Tecnam P2010 Going Through FAA and EASA Certification

Like most Avgeeks, I love seeing a new plane.  It really doesn’t matter if it is big, small, fast, or slow, I just love planes.  I came across a new plane from European manufacturer Tecnam that looks like an interesting combination of a couple of other planes.  The P2010 by Tecnam is currently going through the certification process and is looking to gain certification from the FAA and EASA at the same time.

The Tecnam P2010 looks an awful lot like a mix between a Cessna 172 and a Cirrus.

The Tecnam P2010 looks an awful lot like a mix between a Cessna 172 and a Cirrus.

Looking at the pictures on their website, I can’t help but notice how much it looks like a cross between a Cesna 172 and a Cirrus SR22.  Either way I think it looks like a cool plane, and would love to fly one some day.  Here is the description from the Tecnam website:

The Tecnam P Twenty-Ten brings together an advanced technology all carbon fibre fuselage with a metal wing to deliver a superlative single engined, 4 seat aeroplane, designed by Italy’s most innovative Aerospace design ‘guru’ Professor Luigi Pascale.

Powered by the well proven and reliable Lycoming IO-360-M1a (‘Lycoming Light’) engine, providing 180HP and 2700RPM. The Tecnam P Twenty-Ten has a high fuel capacity (240 litres). The fuel tanks are installed in the wing box, behind the main spar, to preserve their integrity in case of an accident. Of course carbon fibre equals a lighter and therefore more fuel efficient aeroplane.

Tecnam has always put the comfort for both pilots and passengers first. The Tecnam P Twenty-Ten with its spacious interior and its generous luggage compartment of 300 litres has been designed to be both a very enjoyable aeroplane to fly cross country as well as a robust trainer. The cabin width also allows for a large instrument panel, with its modular design specifically tailored to allow customers to fit either an analogue or digital instrumentation package.

It is interesting how rapidly the aviation industry is being taken over by carbon fiber.  It is not surprising with all of its valuable properties, but I don’t think there has been another technology that has come on so rapidly in my memory.

The plane just looks sleek and sexy.  It is obviously still a ways of way from actually reaching the market but I would not be surprised to see Tecnam become a more common name in the industry with more aircraft like this.