Gallery
Globally acclaimed as the most cost-effective yet twin-engine airplane for observation and patrol roles.
Designed to provide an alternate and more economic solution in a field where the helicopter has until now dominated.
Horsepower
400 HpMax cruise speed
165ktsMax range
1820 NMPassengers
5 + PilotSpecifications
| 2 engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 rated 200 Hp at 2700 rpm | ||
| Max Ramp Weight | 2100 kg | 4630 lb |
| Max Take-Off Weight | 2084 kg | 4594 lb |
| Max Landing Weight | 1980 kg | 4365 lb |
| Std. Empty Weight (std equipped w/ avg optionals) | 1420 kg | 3130 lb |
| Max Zero Fuel Weight | 1967 kg | 4336 lb |
| Max Useful Load | 680 kg | 1499 lb |
| Max Usable Fuel (with aux tanks) | 670 lt | 177 U.S. gal |
| Number of Seats | 6 | 6 |
| Luggage Capacity in Luggage Compartment | 0,66cu.m | 23 cu ft |
| Max Luggage Weight | 181 Kg | 400 lb |
| Cruise speed @ 75% MCP, ISA, 8000ft, MTOW | 307 km/h | 166 Ktas |
| Cruise speed @ 65% MCP (economy), ISA, 9000ft, MTOW | 277 km/h | 150 Ktas |
| Maximum rate of climb at sea level, ISA, MTOW | 6.3 m/s | 1240 ft/m |
| Single engine rate of climb at sea level, ISA, MTOW | 1.1 m/s | 220 ft/m |
| Stall speed, full flaps (35°), MTOW, ISA, sea level | 106 km/h | 57 Kcas |
| Max Altitude | 5490 m | 18000 ft |
| Single Engine Service ceiling ISA, MTOW, RoC 75 ft/min: | 3500 ft | 1070 m |
| Max Range 2 persons (90 kg): Long Range, Cruise 55% PWR @ 10000, 30’ Res | 2658 km | 1435 nm |
| Take-Off Distance over 50ft, MTOW, ISA | 400 m | 1312 ft |
| Landing Distance over 50ft, MLW | 600 m | 1969 ft |
| Take-Off Ground Run | 240 m | 787 ft |
| Landing ground run, ISA, MLW: | 240 m | 787 ft |
| Max Endurance, 2 persons (90 kg): Long Range, Cruise 55% PWR @ 10000, 30' Res. | 9,6 h | 9,6h |
External
The new P.68 Observer 2 has a unique aircraft design. The aircraft features a full Plexiglas nose allowing unrestricted forward visibility.
This unique feature has many benefits for many categories of pilots / operators. Whether you are a law enforcement pilot or you want to enjoy the view, no other fixed wing general aviation aircraft in the market has the same visibility.
You will not miss traffic and you will not miss visual target on the ground. That is why the P.68 Observer 2 aircraft is the choice of many law enforcement entities in the US and abroad.
Wing Span
12.00 m
39.37 ft
Wing Area
18.60 m2
200.23 ft2
Overall Length
9.43 m
30.94 ft
Overall Height
3.40 m
11.15 ft
Internal
Cockpit Area
Passenger Cabin
Pax Configuaration
Cargo Compartment
| Length | 1.451m | 4.760 ft |
| Width | 1.160m | 3.806 ft |
| Average Height | 1.150m | 3.773 ft |
| Total Volume |
| Length | 1.780m | 5.840 ft |
| Width | 1.160m | 3.806 ft |
| Average Height | 1.200m | 3.937 ft |
| Total Volume | 2.478m3 | 85.51 cu. Ft |
| Length | 0.816m | 2.677 ft |
| Width | 1.010m | 3.300 ft |
| Average Height | 1.000m | 3.281 ft |
| Total Volume | 0.825m3 | 28.98 cu. Ft |
| Length | 2.596m | 8.507 ft |
| Width | 1.100m | 3.609 ft |
| Average Height | 1.120m | 3.674 ft |
| Total Volume | 3.198m3 | 112.8 cu. ft |
This view shows a standard 1+5 seat interior layout of P.68 OBSERVER 2 including the arrangement of the cockpit crew, passenger cabin and baggage compartment with the large aft RH Cargo door and the LH Passenger entrance door.
The aircraft can be also certified for 1+6 people by installing a rear bench allowing seating for three people in the last row.
One important new feature of the new generation P.68 OBSERVER 2 is the redesigned glass cockpit and avionic suite featuring the new Garmin G1000 NXI avionic suite coupled with the new GFC700 digital autopilot with yaw damper.
The new generation P.68 OBSERVER 2 features a redesigned interior. Thanks to the redesigned interior passengers have gained a few inches of headroom especially in the aft area.
The quickly removable seats make a large cabin volume available for the carriage of goods of all kinds from mountain bikes or golf clubs to stretchers for aerial ambulance duties.
The P.68 OBSERVER 2 has a standard predisposition for a camera hatch which is located under the second row right hand seat. The camera hatch is 2.1 ft long and 1.5 ft wide (63 x 46 cm) and allows the installation of the wide variety of equipment such as professional digital photogrammetric cameras and a wide range of Gyro stabilized cameras such as L3 Wescam, Flir just to name a few.
Performance
The new P.68 OBSERVER 2 is available with two 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 normally aspirated engines. The engines drive Hartzell constant speed, full feathering propellers.
The exceptionally clean lines of the P.68 OBSERVER 2 are the result of many hours of wind tunnel testing and deliver an optimum performance in terms of maximum speed, rate of climb and endurance.
Airborne SUV Capabilities
The P.68 OBSERVER 2 can truly be considered an airborne SUV. The difference between the Vulcanair and any aircraft which may be comparable to it is that the P68 OBSERVER 2 has two engines and these two engines are powerful enough and reliable. No other light twin in the market offers three rows of removable seats, more than 65 cubic feet of internal volume including 20 cubic feet of cargo space allowing a max load in the cargo compartment of 400 lbs.
The P.68 OBSERVER 2 flexible space allows the pilot to load the aircraft in many ways that can satisfy many different mission profiles.
Style
Let’s not forget that the P68 Series is designed and manufactured in Italy. Look at the clean lines of the aircraft and you will notice the difference.
* It is the responsibility of the pilot to conduct all operations in accordance with the approved Pilot’s Operating Handbook, which is the only official source of data.
Safety
Painstaking work on the part of an ideal designer / test pilot combination have produced truly remarkable and benign handling characteristics particularly at low speeds or in the unlikely event of an engine failure. The forward position of the pilot in relation to the wing provides excellent rearward visibility in turns, making for greater safety in crowded airspace. With the optional de-icing equipment installed on the P68 OBSERVER 2 has been operated day and night with safety and regularity, from severe winter conditions over the North Sea and throughout Northern Europe to the harsh environments of the continents of Africa and Australia.
Economy
The P68 Series has one common feature, economy. The economy of the aircraft is the result of the low operating costs and of the low maintenance costs which are a direct result of the aircraft construction simplicity and low fuel consumption and replacement costs of its power plants. The rugged maintenance free, leaf spring fixed undercarriage, lack of complicated systems and unsurpassed accessibility of servicing points reduce maintenance to the minimum. The high wing configuration enables the engine intakes and propeller tips to be kept well clear of the ground thereby reducing dust ingestion and stone denting to the minimum and extending engine and propeller service lives to the maximum.
Material Choice
While it can be true that composite aircraft have no rivets, at Vulcanair we believe that there are many advantages in aluminium construction. The first advantage is weight, compared to a similar structure made of aircraft certified composite materials The second are the known and well documented aging and fatigue qualities of aluminium structure together with the ease of repair.