Piaggio P.136

P.136/Royal Gull
Piaggio P.136L-2 at Tamiami Airport near Miami in 1989
Role amphibian
Manufacturer Piaggio Aero
First flight 29 August 1948
Introduction 1949
Status examples still flying in 2018
Produced 1948-1961
Number built 63
P.136 L-1 takeoff

The Piaggio P.136 was an Italian twin-engine amphibian flying boat, with an all-metal hull, pusher propellers, a gull wing, and retractable landing gear.

The prototype first flew in late 1948, and completed certification tests in spring 1949. The Italian Air Force contracted for 14 P.136s for coastal patrol and air-sea rescue. The aircraft was marketed in the United States as the Royal Gull, by Kearney and Trecker. Trecker received three aircraft, and components for another 29, but they also built a few under license.

Variants

P.136F
Variant with Franklin engines, mainly produced for the Italian Air Force, 18 built.
P.136L
Variant with Lycoming GO-435 engines, two built and one P.136F converted.
P.136L-1
P.136L-1
Five-seat amphibian flying boat, powered by two 201-kW (270-hp) Avco Lycoming GO-480-B engine, 18 built.
P.136L-2
Five-seat amphibian flying boat, powered by two 254-kW (340-hp) Avco Lycoming GSO-480 piston engines, 24-assembled in the United States from Italian supplied kits.
Royal Gull
Both the P.136-L1 and P.136-L2 were marketed in the United States by the Kearney and Trecker Corporation.

Operators

Military operators

 Italy
  • Italian Air Force operated 22 aircraft (14 Piaggio P-136F and eight Piaggio P-136L-1s) from 1951 until 1961[1]
 Peru

Specifications (variant)

Data from Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 733. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.

General characteristics

  • Capacity: five
  • Length: 10.80 m (35 ft 5.25 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.53 m (44 ft 4.75 in)
  • Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 6.75 in)
  • Wing area: 25.10 m2 (270.18 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 2110 kg (4652 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2995 kg (6603 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Avco Lycoming GSO-480 flat-six piston, 254 kW (340 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 335 km/h (208 mph)
  • Range: 1450 km (900 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 7800 m (25590 ft)

References

  1. ↑ aeroflight
  • Callier, Ian. "The Piaggio P.136". Air-Britain Aviation World. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd (March 2010). ISSN 1742-996X.
  • Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 733. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.

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