The Bon Vivant's Choice 1. - The Piaggio P-180 Avanti
I wanted to create a space to ramble about all the little insignificant luxuries I love and seem to spend far too much time around. From grand hotels and vintage watches, to the more far-fetched realm of yachts and vintage cars, this new edit - “The Bon Vivant’s Choice” - will be the place to do so. Expect short reads, nothing diving too deep, but rather an introduction to my latest obsessions, tips, and guidance!
I’ve been pretty busy this winter, not that I’m complaining. And when you spend time in and around the alpine towns of Gstaad, St. Moritz and other high altitude hideaways of the local jet-set, certain things become very apparent; every year I’m somewhat horrified at how much beef tartare is consumed in a given week… just by myself; and the second, is just how incredibly chic Piaggio’s P-180 really is.
Now I won’t bore with technical details, because frankly they don’t interest me either. But I’m always quite surprised at how this aircraft continues to make its rounds on social media every few months, despite having been flying since the 1990s. The P-180 turns heads each winter, which is somewhat unsurprising - if you’re fortunate enough to visit the Alps throughout the year, you’ll know just how accessible the high altitude airstrips are for plane spotting and onlookers. Not to mention, people apparently have far more to do during the summer than stand by alpine airstrips to watch Vistajet’s latest acquisition drop Milanese high-society in Samedan just in time for aperitivo hour.
Despite its near 30-year lifespan, the aircraft is still rather uncommon with fewer than 300 examples built to-date, but given its three-surface configuration, it’s highly efficient, reaches a ceiling of 41,000ft, and has a maximum speed of 740kph. This makes it one of the fastest turboprops in the world, whilst its iconic rear-facing propellers make it one of the quietest. With a capacity of up to 9 passengers, it can handle everyone you’d want to take up for a trip to the Alps.
Those who know me understand my affinity for lesser-known destinations and brands, and my strong affection for independent names, encompassing few and far between my choice of hotel to my trust in a cigar lighter. So the Piaggio P-180 would probably be my choice of aircraft, and considering how often I frequent the Alps both for work and pleasure, I’d say its a pretty good contender - one I’ve spent far too much time lusting over… even if I’ve heard it comes with the classic Italian teething issues. But hey! I wouldn’t be the one dealing with the technical troubles now would I!?
Happy weekend all!
Azzam