Piaggio P166 flying survivors

The FAA database has:
16 136s (the amphibs) registered…including one to Edwards…and
3 166s (land AC) with two registered to Edwards.

Here’s a link to the database results…you can check on owners and N numbers:
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/acftinqSQL.asp?striptxt=&mfrtxt=piaggio&modeltxt=&cmndfind.x=21&cmndfind.y=9

I used to see G-ASPC a lot……was that the Mc Alpine….seems familar

Garry

Piaggio 166 G-ARUJ LHR 1970

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1004252/

That woould account for PUF being a regular visitor to Kidlington then. I never knew there were so mnay P166’S in the UK. Actually I really miss them, completely distinctive sound.

Here is a photo of G-APXK at Blackbushe during March 1960. During 1959/60 G-APSJ,G-APVE,G-APWY,G-APYP were all delivered through Blackbushe.
I also have a photo of the mentioned C310 G-APUFwhich was Airworks demonstrator at Blackbushe 1959/60.

Many thank you’s. See, not only are the eyes going but the brain is long gone. Don’t know why I thought AB was a 210. 150/152’s don’t have disappearing legs.

Just checked on G-INFO………..G-APUF was permanently withdrawn from use in 1970, so long gone.

G-ARAB was a Cessna 150 first registered in April 1960. The first 210 on the register was G-ARDC June 1960.

Planemike

G-APUF was wfu in 1970 and ‘RAB was wfu in 1987.:)

The original caption reads: ‘McAlpine Aviation’s fleet at Luton Airport in 1960. Their original Rapide G-ALBC is seen in the centre along with a pair of Piaggio 166s, Lockheed 12A G-AGTL and Cessna 310 G-APUF’.

Thanks for that confirmation (the eyes aren’t as good as they were when that pic was taken) Anyone know if UF is still about? I find it strange how some reg marks stick in my mind. The other regular I remeber from that period is Cessna 210 G-ARAB, no idea of her current status either.

Piaggio’s

May I join in guys, very nice photos, could I offer two photos from my collection, the original P166 demo unit I-GULL and a P136 G-APNY. I know that I-GULL was taken at Croyden, PNY no real idea but could have been Croyden again going by the hangers. But apart from this I’m afraid that I cannot help at all with the original question.

Cheers Brian.:D

Great to see these photos. Established today there are 12 currently flying regularly in South Africa with a further two, which could be flown with little work.

A few more pic’s;

VH-PNG Papuan Airlines.

I-PJAG Farnborough 1976.

G-APWY Southend Air Museum.

VH-ASA Forrestair.

ZS-NJY Ace Express.

ZS-NJR XPS

Wilson “Connie” Edwards has several P.166’s

WIX Link

Yes, seen that thread before, well worth revisiting. Connie has more toys than he knows what to do with.

Wilson “Connie” Edwards has several P.166’s and P.136’s in storage at his ranch in Big Spring, Texas. You can see several of them in this thread from WIX…

WIX Link

Scroll down to the photos… there’s a lot of other rather “interesting” stuff there too… the whole thread bares reading.

Piaggio really did make some beautiful aircraft, if somewhat unconventional.

Cheers,
Richard

One of Alitalia’s;

Is that Cessna 310 G-APUF by any chance? If it is she was also a frequent visitor to Kidlington in the late ’50s – early ’60s.

The original caption reads: ‘McAlpine Aviation’s fleet at Luton Airport in 1960. Their original Rapide G-ALBC is seen in the centre along with a pair of Piaggio 166s, Lockheed 12A G-AGTL and Cessna 310 G-APUF’.

Sadly no longer extant is Queensland Airlines P-166B VH-PQA seen here departing Kingaroy (?) circa 1964. Photo by the late Barry Flood.

G-APVE from Colin Louries collection at Turnhouse. Keith.

That picture brings back memories of her from my younger days when she was a regular visitor here.

From our Airfield Focus on Luton – and the late Hugh Scanlan – comes this pic of MacAlpine and their fleet.

Is that Cessna 310 G-APUF by any chance? If it is she was also a frequent visitor to Kidlington in the late ’50s – early ’60s.

The Luton photo is just wonderful: the Old (Rapides and the Lockheed 12) giving way to the New (Cessna 310 and Piaggios)……….. Mind you today the 310 and Piaggios are classics, especially straight tailed 310……. Think the 310 may have belonged to racing driver Jack Brabham.

Good photo………., brought back memories of my spotting days !!!!

Planemike