The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is an executive/VIP light transport aircraft, designed by Piaggio Aero and built in Italy. It features twin, wing-mounted turboprop engines, in a pusher configuration. The Avanti seats up to nine people in a pressurized cabin and may be flown by one or two pilots. The design is of three-surface configuration, having both a small forward wing and a conventional tailplane, as well as its main wing, with the main wing spars passing behind the passenger cabin area. The FAI lists it as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft with speed of 927.4 km/h.
Piaggio P.180 Avanti
Piaggio P.180 Avanti II empennage and delta fins (only one visible)
Avanti II flight deck
Clean configuration
Piaggio Aerospace, formerly Piaggio Aero Industries, is a multinational aerospace manufacturing company headquartered in Villanova d'Albenga, Italy. The company designs, develops, manufactures and maintains aircraft, aero-engines, aerospace components and aerostructures.
A Piaggio P.149
A Piaggio P.166 in flight
Planform view of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti, highlighting its unusual design
Piaggio P.180 Avanti