Piaggio Original Projects
Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:39 am
Thanks to the holidays I have some spare time to write this post, just not to leave this section empty!
The aeronautical history of Piaggio is dotted with a large number of projects that were made in single prototypes or that were not followed up in series construction.
For many of the "missing" model indentifier, at least wing-tunnel scaled model exists. For others, only the preliminary drawings.
Because of the many models designed and the low production quantities, the company has been always nicknamed to be a "privately owned aeronautical research institute".
This list resumes only the original aeronautical designs that have been effectively built and tested, no matter of the outcomings.
Productions under license from other firms are not included.
I'll try to add some images later below in this topic and my long-term plan is to provide a short description of the most significant models (aka the ones I like more!).
Hope you'll enjoy this.
Daniele
The aeronautical history of Piaggio is dotted with a large number of projects that were made in single prototypes or that were not followed up in series construction.
For many of the "missing" model indentifier, at least wing-tunnel scaled model exists. For others, only the preliminary drawings.
Because of the many models designed and the low production quantities, the company has been always nicknamed to be a "privately owned aeronautical research institute".
This list resumes only the original aeronautical designs that have been effectively built and tested, no matter of the outcomings.
Productions under license from other firms are not included.
I'll try to add some images later below in this topic and my long-term plan is to provide a short description of the most significant models (aka the ones I like more!).
Hope you'll enjoy this.
Daniele
| Designation | Description | Engine | HP (each) | MTOW [kg] | Vmo (km/h) | Date | No. Built | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P.1 | monoplane | 1 x ABC | 5,7 | 211 | - | 1923 | 1 | "Rondine" (swallow) First Design by Giovanni Pegna |
| P.2 | Fighter monoplane | 1 x Hispano Suiza | 300 | 1100 | 240 | 1923 | 1 | |
| P.3 | bomber biplane | 4 x SPA 6A | 200 | 5200 | 184 | 1923 | 1 | |
| P.6 | hydro biplane | 1 x FIAT A20 | 410 | 2516 | 194 | 1927 | 12 | Mixed wood/metal |
| P.7 | race hydro monoplane | 1 x Isotta Fraschini V12 | 970 | 1738 | 580 | 1929 | 2 | Abandoned Schneider Trophy project |
| P.8 | hydro monoplane | 1 x Cirrus MKII | 75 | 734 | 135 | 1928 | 1 | |
| P.9 | high wing | 1 x Cirrus MKII | 75 | 720 | 170 | 1929 | 1 | terrestrial version of P.8 |
| S55M | hydro | 2 x Isotta Fraschini Asso 500 | 500 | 8260 | 205 | 1930 | 7 | metal version of Savoia Marchetti S55, re-engineered by Giuseppe Gabrielli |
| P.10 | hydro biplane | 1 x Piaggio Jupiter VI | 440 | 2700 | 195 | 1932 | 1 | |
| P.11 | acrobatic biplane | 1 x Lynx IV | 02 | 908 | 200 | 1933 | 1 | derived from Blackburn Lincock |
| P.12 | 4-seater monoplane | 2 x Gipsy | 120 | 1500 | 220 | 1933 | 2 | |
| PD.1 | 2-seater helicopter | 1 x Piaggio VII | 390 | - | - | 1934 | 1 | two counter-rotating 4 blades rotors, designed by Corradino D'Ascanio |
| P.16 | bomber monoplane | 3 x Piaggio PXI RC | 610 | 8450 | 400 | 1934 | 1 | First All metal design, VP Propellers |
| P.23M | monoplane | 4 x Asso XI R | 900 | 18439 | 400 | 1934 | 1 | tandem engines, later modified to 3 engines base for P.23R |
| P.23R | monoplane | 3 x Piaggio PXI RC.40 | 850 | 23900 | 312 - 410 | 1935 | 1 | 3 blades VP propellers, speed record |
| P.32 | bomber monoplane | 2 x Asso XI RC | 729 | 9355 | 393 | 1935 | 26 | Version II equipped with Piaggio PXIRC40 engines |
| P.50 | bomber monoplane | 4 x Asso XI R | 729 | 20000 | 435 | 1937 | 2 | Tandem Engines. Last Pegna design, completed by Giovanni Casiraghi |
| PD.2 | 2-seater helicopter | 1 x Alfa Romeo | 180 | - | - | 1939 | 1 | 3 blades main rotor with tail rotor, designed by Corradino D'Ascanio |
| P.108 | long range bomber monoplane | 4 x Piaggio P.XIIRC35 | 1500 | 29500 | 430 | 1939 | 44 | Versions B, C, A, T. 3 blades VP propellers. 3600 km range |
| P.111 | high altitude monoplane | 2 x Piaggio PXIIRC100/2V | 1000 | 7590 | 575 | 1939 | 1 | First European pressurized fuselage. 30000 ft altitude |
| P.119 | fighter bomber monoplane | 1 x Piaggio PXVRC602V | 1400 | 4100 | 610 | 1941 | 1 | central engine. 3 blades VP propeller |
| P.136 | 5-seater amphibious monoplane | 2 x Franklin 6AB-215-B9F | 215 | 2570 | 254 | 1948 | 63 | "Royal Gull". Versions F, L, L1, L2. Later equipped with Lycoming GO-453/480 260/320 HP. First Piaggio FAA certified design |
| PD.3 | 2-seater helicopter | 1 x ??? | - | 1250 | - | 1949 | 1 | 3 blades main rotor with tail rotor, designed by Corradino D'Ascanio |
| P.148 | 3-seater training monoplane | 1 x lycoming O-435A | 190 | 1244 | 234 | 1951 | 71 | acrobatic 2 blades VP propeller |
| PD.4 | 4-seater helicopter | 1 x Franklin 6AB-215-B9F | 215 | 1400 | - | 1952 | 1 | two 2 blades tandem main rotors, designed by corradino D'Ascanio |
| P.150 | training monoplane | 1 x Pratt & Whitney Wasp | 550 | 2540 | 360 | 1952 | 1 | tandem with dual controls |
| P.149() | 4-seater training monoplane | 1 x Lycoming GO-480 | 270 | 1680 | 304 | 1953 | 88 | acrobatic 3 blades VP Propeller. 190 built under license by Focke-Wulf |
| P.166() | 9-seater executive monoplane | 2 x lycoming GSO-480B1 | 340 | 3680 | 357 | 1958 | 81 | "Albatross" FAA certified. 3 blades pushing propellers. Various versions with different engines including TP. Many built in South Africa under license. Last version P.166DP1 in 2009 |
| PD.808 | 10-seater executive monoplane | 2 x Bristol Siddley Viper 525 | 1320 kg | 6804 | 862 | 1962 | 24 | Still the one and only Italian dual engine jet civil ceritifed under FAA Part-25 |
| P.180 | 9-seater executive monoplane | 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66(B) | 850 | 5500 | 740 | 1986 | 250+ | Five blades pushing propellers. Avanti, Avanti II and EVO Versions. Designed by Mazzoni |
| P.1HH | MALE UAS | 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66B | 850 | 6146 | 730 | 2013 | 3+ | "Hammerhead" P.180 Unmanned derivative with increased wingspan |
| MPA | Multirole Patrolling Aircraft | 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66B | 850 | 7484 | 648 | 2015 | 1 | P.180 derivative with increased wingspan |