Tecnam’s P-Mentor came onto the scene in April 2002 having already received its EASA CS-23 type certificate even before its official debut. The Italy-based company introduced it as a purpose-built trainer designed to cover pretty much the whole range of single-engine instruction—including instrument and upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT). FAA validation is reportedly around the corner, with Tecnam saying it is tentatively expected to come through around midsummer this year.
Since its introduction, the P-Mentor has been getting a fair bit of attention globally. I got a chance to check it out last May when I attended a celebration marking 75 years in aviation for the Pascale family, which founded both Partenavia and Tecnam. While in Capua, longtime Tecnam test pilot Massimo De Stefano put me in the left seat to put the little two-seater through the wringer.