Piaggio P-180 Avanti

The Italian private jet manufacturer Piaggio Aero company, like all other private jet manufacturers, announced their goals for the Piaggio P-180 before they started building it. They wanted a light private jet that could cruise at 400 knots, fly at more than 40,000 feet, have a 2,000 mile range, as well as be fuel-efficient and have a comfortable cabin. Considering the fact that no other private jet manufacturer had been able to create a jet that met such specifications, Piaggio had to be truly innovative in making the P-180.

Usually the cabin comes at the end of the design process of a private jet (which explains the oddly-shaped, cramped cabins that are ubiquitous among light private jets). Piaggio instead started by building a comfortable, large cabin, and then building rest of the jet around it. The spacious cabin seats seven passengers in full-sized seats. There is almost no vibration and the noise levels are low. There is baggage space available for about six suitcases and a few golf bags, a total of 44 cubic feet. And, true to Italian form, it is extremely stylish.

The most noticeable feature of the Piaggio is its wings – to be exact, it has three sets. These three sets effectively distribute flight loads and provide three lifting surfaces. The sets of smaller wings total a smaller amount of wing area than is usually distributed over a single wing, but manage to cut down on the Piaggio’s structure weight, drag, and increase lift. The engineers of Piaggio Aero designed the P180’s structure with the help of NASA software and perfected it with over 4,600 hours of wind tunnel testing.

Not surprisingly, the Piaggio takes off quickly (in less than 3,000 feet) and climbs to its flight level of 41,000 feet. At the time of its release, it was the fastest turboprop on the market with a cruise speed of up to 400 knots. It can fly more than 2,000 miles, which far surpasses the average high-speed cruise distance of competing jets. Not only is the Piaggio high-performing, it is economical. It has high fuel efficiency, a low specific fuel consumption, and can be flown by a single pilot.

The Piaggio’s six-blade turboprops are powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 engines, flat rated to 850 shp for improved efficiency. The heavy wing loading of the Piaggio provides for smooth handling in turbulence and solid, high flight level handling. The cabin is rated to 9.0 psi, meaning it can maintain a sea-level cabin at up to 24,000 feet.

The P180 uses the Rockwell Collins Avionics suite in the cockpit. The system is designed to be highly intuitive – switches and controls are grouped by function, and five sleek screens display systems information. WXR-840 solid-state weather radar and Universal UNS-1kFMS systems come standard for enhance situational awareness. A Rockwell Collins TWR-850 Doppler turbulence detection radar can be included if requested.

Fractional Options: Avantair

Of the many fractional companies available, only one uses the Piaggio P180 in its fleet: Avantair. To be more specific, Avantair only uses Piaggio P180s. If the name Piaggio doesn't seem familiar, a quick look at the jet will suffice to job your memory: the P180 has three lifting surfaces to distribute lift. The unique design of the P180 results in reduced drag and greater stability in flight.

Some say that the Piaggio P180 resembles a spacecraft, but a more apt description would be a finely crafted piece of Italian sculpture: everything from the hand-detailed leather seats to the sleek runway profile are reminiscent of Italian design. In more practical terms, however, the P180 competes well with the competition, delivering greater fuel efficiency, additional cabin space, and a shorter required runway length. The P180 lags a bit in terms of speed, but makes up for it in overall cabin comfort and low operating costs.

For a more detailed analysis of the Avantair's services, or for more information on the Piaggio P180, visit these links:

Piaggio P180
Jet Advisors: Fractional Ownership
Avantair.com