Tony, you're one of the only guys in the higher end tprop / entry level jet range here on BT that gives proper weight to the impact of capex and depreciation. Most everyone else talks about nothing else but DOC's which are not the primary driver in this market even though they would have you believe so.

I get it. When you compare a $3M acquisition cost bird to a $1M acquisition cost, you can absorb a LOT of added mx costs when you truly consider cost of money and cost of actual depreciation (not funny-business tax depreciation).

The factor that would weigh on me is that high mx $$ also means a lot of shop time. If you don't have a highly capable shop on the field, ferrying back and forth to have this mx done is the PITA factor that would drive me out of my mind. How far away is a good Avanti shop from you? With 200 hrs / yr, how many mx events / yr do you think you'll need to plan for? How many shops in the US are able to wrench on these birds?

I honestly think it "failed" because it didn't conform to the picture of what an airplane should look like. Aviation is extremely conservative, to the point where the Spanish Inquistion would almost seem progressive.

And one other huge factor: It was priced like a jet. And when you roll up in a prop plane to a meeting or charter where they expect a jet, you can get the wrong message. Which is why I think it's ideal for the owner/operator - they don't care that it has props when you go just as fast.

Exactly the same thing happened to the Westwind I and II's. By all parameters and extremely capable plane with almost no calendar items. Cheap to operate, built strong, great range, big cabin. But it looked odd, so it got rejected.

It’s ugly and it makes a weird noise.

Not if you’re flying it!

Yet it’s quieter than a Honda jet inside.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At least half of airports I land it someone comes and talks to me and says they think it’s the best looking plane ever.

If it was marketed differently it would sell fine. Jets are cool but from a pax perspective the Piaggio destroys the single pilot ones.

Westwinds were not rejected, they were very popular in their day.

Don,

Avantair flew 800-900 hours a year in a 135 environment. How do you do that if they break all the time? The engines are PT6's. The avionics are Collins or Garmin. Ok, so I bought CASP . But the plane is built hell for stout and it doesn't have a lot weird systems that break all the time from what I've been able to learn. So, if I'm in the shop all the time I'll be A) surprised B) disappointed and C) selling.

Intercontinental Jet Service is at KTUL 95NM from my home airport and 1:15 by car from my house. I have an excellent 145 facility with extensive Piaggio experience at home drome. There is a pretty widespread service center network and Mather's is close to me on the west coast where I am spending more time. The Avanti has fairly simple maintenance schedule (Anthony posted about it here I think so I won't repeat) with annual intervals. There are 3 and 6 month checks but those are simple and I think can be done in my hangar.

For a killjoy you're kinda late to the party...

Yes I’m very late to the party. Still can’t believe I missed all this. I really need to quit working so much so I can spend proper time on BT and not miss good happenings like this from now on.

Obviously you’ve done plenty of homework and also have great MX options nearby. I can’t wait to hear how it all works out for you! How exciting!

The Avanti is something special. It just is.

It has to be in the top 3 single pilot non-military aircraft on the planet.

The Piaggio is considered by many to be one of the prettiest airplanes in the world. I don't think Ferrari would use it as their corporate aircraft if they thought it was ugly. Ferrari isn't known for aesthetic ignorance....

Weird noise? I dunno, I cant hear anything in the cockpit its so quiet.

Ha, looks are in the eye of the beholder and what is music to one is noise to another.

I still think it’s ugly and makes a weird noise

Thanks Tony - hope you can get your hands on the DBU-5000 soon!

I love the look personally. I have been trying to talk my M600 partner into getting an Avanti for a few months but to no avail ... yet! *laughing*

Great thread and great info ...

I LOVE the look....always have.
Heck - it is even my screen saver on my work computer
I'd do an *exchange tour* with Italian Flight Inspection if there was such a thing (as long as I didn't have to wear the uniform)

Both civil ENAV and miltary IAF Flight Inspection fleets are run with Avanti / Avanti II.

Been there, done that!

If I can jump in for Tony here I will tell you I ran a lot of cost comparisons to my Citation Mustang and found that overall the operating cost per hour is almost identical. The Piaggio is slightly more per hour but adjusted for the 7 - 10% increase in speed the numbers are very similar. For myself the insurance was identical, the fuel cost is identical (again, 7 - 10 % more than the Mustang but 7- 10% more in block speeds).

The costs of running the Hondajet, the Embraer 100 and the CJ1+ are all higher.

The real kicker is you are getting an airplane that is three times their size internally and is much quieter.

Its the most undervalued airplane in aviation.