Partenavia
Partenavia P.68
The Partenavia P.68 is a versatile twin‑engine, high‑wing light aircraft designed and built in Italy by Partenavia, a company founded in 1957 by Luigi Pascale. First flown on 7 September 1970, the P.68 entered production in 1971 as a rugged, short‑take‑off platform for observation, transport and training roles. Its all‑metal airframe features a rectangular fuselage with a large cabin that can accommodate up to five occupants or a variety of cargo configurations, while the high wing and fixed tricycle landing gear provide excellent ground clearance and visibility. Powered by two Lycoming O‑320 or O‑360 engines delivering 150–180 hp each, the aircraft cruises at 170 knots, has a range of roughly 800 nautical miles and can operate from grass, gravel or paved strips as short as 650 feet. Over the decades the P.68 series spawned several variants, including the pressurised P.68C, the faster Turbo Commander‑based P.68R, and the maritime surveillance‑oriented P.68C‑R. Its reliability, low operating cost and adaptability made it popular with civilian operators, aerial survey firms and military customers, cementing its role as one of Italy’s most successful post‑war utility aircraft.
