BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 00:31

In August of 2021 I ordered a Tecnam P2010 with IO-390 engine. I picked it up in Sebring, FL six months later and flew it back to SoCal. It was $125,000 less than a new 182, at that time.

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/communi ... 10.133681/

I am very happy with it. I had two warranty issues and they were both resolved quickly to my satisfaction. I've ordered parts and they arrived quickly. The fit and finish on the plane is impressive. The visibility from the cockpit is excellent. GFC 700 integrates well with G1000 NXi panel. I added FS-510 and Synthetic Vision too.

They also make a version with the continental diesel engine that was released after my order but I wanted the IO-390 (215 HP) anyway.

I have 222 hours on it and fly out of Fullerton, CA, KFUL. You can follow my Instagram at http://www.FlightFollowing.aero

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 01:05

Username Protected wrote:

However, they are slower than a 182, faster than a 172. Very comfortable and nice cockpit layout. Nice looking airplane.

Good luck!!

If Cessna were still building the fixed gear Cardinal it would be the P2010.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 01:28

Agree, fixed gear Cardinal...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 10:50

The OP asked for a pirep and it only took until page two to get one. Classic BT.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 10:54

Username Protected wrote:

In August of 2021 I ordered a Tecnam P2010 with IO-390 engine. I picked it up in Sebring, FL six months later and flew it back to SoCal. It was $125,000 less than a new 182, at that time.

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/communi ... 10.133681/

I am very happy with it. I had two warranty issues and they were both resolved quickly to my satisfaction. I've ordered parts and they always arrive quickly. The fit and finish on the plane is impressive. The visibility from the cockpit is excellent. GFC 700 integrates well with G1000 NXi panel. I added FS-510 and Synthetic Vision too.

They also make a version with the continental diesel engine that was released after my order but I wanted the IO-390 (215 HP) anyway.

I have 222 hours on it and fly out of Fullerton, CA, KFUL. You can follow my Instagram at http://www.FlightFollowing.aero

Scott,

How close is the actual performance to book?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Nov 2023, 11:14

When it comes to cruise performance, the book is 3000 ft, 6000 ft, 9000 ft and I fly only VFR (x500) so I have to interpolate and it's pretty close. Maybe a tad slower, more like 135kt TAS than the advertised 140, at 10-12 gph. It does want to fly though! It takes a little longer to take off and land as compared to a 172 and there again, the book is pretty accurate... Here are a couple shots of panel with a 16 kt headwind from flight last Sunday.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Nov 2023, 01:12

I strongly considered purchasing a P2010.

What I liked:

Interior fit & finish is terrific
3rd door is wonderfully executed for aft passengers
Very aerodynamic fuselage. Composite fuselage with aluminum wings and elevator is insurance friendly. Underwriters I spoke with said the high risk areas for common repairs are the wings. Aluminum makes these repairs more straightforward. e.g. Better predictability for repairs means cost containment for the insurer, is what I was told.
Great economy with 4 cylinder engine

Didn't like:

Useful load little better than a 172
Standard front seats have short seat cushions with poor thigh support. I'm 6' 165#.
Wanted at least 182 performance, but P2010 splits the difference between 172/182. Cruise performance is closer, but climb and useful load are less. High, hot & heavy performance drives with a 4 cylinder verses a 6 is where the performance tips towards 172 levels.
No door window ventilation while taxiing. Door must be cracked open on hot days

Tecnam does offers an upgraded interior with significantly improved seats with larger seat cushions with vastly better leg support. Think Recro style. Should be mandatory basic seats.

The P2010 is a lot like the Cardinal as others have mentioned. It's roomy like a 182 with flight performance more like a 172 plus.

For my personal situation the plane did not have enough density altitude performance for my particular missions. The IO-390 is good improvement over IO-360 option, but sacrifices some useful load.

Good plane. Bottom line it is the "next gen" 172 Textron should have built. Whenever I see one, the owner gets a big thumbs-up from me.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Nov 2023, 22:04

Username Protected wrote:

as much as I like this aircraft it is Italian and Italian products have a bad reputation for service. think Ferrari and the news we hear about the Avanti. beautiful elegant designs

as for performance it is underpowered compared to a Barron etc. so to get good single engine performance compromises needed to be made

Exactly. I absolutely avoid Italian companies products due to their lack of customer support. Just one example, I had to sic the AZ state attorney general on Beretta to get warranty service honored. It took a year and a half to resolve.

Any Tecnam 2010 Pireps?