Piaggio PD.808
| PD.808 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The prototype Piaggio PD.808 at the 1966 Hanover Air Show wearing Italian Air Force markings | |
| Role | Business & military jet |
| Manufacturer | Piaggio Aero |
| Designer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 29 August 1964 |
| Introduction | November 1966 |
| Primary user | Italian Air Force |
| Number built | 24 |
| Unit cost |
$350,000-$400,000 in 1961[1] |
The Piaggio PD.808 was designed by the Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California, as a business jet.
Development and history
No orders were received by Douglas, and the complete project was bought by Piaggio Aero, which flew the first prototype in August 1965. Piaggio also failed to secure any worthwhile commercial interest, but a few examples were taken by the Italian Air Force.
Only 24 examples of this type, with low-set wings and aft-mounted turbojet engines, were produced, and 22 of these went to the Italian Air Force. The first aircraft were configured for the utility role, but the last six aircraft were completed as electronic platforms with cabin accommodation for specialist electronic intelligence equipment and its three operators.
Variants
- PD-808VIP: VIP transport.
- PD-808TA: navigation trainer.
- PD-808RM (radiomisure): radio calibration.
- PD-808GE (guerra elettronica): Electronic warfare aircraft. The version PD-808GE1 entered service in 1972, the PD-808GE2 in 1977.
- PD-808TF: Proposed turbofan-powered version. Not built.
Preserved aircraft
An example, previously operated by the Italian Air Force, is publicly displayed at Lucca, Italy.
Operators
- Italian Air Force operated 22 Piaggio PD.808 from 1970 until 2003[2]
Specifications (PD.808)
Data from Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: two pilots plus mission crew
- Length: 12.8 m (42 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 13.2 m (43 ft 3 in)
- Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
- Empty weight: 4,830 kg (10,650 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 8,165 kg (18,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls Royce Viper Mk526 turbojets
Performance
- Maximum speed: 852 km/h (529 mph)
- Range: 2,128 km (1,148 nmi)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Piaggio PD.808. |
- ↑ Sweeney, Richard L. (August 1961). "Douglas Aircraft Wings for Transport Supersonic and Space". Flying Magazine. Chicago, Ill.: Ziff-Davis Pub. Co. p. 24.
- ↑ "Piaggio PD.808" Aeronautica Italiana
- ↑ Rendall, David (1995). Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. Glasgow, UK: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 505. ISBN 0-00-470980-2.