Tecnam P-Mentor
The Tecnam P-Mentor is an Italian two-seat, low-wing light aircraft, purpose-built for ab-initio through instrument flight training, designed and produced by Tecnam, in Capua, Italy. It was introduced in April 2022 and is EASA CS-23 type certified in Europe, later followed by FAA Part 23 and Transport Canada validations..
The design was first unveiled at AERO Friedrichshafen in April 2022. Conceived as a single-platform trainer from PPL and Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. The P-Mentor combines a Rotax 912iSc3 advanced Garmin glass cockpit, and an all-metal/composite airframe to deliver full IFR capability and is now operated by flight schools worldwide.
Design and development
The P-Mentor was designed to comply with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA CS-23 regulations for certified light aircraft. It was EASA CS-23 certified on 7 April 2022.The design features a cantilever low-wing, two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration, driving a two-bladed variable pitch propeller.
The aircraft wing has a light alloy spar and wing box, with a carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer leading edge. The span wing is equipped with slotted flaps of 75% span, plus frise ailerons. The standard engine employed is the Rotax 912iSc four-stroke certified powerplant.
The design uses a new tapered planform wing, employing a laminar flow airfoil, which meets the EASA CS-23 requirements for low speed handling and stall characteristics without a ballistic parachute, although a parachute is approved and available as a factory option.
The aircraft may be equipped for IFR flight. For training use it may be optionally equipped with a simulated retractable landing gear handle, although the landing gear does not actually retract.