By Rebecca
Rayko
AWN Editor
NEW
ORLEANS - Piaggio America, the new US subsidiary of Italian
Piaggio Aero Industries, sold its first Avanti twin turboprop
at NBAA 2000. George Kast of Denver-based Avianti Aviation
will become the newest operator of the Piaggio Avanti.
The Avanti P180 is a twin-engine turboprop pusher aircraft
designed, developed and certified with a three-wing lifting
surface configuration.
Piaggio plans to deliver 12 Avanti P180s this year.
Sporting a heritage rich with tradition and classic Italian
styling, the Avanti is enjoying some recent success - due
largely to its image as the "Ferrari-in-the-sky."
Company chairman Piero Ferrari is the son of legendary
carmaker Enzo Ferrari. Of course, a Ferrari was parked at
the Piaggio booth for added effect.
Newly formed Piaggio America will open its offices in Greenville,
South Carolina, and provide corporate operations, sales
and marketing, customer service and product support for
the Piaggio Avanti in the Americas.
"Almost 30% of the turboprop and light-jet airplanes in
the US are located in the Southeast and within a 90-minute
flight on the Avanti from Greenville," said Piaggio America
president Stephan Hanvey.
