Piaggio Aero unveils new Avanti EVO
Piaggio Aero Industries, the manufacturer of the uniquely shaped P180 Avanti II, launched on May 19th at the EBACE 2014 in Geneva, the new model named Avanti Evo.
With several aerodynamic modifications to the airplane, the Evo promises significant performance improvements translating into a 17 percent range increase., a 3 percent reduction in the fuel burn and a 3 percent improvement in climb performance.
At 402 knots, the top speed of the Evo is about the same as the previous Avanti II model, making it the fastest turboprop in the world and faster than many jets – doing so at fuel economy and emissions levels significantly below that of rival aircraft , the manufacturer said..
Modifications include the addition of winglets, redesigned nacelles, and a reshaped front wing to help boost efficiency and cut emissions by 3%. Climb performance also increases by 3% compared with its predecessor.
The aircraft is also equipped with new five-blade scimitar propellers, which combine with aerodynamic changes to considerably reduce external noise by 68% – 5 dB(A.) The EVO’s “whisper quiet” cabin reduces internal noise by 1 dB(A).
Furthermore it has a new landing gear system with a power steering system for the nose gear and anti-skid brakes.
An additional range option allows the Evo to travel as far as 1,720 nautical miles (3,180km).
While Piaggio Aero gets its customers to their destinations as fast as possible the comfort level for the passengers is not compromised. The spacious “stand-up” cabin at a height of 5’9” (1.75 m) of the new Evo will be offered with a new interior designed by two renowned Italian design firms: Iacobucci HF and Poltrona Frau; – new VIP seats, new cabin air conditioning and lighting systems.
Piaggio Aero’s Giuliano Felton also said the Evo has a 68 percent reduction in external noise, translating to a drop of 5 dB(A). A video shown at the company’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) press conference showed that the pitch of the sound is significantly dampened. While Felton said the cabin of the Avanti II was already quiet, the interior noise has also been reduced by about 20 percent or 1 dB(A). The scimitar propellers contribute to the noise reduction along with a reduction of the max prop speed from 2,000 to 1,800 RPM.
The investment in the new product was made possible in part due to the acquisition of the company by Abu-Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Company, which now owns 98.04 percent of Piaggio Aero. The remainder of the company is owned by Enzo Ferrari’s son Piero Ferrari.
“The EVO blends the very best of Italian style, peerless craftsmanship, and intelligent thinking to create the speed of a light/mid-size jet, and the comfort of a large, whisper quiet full stand-up cabin, with fuel efficiencies 40% greater than most business jets,” Galassi said
