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The eagerly-awaited Tecnam P2010 made its first flight over Capua, Italy last Thursday.

Powered by a 180 Lycoming IO-360, the new four-seater achieved a speed of 119 kts while remaining stable in all axes.

Test pilot Marco Locatelli reported that the P2010 rotated easily at 60 knots with modest pull-back-effort, after which he put the aircraft through the opening tests of the flying envelope including stalls, deceleration, take-off flap and landing flap go-arounds. The final touch-down occurred at 48 knots.

Locatelli described the P2010’s behaviour as “safe and predictable in all investigated speed initial envelope, flight controls are precise and effective, attitudes can be attained with a sufficient precision of 1-2 deg on all axis.”

Paolo Pascale, Tecnam’s Managing Director, was very pleased with the test. “It’s been an extraordinarily successful and exciting time for the Tecnam design, production and flight-test teams.

“The Tecnam P Twenty-Ten further exhibits our commitment to innovation, style and advanced technology and is yet another extension of our passion for flying. Our on-going sales success has resulted in Tecnam delivering a new aeroplane every working day”.

The company already has 50 firm orders for the P2010 and is hoping the aircraft will make the trip to AERO Friedrichshafen, which starts on Wednesday.

P2010 Specifications
Engine: 180 HP Lycoming IO-360-M1a
Construction: Carbon fibre with metal wings and stabilator
Prop: variable-pitch, three-blade
Undercarriage: fixed, castoring nosewheel
MTOW: 1160 kg
Standard empty weight: 710 kg
65% cruise speed: 120 KTAS
Fuel: 210 litres

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