The Piaggio P.149 was a 4-seat touring development of the P.148, a 2-seat side-by-side
all metal trainer with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The prototype of the P.149 (I-PIAM c/n 171)
with a 260 hp Avco Lycoming GO-435-C2 engine and a retractable tri-gear flew first on 19 June 1953.
Two years later the P.149 was selected by the Federal German Air Force as a standard basic training
and liaison monoplane. To meet their requirements a 2-seat military trainer version of the P.149 with
glazed cabin roof, deeper rear fuselage and a 280 hp Lycoming GO-480 engine was developed, designated
P.149-D. The Federal German Air Force (Luftwaffe der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) ordered 265 Piaggio
P.149D for use as a 2-seat primary trainer and 5-seat liaison aircraft. Piaggio built 76, including
one which was written off before delivery. Focke-Wulf built 190 under licence from Piaggio. The first
Piaggio built P.149D (AS+401 c/n 250) was delivered to Memmingen Air Base in May 1957. In the mean time
Focke-Wulf had started production in Bremen, Germany and delivered its first example in November 1957.
Five ex. German Air Force Piaggio FWP.149D's are based at Hoogeveen aerodrome in the Netherlands: D-EEGD; D-EERP;
D-EFTU; D-EGIT and D-EIFE. These Piaggio's belong to "Stichting Vliegsport Seagull" and are
well known as the "Seagull Formation".
Piaggio P.149D s/n 260 was one of the 76 built by Piaggio in 1957-1959 and entered service with the Luftwaffe FFS-S as
AS+411. In service with the Luftwaffe the aircraft was re-serialed AC+411 and 91+78. As most of the P-149D's
the 9178 was withdrawn from use in the period 1971-1973. In February 1975, the aircraft entered the civil-register
as D-EGIT. The registration was cancelled after the aircraft was written off on 10 May 1975. The plane was
rebuilt and registered again D-EGIT in January 1976.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
