Tecnam P2002 Sierra

Development of the Tecnam Sierra commenced during 2002. By 2005, the Sierra had risen to particular prominence in Tecnam's lineup, the company having dedicated around 70 per cent of its total aircraft production capacity to manufacturing the Sierra alone. During February 2020, it was announced that the Sierra Mk II had been certified as an ultralight aircraft by German authorities, clearing the type for use across most of Europe. Being permitted an increased maximum weight under this certification, the aircraft can thus be equipped with additional equipment such as a Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) parachute, new avionics, increased fuel capacity, and various comfort improvements within the cockpit. ==Design==

The Tecnam P2002 Sierra is a two-seat, low-wing, light aircraft. The wing is also furnished with electrically actuated flaps that are fully-variable between 0° and 40°; the flaps are controlled via a lever on the base of the left-hand instrument console and their position displayed on a gauge mounted at the top-right portion of the engine instrument cluster. although the presence of both a top lock and two side safety locks prevent the canopy opening unintentionally. Even when closed, the bubble canopy reportedly provides excellent levels of external visibility to the pilot. The Sierra possesses relatively gentle handling qualities, being particularly suited to use as a basic trainer aircraft. In addition to possessing benign stall characteristics, including easily recognisable indications of pre-stall buffeting and being controllable post-stall in roll via the ailerons. In terms of survivability, the aircraft is relatively robust and possesses no apparent deficient aspects to those of contemporary trainer aircraft. According to aerospace periodical Flight International, the Sierra is described as being able to "outperform the old Cessna 150 in virtually every flight regime". ==Variants==

;P2002 LSA :Approved as light-sport aircraft with gross weight. ;P2002 Sierra Mk II :P2002 with revised cabin and avionics, and powered by Rotax 915 iS engine. Available in ultralight and LSA approved versions. :A version with hand controls for disabled pilots is also available factory-fitted. ;P2002 JF Sierra Mk II : Improved P2002 JF with revised cabin and avionics. ;P2002 JR :Model with inward-retracting hydraulically retractable tricycle landing gear ;P2002 EA :Kit Built fixed tricycle landing gear ;P2002 RG :Kit Built model with outward-retracting pneumatic retractable tricycle landing gear ;Astore :Lighter derivative of P-2002-JF. Note that certified models have hydraulic gear and propeller, kit RG model has pneumatic gear and electric propeller. ==Operators==

The P2002 is mostly operated by private individuals and flight schools. ==Military Operators==

; • Argentine Air Force :8 P2002JF were ordered in 2016. ; • Hellenic Air Force :12 P2002JF were ordered in May 2018, the first was delivered in October 2018, and the final three delivered on 5 April 2019. ==Specifications (P2002-LSA)==