Piaggio Aerospace's characteristic twin turbo-prop, the P.180 Avanti, has amassed over one million flying hours since the type was first introduced into service, the company announced last week.
The milestone comes as the Italian manufacturer looks set to emerge from two years of extraordinary administration with an announcement about a new owner is expected soon.
Piaggio has produced 246 P.180s since the late 1980s, with 213 still in service around the world. One aircraft, serial number MSN1007 in Canada, has clocked-up 11,000 hours.
"Reaching one million flight hours is a milestone that, in the history of the company, carries a symbolic value," said Vincenzo Nicastro, the Extraordinary Commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace.
“Exactly two years ago, in December 2018, when I was appointed, the company seemed to be close to collapsing. Despite a very negative economic scenario, we have instead succeeded in bringing Piaggio Aerospace back to being fully operational, saving thousands of jobs and a more than 100-year-old brand.
"We now look forward to find soon a new owner who, benefiting from a rich order portfolio, will be capable of redesigning the future of the company."
Piaggio has orders for 13 aircraft, which are currently under various phases of completion. The company received a boost in December 2019 when the Italian Air Force signed a contract with them worth €196 million, including nine new P.180s.