JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION
No. 7013. Piaggio P.119 (MM497) Italian Air Force
Photograph from MAP, taken at Villanova d'Albenga, Italy

Piaggio P.119

10/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The P.119 was offered to the Ministry of Aeronautics in March 1939, being special having the radial engine placed aft of the cockpit, near the center of gravity. Advantages of this concept were improved maneuverability; the substantial reduction in drag; improved visibility from the cockpit, due to the tapered forward fuselage, and the possibility of close-grouping the forward-firing guns.

A prototype and a static airframe were ordered late 1940. Finding a suitable engine cooling took some time, the solution was a large air scoop beneath the forward fuselage, with trunks leading the air to the engine, an 1,700 hp Piaggio P.XV R.C.60/2V eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial. First flown by Nicoḷ Lana from Villanova d'Albenga, on December 19, 1942, the last company test flight took place on August 2, 1943. Subsequently the P.119 was to be flown by the Italian AF, but with the Armistice further development was abandoned."


Created October 31, 2007