(L-R) Lynne Birmingham, new P2006T owner Ed Sweeney, Mike Birmingham, and Phil Soloman celebrate the sale of the first Tecnam twin in the United States.

August 2, 2009 - Oshkosh, Wisconsin  - It's an unlikely path to ownership, but Ed Sweeney contends that it makes perfect sense. A pioneer in electric remote control aircraft in the late 1960s, Ed always had a fascination for things that fly. In 1970, he made his first trip to the annual EAA Fly-In Convention and was an early adopter of hang gliders and what was to become the ultralight movement. His twin-engine Hummingbird was a hit and with its panoramic view, Ed's next airplane was really no surprise: a twin-engine Partenavia P68 Observer-the model where the nose doubles as a windscreen.

Ed flew the Partenavia for 20 years, but several years ago, spied the new Rotax-powered twin concept that Tecnam was working on. He was smitten. The same design team that crafted the distinctive Partenavia also lent design cues to the new P2006T from Tecnam, a direct descendant of Partenavia.

On the first day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the twin-engine Tecnam flew a demonstration during showcase prior to the air show and the flightline crowds were impressed. Spirited handling, remarkable single-engine performance with a feathered MT prop, and nimble flight characteristics make the P2006T look like a blast to fly. Once Sweeney took a demo flight, he opened his checkbook.

"It's like a grown-up Hummingbird," says Sweeney who flies from Meadowlake Airport near Colorado Springs.

As soon as Tecnam completes certification of the P2006T-about a year-Sweeney will take delivery and add another fun toy to his collection, which also includes the only flying Molt Taylor Aerocar.