Tecnam Aircraft said it has begun delivering its P-Mentor two-seat trainer in the United States. The first aircraft arrived at HCH Aviation, a flight school based in Nacogdoches, Texas, and will be used in a new flight program partnership with Stephen F. Austin State University.
The P-Mentor, the subject of an AOPA Pilot feature in 2023, received FAA type certification in May. It is part of HCH’s program to update its fleet. Tecnam has marketed the P-Mentor to flight schools, touting the new aircraft’s efficiency and safety features.
Among the P-Mentor’s advantages as a trainer is its Rotax 912iSc3 engine, which consumes about 4 gph, which allows longer training intervals between refueling stops, the company said.
“The delivery of the P-Mentor caps off our conversion of our fleet to an all inclusive Tecnam Flight Program,” said Kristen Conklin, president of HCH Aviation. Conklin called the switch “a very easy decision” given the Tecnam’s low operating cost and reliability.