Piaggio P. 111
| Piaggio P. 111 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | High-altitude research aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
April 9, 1941 |
| Commissioning: |
1941 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 |
The Piaggio P.111 was a high-altitude research aircraft made by the Italian manufacturer Piaggio .
History and construction
Development of the P.111 began in 1938 when the Aeronautica Militare announced a competition for the development of a twin-engine, three-seat, high-altitude pressurized bomber, which Piaggio won. Especially for the P.111, Piaggio produced a new two-row 18-cylinder radial engine with 745 kW (999 PS), the Piaggio P.XII RC100 / 2v , which was equipped with a two-stage turbocharger. The machine was built entirely of metal and had a conventional tail unit and low-set wings to which the engines were attached. The main landing gear of the tail wheel landing gear was pulled into the engine nacelle. While the prototype was under construction, the Aeronautica Militare decided to use the machine as a high-altitude research aircraft instead of a bomber.
The P.111 flew for the first time on April 9, 1941. 110 test flights took place, mainly as part of the development of a pressurized cabin for the Piaggio P.108 . The machine was scrapped in early 1943.
Military use
Technical specifications
.JPG)
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 3 |
| length | 12.40 m |
| span | 17.30 m |
| height | 3.91 m |
| Wing area | 40 m² |
| Empty mass | 5,239 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 7,574 kg |
| Cruising speed | 449 km / h |
| Top speed | 575 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 11,997 m |
| Range | 1,659 km |
| Engines | two 18-cylinder radial engines Piaggio P.XII RC100 / 2v with 750 kW (1,020 PS) each |
See also
literature
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION No. 3993. Piaggio P. 111
- ↑ Jonathan Thompson: Italian Civil & Military Aircraft 1930-1945. 1st ed., Aero Publishers Inc., New York 1963, ISBN 0-8168-6500-0 , p. 232.
