Aircraft geeks, your thread is here ;)

[raf_gti]

There was a rather funky aircraft at work today and I've no idea what it was.

It was a small private prop driven aircraft with a very futuristic looking front nose, it also had two 'flippy flaps' at the front similar to the Typhoon. The engines were also rear facing.

Over to you Eric

[TheEnd]

I know the one you mean, it looks backwards, i saw it on wikipedia infact somewhere, so i'll see if i can spot it!

[pies1981]

trying my best to get my mate from work who is a moderator on fighter control to post on here....

[Rob.]

The term "flippy-flaps" sounds very technical. I thought my missus had them though, not planes.

[TheEnd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Aviation_Phoe...

one of these things?

I saw one, or something similar taking off from East Mids a few months back

[anonymous-user]

One of these??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Aeronautica_Mil...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P180_Avanti

There are a few of these operated by the Italian Air Force. There have been 4 Italian Typhoons over here this week at Coningsby, so it could be support for them.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th November 18:50

[TheEnd]

the other one (looking through the list of similar canard winged planes)
is the Rutan VariEze.

Although i suppose they might all look the same to someone startled by a backwards plane!

[miniman]

Potentially a Beechcraft Starship

[raf_gti]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

We have a winner

Indeed it was one of those, very funky looking aircraft even if the only thing the pilot was doing was 'driving' around the pan in it!

[anonymous-user]

Some photos taken by one of the posters on UKAR.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&amp...

[magpie215]

one of these??

[Driller]

Ha! Are you sure it's not a Cozy 4 seater?



My dentist colleague is building one of these in his basement (he is insane).

Photos of his project here

Edited by Driller on Friday 14th November 19:32

Edited by Driller on Friday 14th November 19:33

[anonymous-user]

Nope, it was definately an Italian Air Force P180 Avanti, which was in support of 4 Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons which were at RAF Coningsby this week.

The following thread shows it departing Coningsby.
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&amp...

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th November 19:56

[b4rk3r]

A piaggio usually flies into Coventry, looks very fast but a lot louder than our usual bizjets. Still can't understand why they wouldn't prefer a jet

[schuey]

miniman said:

Potentially a Beechcraft Starship

None of those about anymore,I seem to remember that Beechcraft retired them and bought back any privately owned aircraft,about 2 years ago I think.

[anonymous-user]

yeah - weight/cost/support issues killed the Beech Starship - one of Burt Rutan's designs - just a teenweeny bit ahead of its time. It's quite cool, I like it!

The avanti is a very cool aeroplane (one reason to get one....) and is potentially more fuel efficient with those turboprops than with equivalent jet power, according to those in the biz anyway.....added to that, the cabin noise will be very low given the main sound generating bits are well behind the cabin.

coanda

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 15th November 00:00

[captainzep]

magpie215 said:

one of these??

Hats off to the pilots who have to land them 'in reverse'.

Can't see any wing mirrors neither.

[anonymous-user]

ahhh - they employ d-warfs to man the rear position. A courtesy service fully funded by Piaggio, and extended to every customer.