Piaggio Aerospace
Piaggio P.111
The Piaggio P.111 was an experimental high‑altitude research aircraft built by the Italian firm Piaggio Aerospace in the early 1950s. Developed in response to a post‑war need for a platform capable of investigating the aerodynamics and engine performance at altitudes above 10 000 metres, the P.111 first flew on 27 May 1952 from the airfield at Ronchi dei Legionari. Its design featured a sleek, low‑wing monoplane layout with a pressurised cabin, a conventional retractable landing gear and a single Alvis Leonides radial engine delivering 640 hp. The aircraft’s most distinctive element was the large, glazed nose section that housed an array of scientific instruments, allowing crews to conduct meteorological, physiological and aerodynamic experiments while cruising at 28 000 ft. Over a decade of test flights, the P.111 contributed valuable data that informed the development of later Italian jets such as the Piaggio PD.808 and aided NATO’s understanding of high‑altitude flight characteristics. Although only one prototype was built, its legacy endures as a milestone in Italy’s post‑war aeronautical research, demonstrating Piaggio Aerospace’s capability to innovate beyond commercial transport aircraft. The aircraft is preserved today in the Italian Air Force Museum, where it continues to educate new generations about pioneering aviation research.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1941