New 4 Seat Piston Twin
Read this from the AOPA ePilot Newsletter on 30 December:
TECNAM INTRODUCES FOUR-SEAT TWIN Tecnam Aircraft of Italy has been building a reputation in the United States with its entry into the light sport aircraft arena. Now the company is taking the FAA type certification route by introducing a piston twin-engine airplane. Called the P2006T, it will be powered by two Rotax 912 engines mounted on a high wing and carry four people. Tecnam predicts it will cruise at 147 knots, climb at 1,400 fpm (single-engine rate of climb 350 fpm), and have a useful load of 1,012 pounds. The predicted price is between 230,000 and 240,000 Euros. Under current exchange rates, that's between $273,905 and $285,814. The maiden flight is planned for September 2006. 100 horsepower doesn't sound wonderful but otherwise this looks interesting. |
Re: New 4 Seat Piston Twin
Sounds a tad suspicious to me - are any Rotax engines actually certificated? Secondly, even comparing it to that junkheap the DA42 (200kts my a*se!), isn't 100hp a side a tad low?
And Rotax engines bug me - is it true that their fuel consumption INCREASES above a certain altitude? |
Re: New 4 Seat Piston Twin
200hp with 1.1 tone all up weight seems reasonable. Certainly 100hp single engine ROC of 350 ft/min doesn't sound unrealistic. I do wonder if 1.1 tones is little ambitious for a twin though when the DA42 is 1.7t. If comparative ratios with the DA42 are anything to go by then it can probably be a little heavier than 1.1t and still have acceptable perfornce.
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Re: New 4 Seat Piston Twin
There is a certified version of the Rotax 912 - you will find it in the Diamond Katana.
This looks like a nice little machine and good value provided that it does what it says on the tin. |
Re: New 4 Seat Piston Twin
Predicted performance figures for the P2006T include a 75% cruise speed of 147 knots, 53 knot stall, a rate-of-climb of 1,400 ft/min (with single-engine ROC of 350 ft/min), an empty weight of only 630 kg, and a useful load of 460 kg for a maximum all-up weight of 1,090 kg. Lycoming engines( or was it Continental). Not a fantastic track record for the Rotax. MTOW is basically the same as a Cessna 172 (2550lbs) Cruise speed is the same as a Cessna 182. With 4 adults( 180 lbs each) leaves 46 gallons of fuel. That's about 2.5 hrs flight time with reserves, 2.5* 140 kts= 350 miles. And it looks almost identical to the P68 Partenavia, except for the rectract. gear. |
Re: New 4 Seat Piston Twin
If I remember correctly, Diamond went with the Continental IO-240 as an option in the Katana to help sales in the USA. Rotax didn't (it may have now) have any proper sales/service set-up in the USA.
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