NBAA-bound Piaggio Sets Speed Record

Piaggio Aero Industries (Booth No. 3717) got a fast start to NBAA’07, setting a speed record with an Avanti II on the way to Atlanta. The twin-engine turboprop covered the 397 nm between Indianapolis International Airport and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in one hour and nine minutes, for an average speed of 345 knots. “Had it not been for some speed restrictions and vectors for traffic during the arrival phase in Atlanta, we would have made the trip in less than an hour,” said Piaggio America chief pilot Arthur St. Clair. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-66B engines, the Avanti II has a maximum speed of 402 knots and currently holds 18 speed records.