Residents of Vilnius and Kaunas have spent the past few days watching – and hearing – a distinctive aircraft flying low overhead. The Italian-made Piaggio P.180 Avanti, one of the fastest turboprop planes in the world, has been performing tight circles at an altitude of just over a kilometre.
According to Lithuania’s Air Navigation Service, the aircraft is carrying out checks on flight-related systems across the country.
“The tests involve navigation equipment at Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga airports, including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS),” said Air Navigation spokesperson Ingrida Daugirdė.
The plane, registered I-AVGP, first appeared over Vilnius on Monday before moving to Kaunas midweek.
Daugirdė explained that the aircraft visits Lithuania twice a year as part of routine safety inspections:
“These flights are mandatory procedures to ensure that the parameters of ground-based navigation systems meet required standards.”
The current round of tests, which will also cover Palanga, is expected to conclude by the end of the week.
The Piaggio P.180 Avanti stands out for its unusual design, featuring small forward wings and rear-facing propellers – a rare “pusher” configuration that reduces cabin noise and improves aerodynamics.
Powered by turboprop engines, the Avanti can reach speeds of up to 927 km/h, close to those of small jet aircraft, while consuming significantly less fuel.
The World Air Sports Federation (FAI) lists the Piaggio Avanti as the world’s fastest civil turboprop business aircraft.
A new Avanti costs around $7 million, while used models typically sell for $2–3 million.
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