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by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

Piaggio at Paris Air Show 2005

During the 2005 edition of the Paris Air Show, held from 13 to 19 June, Piaggio Aero Industries announced some significant accomplishments. The Italian manufacturer put also on static display two freshly delivered aircraft: the first P.166-DP1 maritime patrol aircraft for the Italian Custom Police (Guardia di Finanza) and the third P.180 for the Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana).

The first aircraft is a remanufactured P.166-DL3. It underwent mid-life updating, installation of new engines, avionics and a FLIR system with its sensor unit under the left wing. The new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-121 turboprops, smaller than the previous Allied Signal Lycoming LTP 101-700 units, compelled the shortening of the wing-tip fuel tanks, to avoid interference with the propeller rotation plane. Two large fins were also added under the tail section.

The second Piaggio aircraft in static dispay at Le Bourget, was the final P.180 of a three-unit order made years ago by the Italian Navy. A substantial addition in comparison to the two previously delivered aircraft is the FLIR system, with the electro-optical sensor unit installed under the aft fuselage and the related control console placed in the front passenger cabin. The equipment allows a range of support missions to the fleet Mediterranean operations. The Italian Navy P.180 aircraft are flown out of the Pratica di Mare air base, near Rome, by the Sezione Aerea 901.

During the Show, Piaggio Aero Industries sold a P.180 Avanti to a French customer, through the local dealer Boutsen Aviation. With this contract, the P.180 order-book now stands at 71 aircraft. In the meantime, the 100th Avanti came out the production line, in a very attractive celebrative livery. The first prototype (I-PJAV) has been seen flying again as a test platform for the new P.180 Avanti II, the new version equipped with the Rockwell-Collins Pro Line 21 avionic package.

The Paris Air Show was also the occasion for two more significant announcements. The certification by the Italian Aviation Authority ENAC (Ente Nazionale Aviazione Civile) of the new integrated maintenance programme for the P.180, aimed at a substantial cost reduction during the aircraft life-span. Lisbon-based Omni, has been chosen as the exclusive dealer of P.180 Avanti and P.166-DP1 models in Portugal, Spain and the Portuguese-speaking countries, not including Brazil.

In the picture: Piaggio P-166-DP1 of the Italian Custom Police (GF-02, MM25172) at the 2005 Paris Air Show. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, June 2005)