P.166DP1
Piaggio Aero · Italy · first flew 1989 · transport aircraft
The Piaggio P.166DP1 is the most advanced production variant of the long-running P.166 family, introducing five-blade composite propellers, uprated Lycoming LTP-101-700A engines, and a modernised cockpit for continued Italian Air Force service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pusher turboprop on gull wing — definitive P.166 silhouette
- Five-blade composite propellers (distinguishes from earlier variants)
- Updated glass cockpit visible through broader windscreen panels
Five-blade composite propellers distinguish the DP1 from the three-blade DL3; otherwise same characteristic gull-wing pusher-prop layout; broader windscreen panels visible close-up.
Specifications
- The P.166DP1 has a length of 11.9 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.69 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 395 km/h (245 mph).
- Typical crew: 2, up to 8 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Piaggio developed the DP1 in the late 1980s as a life-extension and capability upgrade for the ageing P.166 fleet. The variant first flew around 1989 and entered Italian Air Force service in the early 1990s. It represents the culmination of the P.166 turboprop line, as subsequent Piaggio efforts shifted to the pressurised pusher-prop P.180 Avanti.
Variants
Final production version of the P.166 line; no further turboprop P.166 variants produced after DP1.
Where you'll see it
Italian Air Force; used for calibration flight inspection, liaison, and support tasks until progressive withdrawal in the 2000s–2010s.
Related aircraft
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