Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam completed maiden flight of its P2012 Traveller aircraft from its Experimental Assembly Line (XAL) in C...
Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam completed maiden flight of its P2012 Traveller aircraft from its Experimental Assembly Line (XAL) in Capua (Italy) on July 21.
The new eleven seat commuter aircraft designed to comply with both FAR part 23 and EASA CS-23 was test flown by Pilot Lorenzo De Stefano.
“After a smooth take-off, I climbed to a safe height to perform our pre-planned manoeuvres to check the basic behaviour of the aircraft, engine and flight controls. The aircraft responded exactly as expected. After a couple of circuits around the airfield, I landed and the Traveller stopped in a very short distance. I am really excited about the Traveller program.” said Lorenzo De Stefano.
The Traveller will first enter service with US based Cape Air as a passenger aircraft but is also designed for Hydro, VIP, cargo shipping, parachuting and medevac missions.
The aircraft is 11.8 m long and has a wingspan of 14 m. The cabin can comfortably seat 9 passengers with luggage compartments in the rear of cabin and front radome.
The high wing configuration allow easy access to cabin and allows the propellers and engines to have high clearance from the ground enabling to operate from semi prepared runways.
With a maximum take off weight of (MTOW) of 3452 kg (7610 lbs), the Traveller is powered by two wing mounted turbocharged six cylinder Lycoming TEO-540-C1A piston engines rated at 350 hp each.
The Traveller can cruise with a speed of about 175 Kts at flight altitude of 10.000 ft and fly a distance of 700 nm (1300 km) and carry a max payload of 900 kg.
The aircraft is equipped with Garmin avionics and a fixed landing gear that Tecnam claims to reduce maintenance by 70 percent.
Flight testing will lead to certification in 2018 and service entry is targeted for 2019.
The new eleven seat commuter aircraft designed to comply with both FAR part 23 and EASA CS-23 was test flown by Pilot Lorenzo De Stefano.
“After a smooth take-off, I climbed to a safe height to perform our pre-planned manoeuvres to check the basic behaviour of the aircraft, engine and flight controls. The aircraft responded exactly as expected. After a couple of circuits around the airfield, I landed and the Traveller stopped in a very short distance. I am really excited about the Traveller program.” said Lorenzo De Stefano.
The Traveller will first enter service with US based Cape Air as a passenger aircraft but is also designed for Hydro, VIP, cargo shipping, parachuting and medevac missions.
The aircraft is 11.8 m long and has a wingspan of 14 m. The cabin can comfortably seat 9 passengers with luggage compartments in the rear of cabin and front radome.
The high wing configuration allow easy access to cabin and allows the propellers and engines to have high clearance from the ground enabling to operate from semi prepared runways.
With a maximum take off weight of (MTOW) of 3452 kg (7610 lbs), the Traveller is powered by two wing mounted turbocharged six cylinder Lycoming TEO-540-C1A piston engines rated at 350 hp each.
The Traveller can cruise with a speed of about 175 Kts at flight altitude of 10.000 ft and fly a distance of 700 nm (1300 km) and carry a max payload of 900 kg.
The aircraft is equipped with Garmin avionics and a fixed landing gear that Tecnam claims to reduce maintenance by 70 percent.
Flight testing will lead to certification in 2018 and service entry is targeted for 2019.
