Tecnam founder receives LAMA President's Award

Pascale, now considered the patriarch of Tecnam Aircraft, was a founder of Partenavia Aircraft. He and his brother, Giovanni, founded Tecnam in 1986.

Pascale designed Tecnam’s P92 Echo, P2008, and Sierra. He was involved in the development of the twin-engine P2006T and a forthcoming 11-seat aircraft called the P2012 Traveler, which has made its first flight, according to LAMA President Dan Johnson.

The 92-year-old Pascale did not travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to accept the award, but instead expressed his thanks via video.

Johnson said LAMA’s advocacy efforts have progressed in 2016, including efforts to convince the FAA that electric propulsion should be permitted in light sport aircraft. He said the group also is advocating that LSA gyrocopters, popular in Europe, be permissible in the United States. Finally, LAMA would like to see the use of LSAs in certain types of aerial work, such as pipeline patrol.

“We think in the age of drones doing all kinds of things, there’s room for airplanes that can do manned flying” that drones can’t perform well, Johnson said.