Piaggio P.180 Avanti

Piaggio P180 Avanti airplane model. 

Piaggio's inaugural P.180 prototype ascended for its maiden flight on September 23, 1986, with the second prototype following in May 1987. Italian certification was granted in March 1990, the first production Avanti took flight in May, and the initial delivery to a customer occurred in September 1990.

The Avanti distinguishes itself in the corporate aircraft market with its unique three-surface configuration, consisting of a canard foreplane, a wing, and a tail. This design not only capitalizes on the benefits of a canard but also positions the wing at the rear of the fuselage, maximizing interior cabin space. The Ohio State University was responsible for designing the innovative compact natural laminar flow wing. Moreover, the pusher engine configuration was chosen to reduce cabin noise.

Mahogany Wood. Scale: 1/32. Wingspan 17 1/4 inches, Length 17 3/4 inches.