The Piaggio P180 Avanti


I saw one of these in the hanger at BWI when I was with my flight instructor and he went over the advantages of the aircraft. The pusher configuration (rear mounted turboprops) have an advantage to the traditional tractor configuration (front mounted props that pull) in that it reduces drag by keeping airflow "attached" to the wing. It also has the potential to increase the maneuverability of an aircraft as it's somewhat more stable than the tractor setup. The disadvantage of this, though, is that the power plant sits further behind the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and are more prone to a flat spin if loaded improperly.


Regardless, I like the laminar flow fuselage and the canard setup.


"Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." - Socrates
The Piaggio P180 Avanti The Piaggio P180 Avanti Reviewed by Joe Burlas on December 10, 2009 Rating: 5

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