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Pictures Airplane |
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The Italian Tecnam company was started in 1949 when engineer Luigi Pascale,
an assistant at the Naples University Aeronautical Construction Institute,
and his brother Giovanni began the construction of an aircraft that they
called the P48B Astore. The aircraft was ready to fly by October 1950 but no
one was prepared to carry out a test flight until fighter-ace Mario De
Bernardi took to the air on 2 April 1951 and was immediately impressed by
the plane’s quality. The one-off P48B Astore flew until the mid 1960s, when
it was finally scrapped. Today, over 2500 Tecnam light aircraft fly
worldwide – the largest fleet in the world. The Tecnam P2002 JF photographed below was conceived using advanced computer design and is undoubtedly one of the finest low-wing aeroplanes in its class. The Bad Ragaz airfield is sited in Eastern Switzerland’s Rhine Valley
and owned by Docair AG, Chur. It is the base for the Motorfluggruppe Chur
(Motor Aeroplane Club) with around 55 active members. The club was formed
over 70 years ago on “Rossboden”, a military training ground in Chur,
hence the reference to the town of Chur. The airfield is also home to a
loosely-knit group of around 30 individual aeroplane owners as well as the
Bad Ragaz Glider Club with about 60 members. Aircraft maintenance is
provided by the company Flugzeugservice von Rotz AG. Passenger flights and
round trips are on offer at the airfield as well as flight training with
motor-powered aeroplanes and gliders. Introductory flights in dual-control
aircraft are another attraction. And the cosy Flügerstübli Restaurant
ensures that visitors, pilots and ground crews are well catered for. |
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