(Piaggio) P.149 @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • Piaggio P.149D Piaggio P.149D
    Piaggio P.149D
  • FWP.149D D-EMBA near Bourges, France (2019) FWP.149D D-EMBA near Bourges, France (2019)
    FWP.149D D-EMBA near Bourges, France (2019)
  • FWP.149D D-EOBW seen from a Do 27 (2013) FWP.149D D-EOBW seen from a Do 27 (2013)
    FWP.149D D-EOBW seen from a Do 27 (2013)
  • FWP.149D D-EOBW FWP.149D D-EOBW
    FWP.149D D-EOBW
  • In Luftwaffe colours In Luftwaffe colours
    In Luftwaffe colours
  • P.149D D-EHJL "18" at RAF Waddington (2012) P.149D D-EHJL "18" at RAF Waddington (2012)
    P.149D D-EHJL "18" at RAF Waddington (2012)
  • Paine Field, Everett, Washington Paine Field, Everett, Washington
    Paine Field, Everett, Washington
  • Bremen Airport Flugtag (2009) Bremen Airport Flugtag (2009)
    Bremen Airport Flugtag (2009)
  • In Italian Air Force colours, RIAT 2023 In Italian Air Force colours, RIAT 2023
    In Italian Air Force colours, RIAT 2023
  • Grenoble-Le Versoud, France (7 January 2023) Grenoble-Le Versoud, France (7 January 2023)
    Grenoble-Le Versoud, France (7 January 2023)
  • Swissair Flying School P.149E HB-EBQ at Bern-Belp (1973) Swissair Flying School P.149E HB-EBQ at Bern-Belp (1973)
    Swissair Flying School P.149E HB-EBQ at Bern-Belp (1973)
  • SLS (Swissair) formation team at the Sion Air Show (1982) SLS (Swissair) formation team at the Sion Air Show (1982)
    SLS (Swissair) formation team at the Sion Air Show (1982)
  • SLS (Swissair) formation team, Sion 1982 SLS (Swissair) formation team, Sion 1982
    SLS (Swissair) formation team, Sion 1982
  • Danish-registered P.149D Danish-registered P.149D
    Danish-registered P.149D
  • FWP.149D OO-VMH (ex-90+16) at Zoersel-Oostmalle (2012) FWP.149D OO-VMH (ex-90+16) at Zoersel-Oostmalle (2012)
    FWP.149D OO-VMH (ex-90+16) at Zoersel-Oostmalle (2012)
  • FWP.149D OO-VMH at Zoersel-Oostmalle FWP.149D OO-VMH at Zoersel-Oostmalle
    FWP.149D OO-VMH at Zoersel-Oostmalle
  • Cockpit of P.149D D-EERP Cockpit of P.149D D-EERP
    Cockpit of P.149D D-EERP
  • Cockpit Cockpit
    Cockpit

Piaggio P.149

The Piaggio P.149 is a 1950s Italian four- to five-seat utility, liaison and training monoplane designed and built by Piaggio. Initially offered as a touring aircraft, it found few civil buyers until it was chosen by the new West German Air Force (Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr) as its standard basic trainer and liaison aircraft. In addition to the aircraft built in Italy, 190 examples were built under licence by Focke-Wulf in Bremen as the FWP.149D. Affectionately nicknamed "Piggi" by its crews, the P.149 served the Luftwaffe from 1957 to 1990 and trained a whole generation of German military pilots. Many ex-military aircraft were later sold on the civil market, and the type is still flown by private owners and clubs across Europe and North America.

Design and development

The P.149 was developed as a four-seat touring derivative of the Piaggio P.148, a two-seat primary trainer with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage that had first flown in February 1951 and had been adopted by the Italian Air Force. The new aircraft retained many structural components of the P.148, but was given a wider cabin and a retractable tricycle landing gear.

The P.149 is an all-metal, low-wing cantilever monoplane with room for four or five occupants. The prototype (registered I-PIAM, c/n 171), powered by a 260 hp Lycoming GO-435-C2 flat-six engine, first flew on 19 June 1953. The aircraft was marketed as a touring and liaison aircraft that was also suitable for aerobatics, but only a few were sold at first.

In 1955, the newly formed West German Air Force was looking for a trainer and liaison aircraft that was roomier and more comfortable than a classic two-seat trainer, while still being strong enough to withstand the loads of aerobatic training. It selected the P.149, and a dedicated military version, the P.149D ("D" for Deutschland), was developed. It had a glazed cabin roof, a deeper rear fuselage and a more powerful 270 hp Lycoming GO-480-B1A6 geared flat-six engine driving a three-blade constant-speed propeller. The GO-480 engines were later built under licence in Germany by BMW, and the same engine also powered the Dornier Do 27. The cabin could accommodate five people in the liaison role, but only two seats were used for aerobatic flying.

The Luftwaffe ordered a total of 265 P.149Ds. Piaggio built 76 of them in Italy, one of which was written off before delivery; out of a total of 88 P.149s built by Piaggio, 76 were delivered to Germany. The first Piaggio-built P.149D (AS+401, c/n 250) was delivered to Memmingen Air Base in May 1957.

In 1955, Focke-Wulf, the Bremen company that had built the Fw 190 during the Second World War and was then returning to aircraft production, obtained a licence to build the P.149D. Its production line in Bremen delivered its first example in November 1957, and 190 aircraft were built under the designation FWP.149D until 1960. In 1963-1964, Focke-Wulf merged with Weser-Flugzeugbau to form VFW (Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke).

Operational history

Germany

The P.149D entered Luftwaffe service in 1957. It was used for basic pilot training ("pre-flight training") by the flying schools of the new German air arm, such as the Flugzeugführerschule S at Diepholz, and as a liaison aircraft by many operational units, including fighter-bomber wings (Jagdbombergeschwader), transport wings and technical schools. The German Navy's air arm (Marineflieger) also operated the type. In its early years, Luftwaffe instructors even flew the P.149D in aerobatic displays.

Most of the FWP.149Ds were withdrawn from military use between 1971 and 1974 and sold on the civil market, while a smaller number remained in service as liaison aircraft. The type was finally retired by the Luftwaffe in 1990, after 33 years of service.

Switzerland

Swissair acquired the type from 1959 for the Swiss Air Transport School (Schweizerische Luftverkehrsschule, SLS), which trained the future airline pilots of Swissair. Based at Bern-Belp airfield, the school used a small fleet of Piaggio-built P.149Es, later supplemented by ex-Luftwaffe FWP.149Ds, to provide primary instruction to trainee pilots. More than a thousand Swissair pilots learned to fly on the P.149, and the SLS even formed a formation display team, which performed at Swiss air shows such as Sion in 1982. The aircraft served the school until its closure at the end of the 1990s.

Other users

Apart from Germany, only about a dozen military P.149s were delivered. The Italian Air Force operated two P.149Ds, the Austrian Air Force operated one aircraft from 1958 to 1965, and small numbers were used by the Israeli, Tanzanian and Ugandan air forces. In 1967, at the start of the Nigerian Civil War, the Nigerian Air Force received 12 ex-Luftwaffe P.149Ds.

Civil use

The ex-military aircraft sold in the 1970s were quickly adopted by private owners and flying clubs, who appreciated their robustness, their roomy cabin and the characteristic sound of the geared GO-480 engine. In Belgium, a dealer bought several of them, and a number of P.149s were registered in the OO- register. In the Netherlands, five ex-Luftwaffe FWP.149Ds based at Hoogeveen formed the well-known "Seagull Formation". Others were exported to the United States, Canada and France.

Variants

  • P.149 : Four-seat touring prototype and initial civil production, powered by a 260 hp Lycoming GO-435-C2.
  • P.149D : Military trainer and liaison version for the West German Air Force, with glazed cabin roof, deeper rear fuselage and 270 hp Lycoming GO-480-B1A6 engine. 76 built by Piaggio for Germany.
  • FWP.149D : P.149D built under licence by Focke-Wulf in Bremen, 190 built from 1957 to 1960.
  • P.149E : Version built by Piaggio for the Swissair flying school (SLS).

Operators

Military operators

  • Austria : Austrian Air Force (one aircraft, 1958-1965).
  • West Germany :
    • German Air Force (Luftwaffe), 1957-1990.
    • German Naval Aviation (Marineflieger).
  • Israel : Israeli Air Force.
  • Italy : Italian Air Force (two aircraft).
  • Nigeria : Nigerian Air Force (12 aircraft in 1967).
  • Tanzania : Tanzanian Air Force.
  • Uganda : Ugandan Air Force.

Civil operators

  • Switzerland : Schweizerische Luftverkehrsschule (Swiss Air Transport School) of Swissair.

Surviving aircraft

Many P.149s are still airworthy, mostly in Germany, but also in Switzerland, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Several have been restored in their original Luftwaffe colours and regularly appear at air shows. Among the best-known examples:

  • FWP.149D HB-KIU, built in 1960 and painted in Swissair SLS colours, is part of the flying collection of the FFA Museum (Fliegermuseum Altenrhein) in Switzerland.
  • D-EOGE, formerly used by the training squadron of Jagdbombergeschwader 49, is still flown by the Bundeswehr sport flying association at Fürstenfeldbruck.
  • A P.149D is displayed at the Aeronauticum, the German naval aviation museum at Nordholz.

References

  • Bridgman, Leonard (ed.). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's, 1958, pp. 198-199.
  • Donald, David. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester: Blitz Editions, 1997.
  • Gandet, Erich. "'Wulf' in Sheep's Clothing: Farewell to Swissair's P.149s". Air Enthusiast, No. 92, March-April 2001, pp. 42-43.
  • Jowett, Philip. Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2016, p. 17.
  • Simpson, R. W. Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife, 1995, p. 279.
  • Stevens, James Hay. "Fully Aerobatic Four-Seater". Flight, 18 July 1958, p. 73.
  • Wheeler, Barry C. "World's Air Forces 1980". Flight International, 4 October 1980, pp. 1323-1378.
  • Aviationweb déjà vu (Jack Wolbrink) : Piaggio P.149D - FWP.149D airframe histories.
  • GlobalSecurity.org : Piaggio P.149D.

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Piaggio P.149 of Wikipedia ( authors )

Piaggio P.149

  • Role : Utility, liaison and training monoplane.
  • National origin : Italy.
  • Manufacturer : Piaggio, Focke-Wulf (under licence).
  • First flight : 19 June 1953.
  • Introduction : 1957 (Luftwaffe).
  • Retired : 1990 (Luftwaffe).
  • Status : still flown by private owners.
  • Primary users :
    • German Air Force.
    • Swissair Flying School (SLS).
  • Number built : 88 (Piaggio), 190 (Focke-Wulf).
  • Developed from : Piaggio P.148.

    • Specifications (P.149D)

  • Crew: two.
  • Capacity: two to three passengers (five occupants in total in the liaison role).
  • Length: 28 ft 10 in (8.80 m).
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 6 in (11.12 m).
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m).
  • Wing area: 202.5 sq ft (18.81 m²).
  • Aspect ratio: 6.6.
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 230 series; tip: NACA 4412.
  • Empty weight: 2,557 lb (1,160 kg).
  • Gross weight: 3,704 lb (1,680 kg).
  • Powerplant: One Lycoming GO-480-B1A6 air-cooled geared flat-six engine.
  • Power: 270 hp (200 kW).
  • Propeller: 3-bladed constant-speed.
  • Maximum speed: 189 mph (304 km/h, 164 kts) at sea level; 177 mph (285 km/h, 154 kts) at 6,600 ft (2,000 m).
  • Cruise speed: 165 mph (266 km/h, 144 kts) at 7,500 ft (2,300 m), 67% power.
  • Stall speed: 57 mph (92 km/h, 50 kts), flaps down.
  • Range: 680 mi (1,090 km, 590 nmi) with 30 minutes reserve.
  • Service ceiling: 19,850 ft (6,050 m).
  • Rate of climb: 980 ft/min (5 m/s).
  • Wing loading: 18.3 lb/sq ft (89.3 kg/m²).
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 1,330 ft (405 m).
  • Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 1,030 ft (315 m).

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Piaggio P.149 of Wikipedia ( authors )
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    The site is not optimized, or even designed to run on older browsers or those deliberately deviating from standards. You will most probably encounter display issues with Internet Explorer. In this case, it is strongly recommended installing a modern (and free!) browser that's respecting the standards, like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

    Cookies and Javascript

    This site uses cookies and JavaScript to function properly. Please ensure that your browser is configured accordingly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Site for the retention or disclosure of personal information about its Visitors. See the "Legal" page for more on this subject.

    Website layout

    Left menus

    Because of the lack of space on smartphones and small tablets, these menus are hidden. Everything is nevertheless accessible via the main menu option, located between the video and photo sections. This menu is placed there for compatibility reasons with some browsers, which play the videos over the menus.

    "Search" and "Latest" :
    The link "In Titles" restricts the search to the titles of different forms. Use this option if you are looking for a plane, a constructor, a pilot or a particular event that could have been treated as a subject.

    The link "In Stories" will bring you to a search in all texts (the "Story" tab) and will take more time. The search term will appear highlighted in green when opening the corresponding story.

    Would you believe, "Timeline" will show all subjects in chronological order.

    "Random" will reload the entire page with a new random topic.

    The bottom section keeps you abreast of the latest five entries. New topics are added regularly. Don't hesitate to come visit us often : add bookmark.

    Blogs and Comments central section

    Under the photos section comes the comments tabs window :

    You can enter general comments in your own language via one of the two buttons on the left (BLOG EN and BLOG FR). Note that these buttons are accessible regardless of the language to allow some participation in the other language.

    All comments are subject to moderation and will be published only if they comply with the basic rules of decorum, while remaining relevant to the purpose of this site.

    The third tab allows you to enter comments on the shown topic and is bilingual. Personal anecdotes, supplements and other information questions will take place here.

    The "Story" tab shows the explanatory texts. They are most often taken from Wikipedia, a site where we participate regularly.

    The "Data" tab is reserved for list of features and specifications.

    Right menus

    On a smartphone, the lack of space is growing and this menu is moved to the bottom of the page to give priority to videos and pictures.

    The top right icons are links to videos posted by third parties (on their own responsabilities) or by ourselves. The link below these icons will take you to the channel of the one who posted the video. Feel free to suggest other videos if you think they are of some interest (Use the BLOG button or the "Contact" link).