Piaggio P.148

The Piaggio P.148 was a 1950s Italian two-seat primary or aerobatic training monoplane designed and built by Piaggio Aero.

Design and development
The P.148 was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel landing gear. It offered room for two occupants in side-by-side seating as well as an optional third seat. The prototype first flew on the 12 February 1951 and after testing by the Italian Air Force was ordered into production for the air force primary training schools. A four-seat variant was developed as the P.149.

Operational history
Although successfully introduced into the Italian Air Force service, the P.148 was withdrawn from use with the introduction of an all-jet training programme. In 1970, the aircraft was re-introduced into the Italian Air Force Service, when the basic piston-engine aircraft regained a role in the selection of pilots. Some aircraft were sold by the Air Force to the Somali Air Corps as trainers.

Operators

 * Italian Air Force  operated 70 aircraft from 1951 until 1979
 * Italian Air Force  operated 70 aircraft from 1951 until 1979

Former Operators

 * Somali Air Corps - Retired
 * Somali Air Corps - Retired