Companies To Showcase Several New Models
by ANN Correspondent Chris Esposito
With all the exhibitors at Airventure this year, attendees will
certainly have a lot to look at. In the light sport aircraft market
alone, several manufacturers will be offering new options...
previews of new aircraft... and announcements of future plans in
this sector of the aviation marketplace. Tecnam, Toxo, and Cessna
are three manufacturers who have been making news in recent months,
and previews of their new products will be on display.
Tecnam Aircraft has become a name familiar to many LSA pilots,
and they are expanding their product line outside the category.
Lynne Birmingham of Tecnam Aircraft says the company will soon
offer a full line of aircraft, ranging from fixed-gear singles to
retractable-gear, multiengine aircraft.
Their new twin-engine plane, the P2006T, promises to offer low
operating costs with a substantial useful load and room for four.
It will be powered by two Rotax 912S engines, each rated at 98
horsepower, and will have a cruise speed of 147 knots. While it has
recently flown, it will not be at Oshkosh this year because the
airframe is currently undergoing testing.
Tecnam has also certified a P2002JR in Europe, and has plans to
bring the aircraft to the US. Essentially a retractable gear
Sierra, the aircraft will allow Tecnam to offer aircraft to those
interested in the increased efficiency of retracts.
An official option for all new Tecnam aircraft will be the Op
Technologies EFIS system, allowing for a simpler panel
layout. You can check out Tecnam's latest offerings at
Airventure booths 236 and 237.
Composite Aeronautic Group, the parent company of Toxo Light
Sport Aircraft, will be displaying their Toxo Sportster SLSA this
year. The all-composite 2 seat aircraft will be powered by a Rotax
912 ULS engine producing 100 horsepower, and allowing for climb
rates in excess of 1000 feet per minute. To meet LSA requirements,
speed will be limited to 120 knots.
The Sportster will have several equipment options available,
including a leather interior, TAPS (Toxo's Airframe Parachute
System), and EFIS primary and secondary displays. The Sportster's
maiden flight was back in February, and the company continues to
move toward certification. You can see Toxo's Sportster behind the
North Exhibit Hangar in the Combo M tent at Oshkosh.
As ANN reported, Cessna
announced July 10 it would proceed with plans for its LSA program,
promising to unveil a mock-up of the aircraft at AirVenture.
Cessna's flying LSA prototype made appearances at the Light Sport
Aircraft Expo in Sebring in January, and in April at Lakeland.
At this writing, Cessna has yet to announced its engine
selection, though it appears the choice will be between the
100-horsepower Rotax 912S and the Continental 0-200. Both
engines have appeared on the aircraft at the shows it has flown
to.
Several details are likely to change for the production
version... and as you might expect, Cessna is saving most of those
announcements for Oshkosh. Cessna plans to update the status of the
program during a July 22 conference, and it also plans a ribbon
cutting ceremony at its aircraft exhibit (No. 143-156) on Monday,
July 23.
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