Why Does The Piaggio P.180 Avanti Have Wings On Its Nose? (2024)

The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is a light VIP transport aircraft designed and developed by Piaggio Aerospace of Italy. The aircraft performed its first flight in September 1986 and entered commercial service exactly four years later in 1990. More than 250 units have been produced, and the type remains in production.

Capable of seating up to nine passengers, the Avanti features a pressurized cabin and is driven by two wing-mounted turboprops. The aircraft features a unique design, with the main wing closer to the rear fuselage, behind the passenger cabin area. The aircraft also features a smaller forward wing at the aircraft nose. The Avanti EVO version features greater speed (up to 400 ktas) and a higher useful load. According to Piaggio Aerospace,

“Avanti EVO blends the very best of Italian style, peerless craftsmanship, and intelligent thinking to create an aircraft that stands alone for its values. With greater range, faster climb, reduced fuel costs, a lower noise footprint, added safety systems, and a more luxurious cabin, Avanti EVO is yet another step forward. Its speed exceeds 400 KTAS, faster than many jets and at a fraction of the direct running costs. Add to that a significantly improved service and support network, an innovative new maintenance program that can keep costs under control better than ever, and Avanti EVO stands alone for intelligence and elegance.”

Photo:Arief Akbar | Shutterstock

The Piaggio P.180 design

General design characteristics

• Capacity: 7–9
• Length: 14.4 m (47.3 ft) | Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft) | Height: 4.0 m (13 ft)
• Wing area: 15.99 m2 (172.1 sq ft) | Aspect ratio: 12.3 | Airfoil: PE 1300G (root), PE 1491G/1332G (tip)
• Empty weight: 8,375 lbs (3,799 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,488 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 2,802 lb (1,271 kg)
• Max landing weight: 11,500 lb (5,216 kg)
• Max zero-fuel weight: 9,800 lb (4,445 kg)
• Cabin: 17.5 feet (5.3 m) long | 5.8 feet (1.8 m) high | 6.1 feet (1.9 m) wide | 3.5 ft floor
• Foreplane area: 23.59 ft² (2.19 m²)
• Horizontal stabilizer area: 41.27 ft² (3.83 m²)

One of the most interesting design features of the Avanti is its three-surface configuration. This configuration incorporates a forward plane, a main wing, and a tailplane. The main wing is responsible for the majority of the aircraft’s lift. The use of fore and aft planes varies depending on the additional aerodynamic performance in terms of lift, drag, or stability necessary for flights.

Photo: Piaggio

According to Piaggio Aerospace,

“Its pioneering design features make it the frontrunner in its class and earn it its advanced moniker, ‘Avanti’ - literally ahead in Italian. Innovative 5-blade scimitar propellers and the historic 3LS three lifting surface configuration work together to give Avanti EVO unique aerodynamic performance in its class. Its sleek, instantly recognisable lines accommodate a remarkably spacious whisper quiet cabin, offering passengers greater comfort than any other aircraft of its kind on the market.”

The three lifting surfaces on Avanti are used for various purposes. The purpose of the forward wing surface, also known as a canard, is to reduce the main wing loading while streamlining the airflow over the main wing. The canard also increases the aircraft’s maneuverability, particularly at high angles of attack, including during a stall. The canard configuration enables safe stalling capabilities and short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. The static and dynamic stability of the aircraft is significantly improved through the design.

Power and performance

Performance characteristics

• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66B turboprop
• Power per engine: 630 kW (850 shp) each
• Maximum speed: 740 km/h (460 mph, 400 knots) FL310 high-speed cruise
• Cruise speed: 589 km/h (366 mph, 318 knots) FL410 long-range cruise
• Minimum control speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 knots)
• Range: 1,510 NM (2,800 km) 4 passengers, NBAA IFR, 100-nm alternate
• Ferry range: 1,530 NM (2,830 km)
• Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
• Time to altitude: 10 min to FL 250
• Fuel consumption: 0.220 kg/km (0.779 lb/mi)
• Power/mass: 230 W/kg (0.14 hp/lb)
• Takeoff (SL, ISA): 3,262 ft (994 m)

The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines, each generating up to 850 shaft horsepower (630 kW) of takeoff thrust. The latest variant, the Avanti EVO, has a maximum speed of 400 knots (460 mph, 740 km/h) and boasts an operational range of 1,530 NM (1,740 miles, 2,800 km). Relative to the small turboprops, the P.180 has excellent fuel efficiency.

Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock

Thanks to its design, the aircraft has lower noise levels in the cabin, with the turboprops behind the main cabin. Moreover, the propellors' rear configuration ensures that most noise generated due to the change in air pressure at the onset of the engine remains in the rear of the aircraft.

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