Piaggio Aero Industries P.180 Avanti

Twin Turboprop

The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is one of aviation's most distinctive designs: an Italian twin-turboprop business aircraft instantly recognizable by its three-surface configuration with a small canard forewing, mid-mounted main wing, and twin pusher propellers mounted aft on a high tail boom. First flown in 1986 and certified in 1990, the Avanti was engineered to deliver jet-like speed and altitude performance while burning turboprop fuel, cruising at 402 knots true airspeed at altitudes up to 41,000 feet, capabilities that made it the fastest turboprop in production for decades. Its laminar-flow wing and unconventional layout yield exceptional efficiency, with operating costs roughly 40 percent lower than comparable light jets, though the pusher configuration and forward canard demand careful handling during approach and landing. The type found a niche among owner-pilots and fractional operators seeking transcontinental range without jet operating expenses, though production remained limited compared to conventional twins. SkyMeter has tracked 3 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators over routes, with MCKAY, Colin George the most frequently observed operator.