History in the making
Beginning with furnishing the interiors of luxury cruise liners, Rinaldo Piaggio founds the company that will one day take to the skies and circle the globe.
Driving Italy’s industrial revolution
Seeking to expand into new industries, Piaggio opens its Finale Ligure plant for the manufacturing and repair of rolling stock.
Boat building legacy
Piaggio<br /> begins with building<br /> MAS torpedo boats for the Italian Navy during World War I.
A flying start
Spurred by the demands of the First World War, Piaggio starts with the repair and licensed production of aircraft.
Crafting a Moving Palace
Piaggio’s expertise in rolling stock and luxury cruise ship interiors comes together in Italy’s Royal Train, its ceiling finished in pure gold and decorated with the coats of arms of Italian cities.
Piaggio spreads its wings
The first aircraft designed by Piaggio, the P.1, takes to the air, and together with production of aircraft engines, the company firmly turns its focus skyward.
Daring the unconventional
With the radical P.7, an experimental high-speed seaplane developed for the Schneider Trophy, Piaggio pushes the boundaries of aeronautical design.
Winds of Change
The construction of an innovative wind tunnel, the first of its kind in Italy, propels Piaggio into a new era of aerodynamic research.
Elegance on Rails
Rolling stock production evolves into the manufacture of electric railcars, whose build quality enables them to remain in service well into the 1970s.
Power on four engines
The P.108 takes to the air to become the only operational four-engined bomber of the Axis forces in World War II, marking the company’s most ambitious leap into military aviation.
New fighter project launch
Work commences on the prototype of the novel Piaggio P.119 fighter aircraft, which goes on to complete its maiden flight in 1942.
From wire to wheel
Piaggio expands its public transport activities through the production of trolleybuses, which later achieve export success in Belgium and Yugoslavia.
Built to go the distance
At the height of war, the P.108C takes flight as a long-range passenger aircraft designed to link Italy with the Americas, establishing Piaggio’s presence in intercontinental aviation design.
Birth of the Vespa scooter
The Vespa scooter becomes an iconic example of practical and stylish mobility.
A new amphibious era
Lifting off from the water for the first time, the P.136 flying boat ushers in Piaggio’s post-war focus on civil aircraft design.
Excellence in flight
A successful line of trainer aircraft begins with the P.148, setting the foundation for decades of training excellence in Europe and abroad.
A new chapter in the sky
The PD.4 helicopter achieves its first flight, expanding the brand’s legacy into the world of rotorcraft.
The Gull takes flight
With its characteristic Gull wings, the P.166 becomes a defining model in Piaggio’s postwar aircraft production, combining practicality with aerodynamic refinement.
Jet age begins
Licensed production and parts manufacturing of the Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet engine propel Piaggio into the jet age.
Wheels and wings
Piaggio splits into separate companies for scooters and aircraft, allowing more specialized development in each sector.
Jet setting into new markets
Entering the jet age with the Piaggio PD.808 ‘Vespa Jet’, Piaggio broadens its technological expertise and reinforces its position in modern business aviation.
The rise of an icon
After years of research and bold engineering, the P.180 rises from the runway for the first time, and the legend of the Avanti begins.
Into the Lightning Program
With its selection as supplier of the F135 LPT case by Pratt & Whitney, Piaggio secures its first contract tied to the Lockheed Martin F-35 (JSF) program
Evolution of an icon
The Avanti II debuts to expand the Avanti line with improved aerodynamics and performance for business aviation.
Europe’s first MALE UAV takes flight
The P.1HH HammerHead becomes Europe’s first Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned aerial vehicle to take to the skies.
A new heart of production
Piaggio opens its Villanova d’Albenga plant, creating a modern hub for aircraft manufacturing and reinforcing its commitment to innovation in aircraft manufacturing.
Launching the EVO era
The first P.180 Avanti Evo rolls out to customers, marking Piaggio’s continued innovation in executive turboprop aviation.
Powering a giant
Piaggio Aerospace is awarded a nine-year contract to provide MRO services for Honeywell T55-L-714A engines powering the Italian Army’s ICH-47F Chinook helicopters.
One million hours in the sky
The P.180 surpasses one million flight hours worldwide.
Vision without borders
Baykar acquires Piaggio Aerospace, bringing together two aviation leaders with a shared vision to relaunch the brand globally.
The Next Era takes flight
Piaggio Aerospace unveils 'Avanti Next', its new brand, aircraft, and customer care concept.
First sale of new P.180 variant
The Avanti NX, the latest variant of the P.180, secures its first order.
WhenEverything Began
140 Years of Piaggio Stories | Episode 1 of 6