Piaggio’s Italian-built P.180 Avanti turboprop line has its roots in the late 1980s, with about 220 of the aircraft built so far. The latest iteration of the aircraft is the Avanti Evo, which has introduced a host of updates. The aircraft offers an interesting value proposition. With a maximum cruise speed of 402 knots, the Avanti’s speed rivals some jets, but it offers the maintenance and operating costs of a turboprop. The Evo can seat up to nine passengers, thanks to the large interior volume of its airframe, which is more than the venerable King Air 350 turboprop and jet competitors such as the Citation CJ4.
