Some promising news, Italy ordering 6 new Evos. Hammerhead apparently dead for now.

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/10/07/italy-drops-drone-program-instead-buying-piaggio-aircraft/

$200mill/6 = $33 unit. OK, includes a sim and engine maintenance contract. Plug in 50% of contract is new unit cost? $16/mill per airframe. Proof that they can be bought at "any price"

Stepped into a cockpit today. Very, very big cabin in the back.
Tough to get into the pilot's seat, but that's almost every airplane.
Very frugal with JetA. Beautiful looking.

IF they fixed corporate, got 1800 mile legs it would hands down beat the jets.

I don't know where you put the extra fuel to get that range and they are so efficient now i don't see that either.

The pilot's seat is just like all of them - it's technique. Once you have that down you're golden.

True, but all ITAF aircraft will have provision for Special Missions (e.g. MEDEVAC, Larger Door, Increased Range, Flight Inspection, etc.) and full maintenance for 10 years.

Engines maintenance is related to other engines of other A/C operated by the ITAF (e.g MB339, CH47, AWxxx, etc.).

The Level D SIM is very expensive.

one of the high interest options in the Drone world is to have a Drone with an optional pilot on board that can fly it under some situations. it will allow the drone to be flown in most airspace and meet the requirements for a pilot in controlled airspace.

the concept is to be able to fly a drone to an area and then off load the pilot and then it is controlled from the ground when flown in dangerous places.

the big problem is that is requires a large enough drone to carry the pilot This means a gross weight of 7000lbs plus. thus the Avanti fitted with the appropriate controls could fill this mission when necessary.

Tony - u can option Evo with an additional 400lb tank that goes in place of bathroom cabinet. That’s just forward of fuel tanks. I think u could add it to your plane, u cannot on Avanti I.

http://www.piaggioaerospace.it/en/media ... tification

Most of the Evo's already are the right color
I'm definitely trying to figure out how to go faster. Currently sitting at 300hrs this year at 265knts. 400 sounds more appealing.
Getting above the weather is even more appealing. Was fighting weather coming to fxe a few days ago.

I have to compare this plane to a CJ3+ for total cost of ownership.
Pilatus is still cheaper than the CJ3 on a p/nm basis, but I can justify the cost if the speed and weather hassle factor are removed.

Michael, annoying thing for you is 200hr 1yr inspections. I think the citation and embraer inspection intervals are much better for your amount of flying. Plus, on the legs you do, the incremental speed of cj3 over Piaggio would be noticeable. It was a long darn way yesterday from Miami back to Colorado.

I did, however, confirm the planes ability to operate out of a 3300sf strip…..

Agreed, I'm leaning this way currently.
I just love my PC12 for everything that it does and hauls.

The CJ saves me over an hour and a half when going long distances.

What about a V?

The analysis will be interesting to see. As to the weather, getting over it makes a huge difference in cross country travel time and reduced stress.

Zero question on stress. This was leaving Florida yesterday. Non event at fl380. Not sure I could have cut through at 30k.