On September 17, 2021, the Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee D (c/n 25-7856029 built in 1978) has arrived at Turin/Aeritalia airport. The 43-year old aircraft, dubbed "Loreto", was still bearing its EC-DGP Spanish marks. It will flank the two less powerful Robin Remorqueurs of the Turin Aero Club for better towing heavy 20+ meter wingspan two-seat sailplanes. The aircraft, powered by a 260 HP Lycoming O-540, was originally owned by AVISUR Aviación Agrícola del Suroeste S.A. then by FYTASA Fumigación y Trabajos Aéreos S.A. from 1985, by Antonio Daza García from 1998 and by Iberfly from June 21, 1979 until cancelled from the Spanish register in November 2021. The PA-25 Pawnee is an agricultural aircraft produced by Piper at their Lock Haven plant from 1959. The last of 5,167 Pawnees production aircraft was completed on March 22, 1981. In 1988 the design rights and support responsibility were transferred to Latino Americana de Aviación of Argentina. The sturdy aircraft is still widely used in agricultural spraying of liquid and solid fertilizers contained in an internal tank and is also operating from unpaved runways. It was later adapted for launching sailplanes and towing advertising banners. In December 2021 EC-DGP took the appropriate Italian identity I-PWNE. In mid-2023 it underwent a 2-year demanding overhaul and returned to Turin/Aeritalia airport on June 25, 2025.
In the picture: Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee D EC-DGP just arrived at Turin/Aeritalia airport from Malaga on September 17, 2021. (Aeromedia)
(Aeromedia, September 2021)
