29 September 2014
The Royal Thai Air Force has signed a contract to buy a Piaggio P.180 Avanti II aircraft to fulfill a requirement for a photo reconnaissance aircraft, the Italian company announced on 30 September.
Sold worldwide as an executive transport aircraft, the Avanti II has a range of 1,450 n miles, four-hour endurance, maximum speed of 402 kt, and maximum altitude of 41,000 ft, according to Piaggio.
According to IHS Jane's All The World's Aircraft , as of 2012 220 Avantis were in service, with 32 in special missions configuration, including 18 in emergency medical service configuration - three with Polish air rescue service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the rest with Italian customers - and nine for maritime surveillance.