Piaggio P.149

The Piaggio P.149 was a 4-seat touring development of the P.148 with many of the same structural components. A 2-seat side-by-side all metal trainer with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.

The prototype of the P.149 (I-PIAM c/n 171) with a 260 hp Avco Lycoming GO-435-C2 engine and a retractable tri-gear flew first on 19 June 1953. Two years later the P.149 was selected by the Federal German Air Force as a standard basic training and liaison monoplane.

To meet their requirements a 2-seat military trainer version of the P.149 with glazed cabin roof, deeper rear fuselage and a 280 hp Lycoming GO-480 engine was developed, designated P.149-D. The Federal German Air Force (Luftwaffe der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) ordered 265 Piaggio P.149D for use as a 2-seat primary trainer and 5-seat liaison aircraft.

Piaggio built 76, including one which was written off before delivery. Focke-Wulf built 190 under licence from Piaggio. The first Piaggio built P.149D (AS+401 c/n 250) was delivered to Memmingen Air Base in May 1957. In the mean time Focke-Wulf had started production in Bremen, Germany and delivered its first example in November 1957.

Accommodation was provided for five, reduced to two for aerobatic flying.

P.149D
Engine: 1 x Avco Lycoming GO-480, 201kW / 270hp
Prop: 3 blade constant speed
Wingspan: 11.12 m / 37 ft 6 in
Length: 8.8 m / 29 ft 10 in
Height: 2.9 m / 10 ft 6 in
Wing area: 18.85 sq.m / 202.90 sq ft
Empty weight: 1160 kg / 2557 lb
Max take-off weight: 1680 kg / 3704 lb
Max. speed: 305 km/h / 190 mph
Cruise: 165 mph
Ceiling: 6050 m / 19850 ft
Range: 1090 km / 677 miles