Tecnam's new P92 Tail Dragger makes first flight

Tecnam has continued its equally busy and exciting start to 2012 with the announcement that its new P92 Tail Dragger has successfully made its first flight.

While the actual flight occurred on December 22, 2011, Tecnam didn’t make the announcement until just last week, and this announcement comes hot on the heals of the Italian manufacturer launching its P92 Sea-Sky Hydroplane earlier this month.

The P92TD, as it’s been nicknamed, will be available with one of three power plants: the Rotax 912ULS2, the Rotax 914 Turbo, or the Lycoming O-233 engine.


In launching the P92TD, Tecnam said it believed many existing tail dragger operators and pilots are keen to change their existing models for a new and modern aircraft. In a press release, the manufacturer claimed that market research is showing an over 50 per cent preference for tailwheel compared with standard configuration aircraft within the worldwide GA pilot community.

“This Tail Dragger version of the Tecnam P92 is the first new aircraft this particular marketplace has seen in a very long time and promises its owners and pilots significantly improved flight characteristics,” Tecnam’s Managing Director Paolo Pascale said.


“With the introduction of our 5th generation P92 Eaglet in 2011 and our P92 Sea-Sky Hydroplane earlier this month, we know our customers really appreciate the continuing innovations and improvements we are making to our P92 range of aircraft.”


Tecnam will reveal full specifications, weights and performance for the P92TD at the aircraft’s US unveiling at Sun and Fun 2012, to be held in Florida from March 27 to April 1.