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 Avanti’s counter-rotating turboprop engines are placed on a mid-set, high-aspect-ratio wing located just behind the cabin. The three-surface design incorporates both a T-tail and a pair of small, fixed forewings having slight anhedral and landing flaps.
The aircraft offers a range of amenities to enhance the in-flight experience. The lavatory is isolated and equipped with a washbasin, combined with a wardrobe for added convenience. The cabin also features 14 electrically operated windows. Passenger electronics have also made a quantum leap in this airplane, thanks to the new Clairity cabin-management system. At the front of the cabin, there’s a mahogany chest of drawers designed for storing tableware, dishes, snacks, and hot beverages.
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The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306D engines with a TBO of 6,000 hours, each producing 5,852 pounds of thrust. The aircraft requires 3,530 feet or 1,076 meters of runway to take off at sea level on a standard day. The engines allow a maximum rate of climb per minute of 4,083 feet or 1,250 meters, and a maximum cruising altitude of 47,000 feet or 14,326 meters. The plane has a maximum cruise speed of 458 knots, with an average hourly fuel burn of 950 liters. The jet has a maximum range of 3,200 nautical miles, which is 5,900 kilometers.
