Piaggio PD.808

The Piaggio PD.808 was an Italian business jet built by Piaggio. It was designed as a joint venture between Piaggio and Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California, United States.<ref name="vespa" />

Design and development

Originally named the PD.808 Vespa Jet the business jet was designed in a joint venture between Piaggio and the Douglas Aircraft Company.<ref name="vespa">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The basic design work was carried out by Douglas and the prototype was built at the Piaggio factory at Finale Ligure.<ref name="simpson">Simpson 1991, pp. 232–233</ref>

The PD.808 was a low-wing cantilever cabin-monoplane with tip-tanks and powered by two rear-mounted Bristol Siddeley Viper 525 turbojets. It has retractable tricycle landing gear and was originally designed with a cabin for a pilot and six-passengers.<ref name="vespa" />

The first Viper 525-powered prototype (with Italian Serial Number MM577) first flew on 29 August 1965, this was followed by a second Viper 525 powered prototype and two civil demonstrators.<ref name="simpson" />

The company tried to interest commercial operators (including offering a General Electric CJ610 variant) but the only interest was from the Italian Air Force as a liaison, training and radar calibration aircraft with an order for 25.<ref name="simpson" /> The Italian Air Force aircraft were powered by Viper 526 turbojets.<ref name="mas">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Variants

File:Piaggio-Douglas PD-808.JPG

PD.808 in a special commemorative colour scheme at the aircraft show Giornata Azzurra 2006

• PD-808VIP: VIP transport.
• PD-808TA: navigation trainer.
• PD-808RM (radiomisure): radio calibration, four-built
• PD-808GE (guerra elettronica): aircraft modified for Electronic warfare, PD-808GE1 entered service in 1972, the PD-808GE2 in 1977.
• PD-808TF: Proposed turbofan-powered version. Not built.

Operators

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• Italian Air Force operated 22 Piaggio PD.808 from 1970 until 2003<ref>"Piaggio PD.808" Aeronautica Italiana</ref>

Accidents and incidents

On 18 June 1968 one of the demonstration aircraft I-PIAI crashed in bad-weather when it flew into the side of Mount Jaizkibel, near San Sebastian, Spain, all six on-board including the Italian businessman Lino Zanussi and the Piaggio chief test pilot Davide Albertazzi were killed.<ref name="crash">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Aircraft on display

File:Piaggio Douglas PD.808 Lucca.JPG

A PD.808 preserved at Lucca, Italy

Italy

• MM62015 – PD-808GE on static display in Lucca, Tuscany. It was previously operated by the Italian Air Force.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• MM61961 - PD-808GE on static display outside the Museo Storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle (Italian Air Force Museum in Vigna di Valle), with "Ultimo Volo 17.5.03 (Final Flight 17-5-'03)" titles.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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