Tecnam, an Italian manufacturer, responded to Cape Air's request for a new twin piston commuter aircraft and have come up with an airplane called the P2012 Traveller. Apparently Cape Air already signed for its first aircraft at this year’s Aero Friedrichshafen show.
Should be interesting to see how this pans out. I'm slightly confused though about the price. The first article claims it will be between $1.2m and $1.4m. But the second article claims it will cost at least $2.17m. The second article has a good picture of the fuselage and a video of the unveiling. Interestingly it will have fixed gear. Here are the specs as written in the article:
Quote: The P2012 is powered by two Lycoming TEO-540-A1A engines (which will run on avgas or auto fuel) of 350 horsepower, should cruise as fast as 213 KTAS at 10,000 feet, and have a payload as high as 1,980 pounds when fueled for trips of up to 200 nm. Basic empty weight is projected at 4,409 pounds, and max takeoff weight should be 7,253 pounds, at which weight maximum rate of climb is pegged at 1,600 fpm. The cabin can be configured as a high-density regional, for six-passenger executive use, or for medevac or cargo-hauling missions. First deliveries will begin in 2013, Tecnam says, and the price should range between $1.2 and $1.4 million.
So what do you think? Is this viable. I'm slightly concerned about the price tag even at $1.2m. Part of Cape Air's success is having their aircraft fully paid off. How much would loan payments affect the bottom line? And is continuing to go with a piston smart considering there is always a lot of talk of dwindling supplies of avgas?
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4934 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (2 years 2 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9484 times:
We talked about the possibility to do a big P2006T months ago, it looks like it's happening, great !
As for avgas, my guess is the US will probably be the last country to stop using it. The engines are mogas compatible, anyway (like the rotax in most tecnam planes).
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1458 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (2 years 2 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9477 times:
I take back my comments about avgas. Just found this article which says it can burn ethanol-free autogas which is huge.
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4934 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (2 years 2 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 9356 times:
Savings are also made in maintenance and price, turbines are very expensive to buy and also to maintain. We discussed this and Cape Air is very attached to the idea of having two engines for security, so in this size of plane two turbines would not be adequate.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
kgaiflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 3701 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (2 years 2 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 8904 times:
Looks like this seat layout is similar to the Beech 99 of days gone by -- minus the wing spar running horizontally through the floor making two seats unusable.
On the 402s, I can only ride in the middle of the rear seat since my legs can't be squeezed into any other seat. My last 9K trip (LEB-BOS) they had to put my briefcase inside a compartment in the engine nacelle after they ran out of space.
hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1458 posts, RR: 15 Reply 6, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 6667 times:
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (2 years 2 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 5816 times:
It is a shame that nothing in the class if aircraft has been produced by ANY US aircraft manufacturers.
It seems ever since the rules changed for Part 135 carriers that were once able to use aircraft up to the 30 passenger limit, the cost to operate a Part 121 (10-19 passenger) plane on a thin commuter route just doesnt justify the services. Honestly, the FAA needs to amend the part 135 rules for commuter to include aircraft that carry up to 19 passengers AGAIN!!!
Too bad the Beechcraft destroyed the production rigs for the Beech 99....The new Viking Twin Otter would be a great replacement for the older ones....
Its too bad that we in this country even in the booming commuter days of the 80s didnt make anything in the 30-50 passenger class of aircraft.....
bjorn14 From Norway, joined Feb 2010, 2776 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5308 times:
What's the range of this plane? One article says its an 11-seater does that fit into Part 135? How many are 9K gonna order as the launch customer? BTW...looks like a mini Do328.
"An idea has to be incredibly absurd to have any reasonable chance of succeeding" --A. Einstein
hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1458 posts, RR: 15 Reply 11, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 5168 times:
Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 9): What's the range of this plane? One article says its an 11-seater does that fit into Part 135? How many are 9K gonna order as the launch customer? BTW...looks like a mini Do328.
I believe technically it's an 11 seater with the pilot seats, but under Part 135, they will just only be able to carry 9 passengers.
No idea what the max range is, but with a full load and fuel, one article claimed it would carry roughly 2000 lbs up to 200 miles. So looks like 200 miles is the sweet spot.
flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1922 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 5115 times:
Quoting hatbutton (Reply 11): I believe technically it's an 11 seater with the pilot seats, but under Part 135, they will just only be able to carry 9 passengers.
Gives the option to have a second pilot. Also, can you run scheduled operations under 135 with 9 seats and less? I'm not up on the regs really well..Thanks.
NBGSkyGod From United States of America, joined May 2004, 603 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (2 years 2 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4981 times:
This would be a good thing for 9k if it works out. They seem to have been having a lot of issues with the 402 lately (no sources just observation of the day to day at my airport). I was talking with some folks this morning about the need for something to fill the
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Highflier92660 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 596 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 2 months 2 hours ago) and read 4635 times:
Good luck to them. This aircraft appears to be an 8-passenger stretch version of the Partenavia P.68 with 350 horsepower Lycomings able to use both aviation and auto fuel. Here is the Italian predecessor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/partenavia_P.68
hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1458 posts, RR: 15 Reply 15, posted (2 years 2 months 1 hour ago) and read 4599 times:
Quoting Highflier92660 (Reply 14): Good luck to them. This aircraft appears to be an 8-passenger stretch version of the Partenavia P.68 with 350 horsepower Lycomings able to use both aviation and auto fuel. Here is the Italian predecessor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/partena..._P.68
I actually think it's a stretch of Tecnam's own P2006T.
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