Piaggio Aerospace has secured the first customer order for the P.180 Avanti NX, marking the initial sale of the newest version of the Italian manufacturer’s distinctive twin turboprop.
The company announced the order on April 23, 2026, at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026. A European operator agreed to purchase two Avanti NX aircraft in an executive business configuration. The aircraft will also include stretcher modules, allowing the operator to convert them for air ambulance missions.
Piaggio did not identify the customer or disclose the value of the contract.
The order gives Piaggio an early commercial win for the Avanti NX, which the company recently unveiled as the latest generation of the Avanti family. The aircraft builds on the P.180’s three-lifting-surface design, which has long made the model one of the most recognizable business aircraft in the market.
“We are proud to sign a contract for the sale of the Avanti NX so soon after unveiling the aircraft,” Piaggio Aerospace CEO Giovanni Tomassini said. “Returning to AERO Friedrichshafen after a long absence and signing a contract for two aircraft demonstrates that, with the support of Baykar, we are making a strong comeback in the aviation market.”
Piaggio says the NX includes improved systems, a redesigned cabin interior, better reliability and efficiency, and lower operating emissions while retaining the Avanti’s core selling point: jet-like speed with turboprop fuel burn. The aircraft is also being positioned for both executive and special-mission use, including quick conversion for air ambulance operations.
The Italian company said it plans to increase production gradually in the coming years, with a goal of reaching up to 30 aircraft per year over the next decade if demand continues to develop.
The order comes during the 40th anniversary year since the P.180’s first flight. The Avanti has remained unusual in the business aviation market because it combines turboprop engines with a pusher-propeller layout, a forward wing and a main wing mounted toward the rear of the fuselage. That configuration gives the aircraft jet-like cruise performance while retaining turboprop operating efficiency.
Piaggio said is positioning the aircraft for business aviation customers and special-mission operators seeking lower operating costs and mission flexibility.
