After hinting at the release of a new LSA design named Astore a few weeks ago, Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam officially unveiled its most recent offering this week at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany. And, as promised, the new design has a low wing.
The only commonalities between the Astore and Tecnam’s other low-wing LSA — the P2002 Sierra — are the base price, which is $134,900, and the wing, said Phil Solomon, CEO of Tecnam North America. The fuselage of the Astore is longer and wider and provides more headroom, and while the LSA is primarily constructed of metal, the top section of the Astore’s fuselage is made of composite materials to provide a more aerodynamic shape, said Solomon. The new LSA also has a steerable nosewheel and a flush mounted canopy that slides and pulls down to improve the seal. The empennage has a stabilizer/elevator combination as opposed to the Sierra’s stabilator.
