What Are the Differences Between the Piaggio P.180 Avanti, the Avanti II, and the Avanti EVO?

Piaggio’s P.180 Avanti is one of the most unique planes in the world. The Italian turboprop is easily recognizable by its twin-turboprop engines mounted on the rear of the wing in pusher configuration, and its small forward wings located near the nose of the aircraft. Its high cruise speed and unique design allow it to compete more closely with light jets than with other turboprops.

The first model of the P.180, the P.180 Avanti, was introduced in 1990. It comes equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66A engines and cruises at about 354 knots. The Avanti was marketed as a turboprop that’s faster than many light and midsize jets, but performs with operating costs that are up to 40 percent lower. The original Avanti has a range of about 1,440 nautical miles.

In 2005, Piaggio moved on to the P.180 Avanti II, which comes equipped with more efficient PT6A-66B engines. The II cruises at a slightly slower pace and has a range that’s about 80 nautical miles shorter (1,360 nautical miles), but burns close to 20 fewer gallons of fuel per hour, saving a significant amount of money in direct operating costs. It also comes equipped with the Rockwell Collins ProLine 21 avionics system, a welcome upgrade to the ProLine II found on the original Avanti.

In 2014, Piaggio announced the Avanti EVO, which comes equipped with upgraded Hartzell composite propellers, new winglets, a more aerodynamic fuselage, and an extra 400 pounds of fuel by way of a new fuel tank. The EVO climbs at a rate that’s 250 feet per minute faster than its predecessor, has almost 200 extra miles on its range (1,530 nautical miles), and uses three percent less fuel. The EVO’s new props and tweaked engines reduce cabin noise by 68 percent, as well, according to Piaggio.

Have you flown on any of the P.180 variants? Let us know in the comments!

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