Piaggio P180 Avanti
(Redirected from Piaggio P.180 Avanti)
Categories: Italian civil utility aircraft 1980-1989 | Italian business aircraft 1980-1989
The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is a twin-engine business aircraft produced by Piaggio Aero. It seats up to nine passengers in a generous pressurized cabin, and may be flown by one or two pilots.
The Avanti has turboprop engines in a pusher configuration, placed on a mid-fuselage, high aspect ratio wing. The wing is located very far aft, behind the cabin, and the highly unconventional design also features a T-tail and a canard. This arrangement allows all three wing surfaces to provide lift; a conventional aircraft's horizontal stabilizer creates a downward force, causing drag. The Avanti's aerodynamics and turboprop engines result in an extremely efficient aircraft.
The P.180 was wind tunnel tested in Italy and the U.S. in 1980 and 81. A collaboration with Learjet to develop the aircraft was begun in 1982, ending in 1986, when the prototype first flew. U.S. certification was obtained in 1990. The first 12 fuselages were built in Wichita, with H & H Parts and Plessey Midwest, then flown to Italy for assembly. Avanti Aviation Wichita ran out of money in 1994; the project languished until a group of investors led by Peiro Ferrari became involved in 1998. The 100th aircraft was delivered in Oct. 2005.
Distinctive design features include a non-constant cross section cabin, the shape of which is a figure of revolution based on a NACA airfoil section. The mid cabin is therefore considerably wider than the cockpit. The entire cabin is ahead of the main wing. The wing and canard airfoils are custom sections designed by Dr. Jerry Gregorek of Ohio State University to achieve 50% laminar flow at cruise.
The P.180 makes a distinctive square wave noise flying overhead, similar to the Beech Starship, due to wing wake and engine exhaust effects on the propeller.
Specifications (P.180)
General characteristics<h3>
- Crew: one or two pilots
- Capacity: up to nine passengers; 1,999 lb (907 kg) payload
- Cabin dimensions: 5 ft 6 in (1.75 m) high, 5 ft 10 in (1.85 m) wide, 14 ft 6 in (4.45 m) long
- Length: 14.40 m (47 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 14.03 m (46 ft)
- Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.98 m)
- Wing area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,400 kg (7,500 lb)
- Loaded weight: kg (lb)
- Maximum gross takeoff weight: 5,262 kg (11,550 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 turboprops, 1,107 kW (1,485 shp thermodynamic, derated to 850 shp)
<h3>Performance<h3>
- Maximum speed: 732 km/h (395 kt)
- Cruise speed: 644 km/h (348 kt)
- Range: 2,595 km (1,400 nm) (one pilot, six passengers and IFR reserves)
- Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)
- Maximum rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)
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