Tecnam Bravo Flight Test by Sherm Booen There is great excitement these days at Thunderbird Aviation, Flying Cloud Field. There is a brand new airplane sitting on the ramp ready for you to fly and enjoy. It’s the first of six Light Sport airplanes ordered by Thunderbird and arriving soon at Eden Prairie. I flew the demonstrator recently and it's a pleasure to tell you about what it looks like and how it flies.

It's made by Tecnam of Italy and it fits the Light Sport category. Two place, high wing, 100 HP, partial glass panel, a speedy 115 knots, and a range of 690 NM. Veteran pilots (with or without a medical) can get checked out by Thunderbird instructors and go fly at $87.00 per hour.

You have to fly this neat new ship to really appreciate it. With Alex Haak at the controls we took off into a choppy light wind on runway 9010R. Acceleration was quick, airborne at 600 feet, and climb out at 80 knots, rate of climb 1000 feet per minute. Climb to 2300 feet and at 500 fpm the speed was 100 knots, level cruise showed 115 knots, the Rotax engine at 5200 rpm. Visibility was wide-screen excellent. After the short demonstration flight we turned toward home - FCM. Alex set up for runway 10R, airspeed 55 knots. A slow sink and flare out and touchdown at 42 knots. Beautiful!! My first flight in a Light Sport airplane The Tecnam Bravo, I loved it, and it fits well in the WORLD OF AVIATION.

Sherm Booen was the original host of the World of Aviation
which has aired on WCCO TV for 28 years.