Start” ignition system This model also has an optional G1000 Nxi Next Generation flight deck, a GFC 700 autopilot, and automatic and manual electric trim functions. The Garmin G500 avionics suite is an alternative.
In early 2020 Tecnam revealed it was building a variant of the O-2010 powered byj a Continental CD-170 diesel engine to be known as the P-2020TDI with a full FADEC single-lever controlled engine, stating it expected certification for the new model by July 2020.