Piaggio PD.808
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox aircraft
The Piaggio PD.808 was an Italian business jet built by Piaggio. It was designed as a joint venture between Piaggio and Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California, United States.[1]
Design and development
Originally named the PD.808 Vespa Jet the business jet was designed in a joint venture between Piaggio and the Douglas Aircraft Company.[1] The basic design work was carried out by Douglas and the prototype was built at the Piaggio factory at Finale Ligure.[2]
The PD.808 was a low-wing cantilever cabin-monoplane with tip-tanks and powered by two rear-mounted Bristol Siddeley Viper 525 turbojets. It has retractable tricycle landing gear and was originally designed with a cabin for a pilot and six-passengers.[1]
The first Viper 525-powered prototype (with Italian Serial Number MM577) first flew on 29 August 1965, this was followed by a second Viper 525 powered prototype and two civil demonstrators.[2]
The company tried to interest commercial operators (including offering a General Electric CJ610 variant) but the only interest was from the Italian Air Force as a liaison, training and radar calibration aircraft with an order for 25.[2] The Italian Air Force aircraft were powered by Viper 526 turbojets.[3]
Variants
- PD-808VIP: VIP transport.
- PD-808TA: navigation trainer.
- PD-808RM (radiomisure): radio calibration, four-built
- PD-808GE (guerra elettronica): aircraft modified for Electronic warfare, PD-808GE1 entered service in 1972, the PD-808GE2 in 1977.
- PD-808TF: Proposed turbofan-powered version. Not built.
Operators
- Script error: No such module "flag".
- Italian Air Force operated 22 Piaggio PD.808 from 1970 until 2003[4]
Accidents and incidents
On 18 June 1968 one of the demonstration aircraft I-PIAI crashed in bad-weather when it flew into the side of Mount Jaizkibel, near San Sebastian, Spain, all six on-board including the Italian businessman Lino Zanussi and the Piaggio chief test pilot Davide Albertazzi were killed.[5]
Aircraft on display
- Italy
- MM62015 – PD-808GE on static display in Lucca, Tuscany. It was previously operated by the Italian Air Force.[6]
- MM61961 - PD-808GE on static display outside the Museo Storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle (Italian Air Force Museum in Vigna di Valle), with "Ultimo Volo 17.5.03 (Final Flight 17-5-'03)" titles.[7]
Specifications (PD.808)
References
Bibliography
Template:Sister project Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
Template:Piaggio aircraft Template:Douglas aircraft Template:Portal bar
- ↑ a b c Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ a b c Simpson 1991, pp. 232–233
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ "Piaggio PD.808" Aeronautica Italiana
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".