Tecnam P2008 Demonstrator VH-IBO at Rockhampton Airport

Rockhampton Aero Club Secretary Paul Tyler has sent through some great photos and information about a great little aircraft that popped in to Rockhampton Airport last weekend as a part of demonstration tour.

Arriving at Rockhampton Airport on Friday 1 August was Tecnam P2008 Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) VH-IBO.

The Tecnam Australasia demonstration aircraft was based at the Rockhampton Aero Club for the entire weekend, offering local aviators the chance to fly the new-build Tecnam P2008 VH-IBO, which until recently, was performing the duties as a demonstrator in New Zealand.

Manufactured by Costruzione Aeronautiche Tecnam in Italy, the P2008 is a conventionally laid-out, strut braced high wing monoplane powered by an 100hp Rotax 912S, 4-cylinder piston engine driving a two blade propeller.

The cabin seats two side-by-side with a door each side and baggage space behind.

As a first for Tecnam, the P2008 introduced the use of major composite components by the company as the fuselage is manufactured of carbon fibre. The wings and tailplane however remain an all-metal construction.

Paul was fortunate to spend some 45 in the air flying the Tecnam P2008, and he highlighted that the aircraft was easy to start and easy fly - although a bit bouncy in the wind thermals.  He also pointed out that it has a good climb performance and can comfortably cruise at 107-110 knots, with endurance of approximately 5 hours, excluding reserves.

More information about Tecnam Australasia and the P2008 can be found by visiting the Tecnam Australasia website: http://www.tecnam.co.nz/

Additionally, Australian Flying.com.au website published a comprehensive test flight review of the Tecnam P2008 in 2011:  http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/tecnam-p2008-flight-test-tecnam-goes-composite/

Thanks to Paul for the great photos and information from a great weekend at Rocky Airport.

All photos taken by Paul Tyler  ©