Italian airplane maker Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam is quickly breaking into the certified market. After recently achieving EASA certification for its P2010 four-seat single, the company is hard at work on the 11-seat P2012 Traveller twin. The company says it is making good progress on the first prototype and expects to have the airplane completed by the end of the year.
The first flight is expected to take place early next year and Tecnam hopes to finish its P2012 production facility in Capua, Italy, around the same time.
With a high-wing configuration and fixed gear, the P2012 was designed to operate off unimproved airfields and as a low-cost replacement of aging small, short-hop airliners. Tecnam also expects the airplane will be a hit with Hydro, VIP, cargo, parachuting and medevac operations.
Two 350 horsepower turbocharged Lycoming engines capable of burning avgas and mogas will power the airplane. The airplane is expected to have a range of more than 600 nm and a cruise speed of around 175 knots at 10,000 feet.
The airplane will, however, be hard pressed to fill its 11 seats with passengers and bags. With 164 gallons of fuel, the pilot and his or her luggage on board, the P2012's passenger payload is about 1,700 lbs. Carrying enough fuel for 2 hours of flight plus reserves, the airplane will be able to carry nearly 2,000 pounds.
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