Tecnam P2006T

Tecnam have come up with various overdue improvements to their P2006:

• Engines uprated to the fuel injected Rotax 912Sc3, giving better high altitude performance and reduced fuel consumption. Tecnam claims 14 litres/hour per engine.
• Additional front door for the co-pilot
• External access to the baggage compartment
• Bigger windows
• Wing position and anti-collision lights integrated into winglets with LED bulbs
• New central console that houses a FMS GCU477 keyboard for management of all the Garmin avionics
• Garmin GFC700 3-axis autopilot

• the P2006 NG Sport featuring ‘all-Italian’ design with a black leather dashboard, soft LED lights, carbon-look panels, yokes and central console covered in leather. The cabin has Alcantara headliners, moquette seats, leather side walls and side panels with carbon look logos.

I wonder if this might eventually make it more attractive for private operators. I know of very few of them. Contrary to what they tried to achieve initially, the vast majority went to flying schools so far.

Interesting. I was wondering what are the safety statistics related to P2006, ie. how many fatalities per 100k hours flown? How that number compares to legacy twins and SEPs

I did my twin rating in one of these and flew them occasionally afterwards. They are indeed nice little airplanes. Max cruise has increased a bit (IIRC from 139 ) to148kts. It’s worth noting that the airplane easily flies faster, you’re in the yellow arc before you know it.

However:
- at full fuel it becomes a two seater. Perhaps not the biggest problem, as with the minimal fuel consumption you will rarely need to top off.

- I wonder if the CG issue has been addressed. The seats are in front of the wing and with two biggish guys up front you’re already forward CG with full fuel. Now, as you burn off fuel, your CG shifts further forward and makes for some interesting handling at the edges of the envelope.

- looking at the pic on the Tecnam website, it seems they have removed the last little ventilation there was on the ground, i.e. the storm window. I never managed to figure out how an airplane that’s designed and built in southern Italy can have such atrocious ventilation. Combined with the huge windshield you are smothered to death in there on a hot day. And no, because of the props you cannot crack the door open!

If it’s anything like the Partenavia, the addition of the 2nd door would be a major improvement. You need to be a bit of a contortionist to get in and out of the left hand seat.