Tecnam of Italy developed its P2002 "Sierra" twin-seat, single-engine design for the light aircraft market of the United States and Europe in 2002 to compete with other like-products. The aircraft eventually went on to prove itself a success, popularized for its agility, ease-of-operation, and ease-of-maintenance. At peak production, some six airframes per week were being built by the company for various customers around the globe.
The initial major production form became the Sierra Mk I of 2002. Into the next decade, the line was evolved through the improved Sierra Mk II which has sported more luxurious amenities to satisfy growing customer requirements (the Sierra Mk II remains the dominant production form today). Sub-variants of the series have included the "P2002 JF" with its non-retractable tricycle undercarriage while the "P2002 JR" appeared with a retractable version. The "P2002 EA" was sold as a ready-to-build "kit" and sported the fixed undercarriage assembly. Conversely, the "P2002 RG" was developed to feature the retracting undercarriage as a kit with pneumatic function and an electric propeller.
The light aircraft is given a largely conventional arrangement with the exception that the pilot and passenger are seated side-by-side. The cockpit is directly aft of the engine housing with a tapering empennage holding the single vertical fin and low-set horizontal planes. Vision out-of-the-cockpit is excellent as attention has been paid to window screens all about the occupants. The mainplanes are of low-set monoplane form with clipped tips. The fixed-undercarriage version features spatted housings for each of the three wheels.
Structural dimensions include a running length of 21.6 feet, a wingspan of 29.5 feet, and height of 7.5 feet. Empty weight is just 730lb against an MTOW of 1,320lb. Performance-wise, the light aircraft version with the fixed, spatted undercarriage has a cruising speed of 140 miles-per-hour (with a never-exceed-speed of 180 mph).
The base design carries a Rotax 912 S2 series engine of100 horsepower, this used to typically drive a simple two-bladed, fixed-pitch propeller unit at the nose (more advanced prop options have since become available).
Beyond its success in the private civilian market, the unique inherent qualities of the P2002 has seen it accepted into the military inventories of Argentina and Greece. The Argentine Air Force ordered eight P2002 JF models in 2016 and the Hellenic Air Force followed with twelve airframes in 2018, the last of these was delivered in April of 2019.
September 2016 - It was announced that the Argentine Air Force had committed to the procurement of eight P2002 JF basic trainers for its inventory. The lease deal, brokered by AeroTec Argentina SA, will see the aircraft assembled locally at a plant in Rivadavia.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Tecnam P2002 Sierra Mk II Lightweight Utility / Trainer Aircraft.
1 x Rotax 912 S2 engine developing 100 horsepower and driving a two- or three-bladed fixed-pitch or variable-pitch bladed propeller at the nose. Propulsion
180 mph 290 kph | 157 kts Max Speed
715 miles 1,150 km | 621 nm Operational Range
Structure The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Tecnam P2002 Sierra Mk II Lightweight Utility / Trainer Aircraft.
1 (MANNED) Crew
21.7 ft 6.60 m O/A Length
29.5 ft (9.00 m) O/A Width
7.5 ft (2.30 m) O/A Height
728 lb (330 kg) Empty Weight
1,323 lb (600 kg) MTOW
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Tecnam P2002 Sierra family line.
P2002 "Sierra" - Base Series Designation
P2002 Sierra Mk I - Initial production model of 2002.
P2002 Sierra Mk II - Advanced model of 2010.
P2002 JF - Fixed tricycle undercarriage; variable-pitch propeller.
P2002 JR - Retractable undercarriage (hydraulic)
P2002 EA - Kit-based assembly; fixed tricycle undercarriage.
P2002 RG - Kit-based assembly; retractable undercarriage (pneumatic).
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Tecnam P2002 Sierra. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.
Total Production: 250 Units Contractor(s): Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam - Italy
[ Argentina; France; Greece; Iceland; Italy; United Kingdom; United States ]
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Image from official Tecnam marketing material.
Going Further... The Tecnam P2002 Sierra Lightweight Utility / Trainer Aircraft appears in the following collections:
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