Piaggio P.148
{{distinguish|Ayer Hitam (federal constituency)}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= P.148
|image= File:Italian Air Force Piaggio P.148.jpg
|caption=
|type=Two-seat primary/aerobatic trainer
|national_origin= Italy
|manufacturer=Piaggio Aero
|designer=
|first_flight=February 12, 1951[http://www.aerei-italiani.net/Militari_Dal_Secondo_Dopoguerra_Piaggio_P.148_Aerei_Italiani.html "Piaggiio P.148"] Aerei Italiani
|introduction=
|retired=
|status= Active
|primary_user= Italian Air Force
|more_users= Somali Air Corps
|produced=
|number_built= 100+
|developed_from=
|variants= Piaggio P.149
}}
The Piaggio P.148 was a 1950s Italian two-seat primary or aerobatic training monoplane designed and built by Piaggio Aero.
Design and development
The P.148 was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel landing gear. It offered room for two occupants in side-by-side seating as well as an optional third seat. The prototype first flew on the 12 February 1951 and after testing by the Italian Air Force was ordered into production for the air force primary training schools. A four-seat variant was developed as the P.149.
Operational history
Although successfully introduced into the Italian Air Force service, the P.148 was withdrawn from use with the introduction of an all-jet training programme. In 1970, the aircraft was re-introduced into the Italian Air Force Service, when the basic piston-engine aircraft regained a role in the selection of pilots. Some aircraft were sold by the Air Force to the Somali Air Corps as trainers.
Operators
;{{ITA}}
Former Operators
;{{SOM}}
- Somali Air Corps - Retired
Specifications (P.148)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956–57{{Harvnb|Bridgman|1956|p=180}}
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=One
|capacity=Two passengers
|length m=8.44
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=11.12
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=2.40
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=18.81
|wing area sqft=
|aspect ratio=6.6:1
|empty weight kg=876
|empty weight lb=
|gross weight kg=1280
|gross weight lb=
|fuel capacity={{convert|169|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Lycoming O-435-A
|eng1 type=air-cooled flat-six engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=190
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=Piaggio P.1031 metal constant-speed propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=234
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed kmh=204
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=at {{convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|range km=923
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance=4.5 hr
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=16400
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=
- 3 min 40 s to {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
- 26 min 40 s to {{convert|4000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{commons category|Piaggio P.148}}
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book |last=Bridgman |first=Leonard |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956–57 |year=1956 |location=New York |publisher=The McGraw-Hill Book Company }}
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2714
{{Piaggio aircraft}}
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Category:1950s Italian military trainer aircraft