The Piaggio P.148 was a 1950s Italian two-seat primary or aerobatic training monoplane designed and built by Piaggio Aero.

P.148
Role Two-seat primary/aerobatic trainer
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Piaggio Aero
First flight February 12, 1951[1]
Status Active
Primary users Italian Air Force
Somali Air Corps
Number built 100+
Variants Piaggio P.149

Design and development

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The P.148 was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel landing gear. It offered room for two occupants in side-by-side seating as well as an optional third seat. The prototype first flew on the 12 February 1951 and after testing by the Italian Air Force was ordered into production for the air force primary training schools. A four-seat variant was developed as the P.149.

Operational history

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Although successfully introduced into the Italian Air Force service, the P.148 was withdrawn from use with the introduction of an all-jet training programme. In 1970, the aircraft was re-introduced into the Italian Air Force Service, when the basic piston-engine aircraft regained a role in the selection of pilots. Some aircraft were sold by the Air Force to the Somali Air Corps as trainers.

Operators

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  Italy

Former Operators

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  Somalia

Specifications (P.148)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956–57[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Capacity: Two passengers
  • Length: 8.44 m (27 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.12 m (36 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 18.81 m2 (202.5 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 6.6:1
  • Empty weight: 876 kg (1,931 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,280 kg (2,822 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 169 L (45 US gal; 37 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-435-A air-cooled flat-six engine, 140 kW (190 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Piaggio P.1031 metal constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 234 km/h (145 mph, 126 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 204 km/h (127 mph, 110 kn) at 900 m (3,000 ft)
  • Range: 923 km (574 mi, 498 nmi)
  • Endurance: 4.5 hr
  • Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
  • Time to altitude:
    • 3 min 40 s to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
    • 26 min 40 s to 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

See also

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Related development

References

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  1. ^ "Piaggiio P.148" Aerei Italiani
  2. ^ "Italian Air Force". aeroflight. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. ^ Bridgman 1956, p. 180
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1956). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956–57. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2714